I don’t watch ESPN 1st Take and this is the main reason why. RG3 escapes a significant knee injury and is trying to play on Sunday in a game that the Redskins desperately need to keep their playoff hopes alive.
In a normal person’s mind their thought process would be “how will RG3 perform on his bad leg”, “will he be able to run the type of offense that the Redskins usually run or will there be limitations.”
But, on ESPN 1st Take they rather spend time questioning his blackness. Before we get to what Rob Parker said, let’s look at his questionable comments in the past.
1- Once called Hank Aaron a coward for being in attendance when Barry Bonds broke his home run record.
2- Erroneously reported that Kirk Cousins, who was at Michigan State at the time, was in a fight with some hockey players when he was actually at church with his parents (Parker was suspended over that).
3- Questioned then Lions head coach Rod Marinelli about Lions DC Joe Barry, Marinelli’s son-in-law, inquiring whether Marinelli wished that his daughter had “married a better defensive coordinator. (he resigned after that).
4- Flirts in an unprofessional manner with 1st Take host Cari Champion bringing flowers and gifts on the set.
So, remember who we are talking about here.
http://youtu.be/Pl5sHu_cvDA
Parker states that he can’t tell if RG3 is a brother or cornball brother because A- he has a white fiancee and B- he might be Republican. He also questions if he is “one of us” and “down for the cause”.
If that wasn’t stupid enough, he goes on to say that RG3’s braids add to his blackness “authenticity”.
What does any of this have to do with RG3 playing on a bad knee on Sunday? Parker tried to clean it up and say this is what people talk about in the barbershop, but that is BS and he knows it.
The reason it is being talked about because of idiots like Parker are putting it out there on TV and because ESPN’s 1st Take has become a race baiting show. Charles Barkley has a white wife, no one questions his authenticity.
Honestly, it makes me sick to my stomach. RG3’s personal life is his personal life. If he wants to marry a white woman and be a republican who cares, can he throw a 15 yard out? That is what people should be talking about. Would 1st take talk about Andrew Luck’s whiteness if he voted for Obama? If being a cornball is being engaged to someone you love, not speaking like Trinadad James, not getting in trouble and playing the QB position at a very high level, I wish more NFL players would be cornballs.
Here is what RG3 said about those who try to put him in a bubble.
“I am an African-American in America. That will never change. But I don’t have to be defined by that…We always try to find similarities in life, no matter what it is so they’re going to try to put you in a box with other African-American quarterbacks – Vick, Newton, Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon…That’s the goal. Just to go out and not try to prove anybody wrong but just let your talents speak for themselves.”
All RG3 wants to be seen as is a Quarterback. Not a black quarterback, not a running quarterback, but just a successful one. Because that is all he wants he has to be question if he is black enough by Rob Parker of all people?
I would say I am surprised, but I am not, this is what ESPN has become and because people watch they will continue to promote this ignorance on their airwaves.
They will continue to hire people like Rob Parker who are more interested in getting their name trending than speaking any sort of common sense.
But, I don’t blame ESPN, I blame the people who are watching and keeping the Rob Parker and Skip Bayless types on the air.
Never blame the supplier, blame the user and it is clear many people are high off ESPN’s ignorance.
