The Double Standard in Pro Sports




There are several pro sports team owners and coaches have been forced to sell their teams or fired for making racist remarks which I back 100%. In my opinion, if founded, force all to sell making these type of remarks. I do not have a problem with this; snuff out racism at every turn. We must do this across the board with all in the pro arena, no matter their position.

After making racist and anti-Semitic remarks, the MLB forced Marge Schott to sell her team, the Cincinnati Reds. I could not have been happier.

After making racist comments, the WPS (Women’s Professional Soccer) league forced Dan Borislow to sell his team, Boca Raton.

After making racist comments, the NFL forced Jerry Richardson to sell his team, the Carolina Panthers. Later, the NFL claimed they did not forced the sell, but we know the truth. My question is; why after doing the right thing, did they not want the recognition?

After making racist comments, the NBA forced Donald Sterling to sell his team, the LA Clippers, he had owned for 30 years, banned for life from the league, and even prohibited him from attending games.

All these team owners did not show the respect for others of different races and, rightfully so, was forced to see their teams. I am sure, there are other pro owner, who are racist and sexist, and they too should lose their teams. What about the other people in the pro establishment, they need held to the same standard. We need to focus on the treatment of women as well, sexism has no place in pro sports, so why are they not penalized?

In 2010, Floyd Mayweather stated about Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, "I’m on vacation for about a year, about a year. As soon as we come off vacation, we’re going to cook that little yellow chump.” This just one racist statement out of the video he made, no punishment came.

In 2011, Cam Newton was the debate over discriminating language; Warn Moon defended him, the NFL still drafted him, does this mean money means more than ending racism?

In 2012, Jason Whitlock said, "Some lucky lady in NYC is gonna feel a couple inches of pain tonight." Whitlock received no punishment for his tweet, other than a wave of angry followers, why was he not banned.

In 2013, Riley Cooper, of the Philadelphia Eagles, said racist slurs on tape. The league fined him, why was he not removed permanent?

In 2014, Colin Kaepernick, yes, that Colin Kaepernick, made racial slurs, calling Lamarr Houston the N-word. Kaepernick was fined $11,025, but refused he did anything wrong, but never lost a day of playing. If he cares so much about minorities as he tries to say today, why is he acting like a racist, why did they not remove him permanent as they have team owners?

In 2015, LeSean McCoy from the Philadelphia Eagles was traded to the Buffalo Bills. His response was racist in nature by claiming the coach, Chip Kelly did not want blacks on his team. McCoy stated, “That’s the truth. There’s a reason. ... It’s hard to explain with him. But there’s a reason he got rid of all the black players – the good ones – like that.” McCoy did not use racist words, but his claims were racist.

In 2015, Brandon Boykin, upset with coach Chip Kelly said, "I said that he was uncomfortable with men of our culture," "I'm not saying he's a racist at all.” You said he was racist as soon as you said “men of our culture”; you did not use the word racist but the intent was to point in that direction."

In 2016, Steven Adams, described his opponents as, "quick little monkeys". I could not find him receiving any punishment. Where is his punishment? That is as racist as you can get. Does it have to do with the money?

In 2017, Yuli Gurriel, made racially insensitive gesture toward Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish. He was suspended for five games, why was he not removed permanent.

In 2018, LeBron James made a racist charged rant stating, “In the NFL they got a bunch of old white men owning teams and they got that slave mentality,” James said in the conversation. “And it’s like, This is my team. You do what the f— I tell y’all to do. Or we get rid of y’all.” The NBA did not removed or fined him, why?

This is just a few examples. The truth is, it is all about the money. If an owner can be removed permanently, so should a player, like it or not you are a role model and have a responsibility. It does not matter if you make racist, sexist, or any other discriminatory remark, there should be a punishment. My researched showed there were more minority players making racist remarks then white, but this would make sense because in pro sports, minorities make up around 70% of all players. The flip side of the deal is white players receive more harsh punishments, the punishments should be equal across the board no matter your race. There are many complaints about “White Men” own all the teams. This is founded, out of 92 teams, I only found 6 pro team owners who are not owned by white people. Maybe the NFL, NBA, and MLB should have open vetting of prospected buyers and open bidding for teams coming up for sale, all who have been vetted and clears bid on the team, the most money wins.

The sad part is racism is in pro sports at all. I do not watch pro basketball anymore because it is not basketball anymore. Basketball is supposed to be a non-contact sport, called evenly for the same offenses, but this does not exist anymore. The last great game in pro basketball I saw was between the Great Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Few playing today would be good, if you used the rules from this era. I tell you this because when you dilute the integrity of the rules for one side or the other, or do not hold all to the same standard, you are discriminating. If you allow any owner, coach, player, or worker to discriminate or make racist remarks, no matter their race, gender, or other, without punishing them equally, you are a bigot. We as Americans love our pro sports, but the racism double-standard and politics need removed. It is the place Americans go to forget their disabilities, poverty, politics, and their differences; for me a place to forget Iraq, being away from my family, with people trying to kill me, and my troops. We need to keep it that way.

Please let me know what you think.


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