Meet Milt Ahlerich
He is the VP of Security for the NFL. He makes sure that the stadiums are safe and things of that nature. But in his job description, he also make sure that the integrity of the game isn't compromised. Im interested in knowing if thats his job, then who is in charge of protecting the integrity of the players?
According to a report from the LA Times, the NFL will be hiring experts to study game tape to analyze whether players are using gang signs during their various points of celebration on the field. Milt Ahlerich says they have suspected that some of the players are representing gangs by the use of different hand gestures.
I used the picture of the gentleman hunting to illustrate the point that the No Fun League is trying to find ways to alienate and destroy anything that compromises the "shield". More so, it seems that all of their initiatives are focused on a particular group of people.
First it was the end-zone celebrations, then they were entertaining the various rulings about hair-length, and now they want to hire someone to look at tape to see if gang signs are being thrown. My question is, who will they be watching in order to determine whether or not they are doing it?
In my 24 years of living, I have learned that racism is not always a direct thing. For those who had to suffer through Jim Crow laws, they can attest to the fact that different items will be instituted to create unfair advantage or attention.
I do understand about corporate image and perception, but if the NFL thinks that we dont notice these attempts to eradicate items pertaining to a certain culture, they are ridiculous. And no, im not saying black people are the only ones in gangs, but looking at the leagues history in dealing with "image control", you have to feel as if we are on the verge of witnessing a movement of civil rights in regards to athletes. Because honestly, minorities are getting played by these rules.
I know, as a young black man, in a fraternity, that when a bond is formed between you and any other human being, you will have inside jokes, vocabulary, and gestures that are a way of life for you and your group. Especially when you are experiencing success, that gesture is a way of celebrating accomplishment and victory, whether it be big or small. Back in the early 2000's, Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson use to take their fists and tap their foreheads. Numerous NFL players who are from the same city have their own thing. The former Miami Hurricanes have their own thing. Numerous NFL players who are in greek organizations will throw up their various gestures as a sign of victory. Various MLB players will do different things when they do something great. Its all about perception. But what is troubling is that the guys running these leagues fail to understand the diverse culture under their perspective umbrellas. This is almost as absurd as the Obama's fist tap being perceived as terrorism.
It is a shame the way the league is finding new ways to waste time. They need to be looking at the integrity of their business OFF-field, as much as they do on.
Racial stereotyping at its finest
We want this to be an all white league