Uh, What?…
Posted by VeRonda Wicks September 4th, 2009Verbal Re-enacting (Paraphrased)
After I lose a game, don’t taunt me. Don’t tap me on the shoulder and clown me because you just won the game. It’s not a good look.
But…
Guess what’s a much worse look?…
Wow! It’s never a good idea to hit someone in response and totally forget the potential consequences (nevermind pouncing into the angry crowd…).
Consequences: Oregon running back, LeGarrette Blount, was suspended from the team for the year.
Wow… How would I, the parent, respond to my kid when he calls and tells me his version?… ‘Son, yeah that doesn’t quite line up with what I’m watching on ESPN right now.’
Categories: Football
September 5th, 2009 at 11:03 am
I saw this for the first time on the local news yesterday and it showed the version you displayed. Prior to that, heading home listening to sports radio I kept hearing about how a player did such a despicable act that he should be arrested and sent to jail. I had no idea of what they were talking about but it must have been awful considering the vitriolic response I was hearing from the other sportscasters and people calling in.
Nonetheless when I just happened to see it on the news I simply said “wow, why didn’t the player who initiated the altercation have his helmet on and why did he turn his back after striking the first blow?”
Then my next question was, “who won the game?”
When I searched the sports channels (including ESPN) no one stated who won the game and the only display was the punch by the player.
I understand why the player threw the punch. He lost the game and the opposing player taunted him as well as hit him.
The reaction was a natural reaction!
Let me repeat – THE REACTION WAS A NATURAL REACTION!
In a highly intense competitive environment after sustained and prolonged activity of testosterone flowing adrenaline charge and you are the loser – you do not want the victor to taunt you, let alone put their hands on you in a negative aggressive manner. That is what happened!
I have played in competitive sports on the Division 1 level and I understand. The player who was punched was stupid! He initiated the action and turned around and walked away without thinking of the repercussions.
He initiated the action while his helmet was off and you are taught since little leagues to keep your helmets on after the game in the event of a possible conflict. He initiated the entire event and now he’s looked at as the victim.
I see a lot of things in this and most telling is the impact of race and the quiescent trepidation of the Black Man rising up and attacking (or challenging) the so-called aura and invincibility of white supremacy.
In 1977 a similar punch occurred albeit in a different set of circumstances. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin Kunnett got into a fight. Kermit Washington was there and was a peace maker. The fight was over and everything was settled and there was no need for any other involvement. However, running toward Kermit Washington at full speed from behind was Rudy Tomjanovich and upon instantly seeing an opposing figure running towards him, Kermit reacted and threw a punch and the rest was history. Kareem said that it sounded like a watermelon being dropped on concrete when Tomjanovich’s head hit the floor. Kermit Washington was kicked out of the league, called a goon and some of the most racist terms by the national sports writers. This was before ESPN. No one cared that his reaction was a normal reaction and defensive reaction in a testosterone flowing adrenaline charged athletic completion. The thing that truly mattered that led to his ban was the attack that gave counterfeit substance to a fear upon the invincibility of a mindset of a dominant race.
And now we see the same thing. No one cares that the reaction of the player throwing the punch was a reaction and a defensive reaction in a testosterone flowing adrenaline charged athletic completion. He lost his season and talk is now that he has lost considerable status for the NFL draft and consequently millions of dollars. Why? Because this was a story that was not simply reported but shaped (that’s another rant!). If it was truly reported then the film clips being shown across the country would show the entire clip rather than just the punch.
So what does America see? A Black Man attacking a White Man. What does it resurrect or feed into? All the negative images that the American media has fed to the binging public about Black males and the need to lock them away and remove them from society. In both cases, was the punch wrong? Absolutely! Were they normal reactions given the atmospheres and circumstances? Absolutely! Were the reactions by the media and governing authorities (NBA & NCAA) proper? Hell NO! Free your mind and your a_ _ will follow!
Challenge your orientations and assumptions and engage in that mental mixed martial art of thinking. For America to do that, an aggressive internal dialogue will occur and free thought will flow. As such the news that will be received will be news that’s reported and not news that’s shaped and subsequently true substance will be produced and honest dialogue will ensue.
Until then – “THINK! IT AIN’T ILLEGAL – YET!”
Kid Funkedekic
September 5th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Kid, you have yet again brought much to the table for thought. Overall, we agree… emotions are flaring and hitting is wrong. My thing is that even in the heat of things young people should be responsible enough past just today… understanding that their actions today effect their results tomorrow. I’m just sad that this action cost this kid so much. I think there should be, however, some similar consequence for the other kid as well. Thanks Kid, for your thought-provoking commentary… Drop by soon.
September 6th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Yup, sportsmanship is dead.
September 6th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I hope not, Sheila… I really do.
September 7th, 2009 at 12:09 am
Naaw man, sportsmanship is not dead. It merely evolved. It has evolved with the tolerance and intolerance of society. What we know and understand as sportsmanship is shifting. It’s the pace of the shift that warrants scrutiny. Is it miniscule in it’s movement or brisk? Is what we call sportsmanship now relegated to prehistoric status or good old days or back in the day or is sportsmanship defined by who gets the face-time with the media? What’s acceptable and what passes for sportsmanship has now entered into the world of debate and as such, whoever shapes the news unfortunately will set the boundaries. Sportsmanship is not dead, it is either alive and kicking with a new definition or comatose, but not dead.
Kid Funkedelic
September 8th, 2009 at 10:00 am
What happened after the game was very disturbing… While not much attention is being placed on the the initiating player, LeGarrette Blount’s reaction cannot be tolerated… All too often we react to situations and dont think things out. Granted it was after a physical game (football) where you try to beat the crap out of your opponent to impose your will on the other team to win. But is still a game. Even though I dont agree with his knocking that fool out (Friday the movie) I can sympathise with it because of the other guys actions (funny why does his name slip my mind… thanx media). There have been many times after losing a game of ball (football, basketball, baseball… ok even spades) and the other team started talking sh** I wanted to punch em in the face, and to put your hands on me to boot.. oh its on cleetis its on… but his actions of puching a team mate and trying to go into the crowd all Ron Artest style is totally unacceptable. He not only hurt is team with his actions, but he may have ruined his life in the process. Ok not his life, but any NFL asperations… If Im a GM.. im gonna look at this an say this guy is a loose cannon.. do I want to take that chance?
Why do we always want to blame others for our transgressions? No one makes you happy or angry, its our response to situations that shape how things play out… Oh trust me Im not saint or monk but we must control our carnal desires to want to rip someones head off just because… How many people sitting in jail wish they could take back a few seconds of their life.
Now my beef with the initiator of this whole event… why isnt he being suspended for at least one game??? But how often does the initiator get off and the one who reacts get the flag thrown on them.
September 8th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
It’s true, David… Ron Artest?? You’re hilarious. Young people sometimes have a one track mind and unfortunately it can lead to these types of situations. I really do think both parties should suffer consequences for their actions.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Just heard an interview with Kermit Washington yesterday on the John Thompson Show. Thompson is on my wall of fame. Nonetheless, Blount and his coach called Washington seeking counsel and advice on how to deal with this situation. Blount was made aware of Washington’s situation (The Punch) from his coach and his coach recommended that he call.
Washington said that he advised Blount to apologize. Not to explain why he did it but merely express his regret. He said that all the athletes that play competitive sports at that level understand and the people who never did will never understand. If Blount spends time saying why he did it, the hue and cry from those who don’t understand will only get louder. Besides they don’t care for the truth anyway and its like ice-skating up a hill. As for the punishment, he said the reason Blount received such a stiff penalty is because the NCAA has never had to deal with this before. There is no process or progressive discipline in place. This is the first of its kind and absent such a policy, they had to take a strong stand and make an example out of him.
Additionally he advised him that a lot of Blount’s friends will distance themselves from him and get away from him. Not because they are bad or weak friends but because you are judged by the company you keep and for them to be associated with him they would be looked at as bad as he is. They must look out for themselves in this instance. He advised him that he must dive headlong into his education. Full speed ahead and not get distracted. He said he advised him on a lot of issues concerning this and that Blount was humble but very thankful and appreciative for the guidance he received from someone who reacted and became a sports pariah.
It is really hard if not impossible for anyone who has not played competitive sports at a major level to understand reactions in a highly competitive athletic environment. Thus its easy to be an armchair quarterback with morality when you haven’t walked in those shoes. Its easy to give a calm well thought out response to an event you witness when you don’t have a clue how you would respond in the same environment. Respect the paradigm and perspective and perhaps then one can begin to garner a glimmer of understanding.
Kid Funkedelic
September 10th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Wow, Kid… I’m glad there’s someone there who can make sense of this for the young man. It’s always a wonderful thing when someone has gone before you and can then turn and help someone else. I hope Blount adheres and doesn’t get caught up in the hype.