Eagles | McNabb says black quarterbacks under more scrutiny Tue, 18 Sep 2007 07:34:48 -0700
ESPN.com reports Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb said in an interview scheduled to air on HBO Tuesday, Sept. 18, that African-American quarterbacks face far more pressure and more criticism than their white counterparts. McNabb added African-American quarterbacks such as himself face added pressure because there are fewer black quarterbacks. "There's not that many African-American quarterbacks, so we have to do a little bit extra," McNabb said. "Because the percentage of us playing this position, which people didn't want us to play... is low, so we do a little extra."
This to me is bull. You receive pressure if you're not playing well....or not living up to expectations. If there's pressure on McNabb, it's because he's looked less than great thus far.
I'm not saying that there isn't a lower number of black QBs than white QBs. There is. But does that mean a white RB has more expectations to live up to? Or a white WR? These are positions that more black players are at than white.
You have to do a little extra Donovan because you're supposed to be a leader. Playing the race card on this, I think, is incredibly weak.
A quarterback is a quarterback.... whether white, black or yellow, they have high expectations on them. McNabb's comments are a cop out.
I'd call junk too... Like you said, quarterbacks will always have the spotlight on them, and remember he's playing in a big market city. What does he expect, to have no pressure in Philly?
I want the Cleveland Browns to be my pallbearers so they can let me down for the last time.
There was a time, not all that long ago, when there was considerable truth to his statement.. I believe those days are pretty much gone.... thanks in large part to a few QBs like McNabb....
Quote: I guess his 0-2 start is already getting the best of him.
McNabb has missed 13 games due to injury in the last 2 years... the team has lost 6 of his last 7 starts.... Jeff Garcia came in last year and lit it up with the same talent...... they are off to an 0-2 season this year.... his QB rating is 68..... and there is a high draft pick holding a clipboard on the sidelines..... there isn't a QB in the world, black, white, yellow, or purple, that wouldn't be feeling the heat under those circumstances....
Quote: There was a time, not all that long ago, when there was considerable truth to his statement.. I believe those days are pretty much gone.... thanks in large part to a few QBs like McNabb....
Quote: There was a time, not all that long ago, when there was considerable truth to his statement.. I believe those days are pretty much gone.... thanks in large part to a few QBs like McNabb....
I agree 100%. Same could be said about black head coaches 10 -15 years ago, but look at this past Superbowl. Two excellant NFL coaches were there.
DM needs to stop with the excuses and simply stop with sub-par play. He's a QB in a brutal media market. Nothing else.
is Jason Campbell feeling any heat? prolly not he's 2-0
Is Tarvaris Jackson feeling heat? not really, and he just threw 4 picks. He might be after this week, but he wasnt.
will Cleo Lemon feel the heat if he starts in lieu of Trent Green if he chumps out? prolly not.
Did Doug Williams feel heat in Washington? maybe someone can help me out with that, because it was before my time, but the guy won a super bowl, I'm gonna say prolly not
do Vick and McNabb and Culpepper feel heat when they play bad? yessir, is it because theyre black? prolly not. Look at AJ Feeley, he felt plenty of heat.
Suck it up Donovan, youre getting heat because youre "replacing" a qb that took you too the playoffs while you were hurt. It was a choice between you and a guy that won games, and they chose you. Back it up and you'll feel no heat.
"It has to start somewhere It has to start somehow What better place than here? What better time than now?"
Quote: I hope I live long enough to see the " Black Card " a thing of the past ...
Amen.
I think there are too many who think that racism is a thing of the past and that we're not all on a level playing field...and that's entirely false. And I do think when instances occur, people should whine...but at the same time...
I don't want to trivialize instances where he percieves racial pressure...but, c'mon, man...you're on Campbell's soup commercials...people wear your jerseys everywhere...Jackie Robinson got sharpened nail cleats in his shins...Hank Aaron recieved bags and bags of letters calling him a 'dead n...' ... guys couldn't stay in the same hotel as their team....
Not to mention, a great thing about football is that nobody cares if you're black. There was a time when it did matter - especially for the quarterback position - but today, none of that matters. Can he score? Can we win? Can he give me fantasy points? Those things generally judge your character. If anything, it's more or less a quick notice...oh, a black kicker, a white running back, a Samoan guard...can he kick? Can he run? Can he block?
While there is pressure for black quarterbacks from black people that most white people don't understand (that pressure is being successfull while representing your race, whether you agree or not is really irrelevant if you're not black...sorry, just the way it is)
But as far as media pressure and GENERAL fan pressure...it's not racial anymore, but strictly performance based. Win, and you're a god, lose, and get ran out of town!
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
Yup. Everyone loves a winner and everyone loves to hate a loser sorry Donnie but now you stink ....deal with it. McNabb always struck me as a genuine guy on the trube and maybe he personally does feel this kind of pressure but IMO this pressure would be gone if he were 2 and 0 .
Quote: that pressure is being successfull while representing your race,
How does one go about representing his race the right way ? Not trying to srir up another racially divided thread but I am really curious. Wouldn't that representation mean different things to different people of the same race ? Seems that there may be a slippery slope of sterotypes involved in representing all of "Black " America since all people are different . Does Barrack Obama represent the Black race well ? How about Tiger Woods, Clarence Thomas, Snoop Dog , Tupac , Al Sharpton, Malcom X ,50 Cent , Charlie Pride, George Washington Carver....the list is endless and endlessly diverse.
You see my confusion when I asked what being a good representative of being Black entails ? I would be just as perplexed if someone asked me how a person is supposed to be a good amasador of being White. To me you strive to be a good person and leave the baggage associated with the label of color out of it ( in a perfect word.)
It's very hard to represent your race, but black people (generally) are looking for positives, so when we have someone who has attained something that was previously unattainable, we are all watching that particular person. Athletes feel that. Same with coaches, fortunately for Tony Dungy, Lovie Smith was there too, so there wasn't that much pressure of failing as a "black" coach, and just failing as a coach.
I'm not saying it's right, just that's what it is.
As a white person, and white people always being represented in a good light (and a bad one) throughout sports (and non-sports) history, you've never had "the first white...." White people haven't had to fight for their right to just be called a human being, so they've never had to have a leader, or a savior. Unfortunately, black people have.
Unwitting athletes are thrust into that light time and time again...eventually, as all racial barriers are broken down, this will no longer be an issue.
Now, I'm not saying white people haven't experienced hard times, but in this country, and in this country's sports landscape, there were no rules (written or unwritten) against white people.
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
Ire, I think you've taken a bit of a broad brush to this... No one black person is going to represent all black people... but for a long time black people raised quite a fuss about a lack of black QBs (and probably justifiably so).. then when a few got a chance, especially a highly touted draft pick like McNabb, there was quite a bit of pressure to back up what they said about blacks being able to play the position... whether intentional or not, blacks put pressure on him to succeed that just isn't there with your typical high draft QB because he had to support their claims .... I think he has had enough success, then there is Culpepper and Young and Leftwich and Gerrard and Campbell and Russell who have all come along and basically solidified the fact that blacks can play the position, some will succeed, some will fail based on ability... and not always by being the most mobile player ala Vick.... which is why I said, 10 years ago he was probably justified in feeling that way, but I think that pressure is probably largely left over in his own mind..
Quote: How about Tiger Woods, Clarence Thomas, Snoop Dog , Tupac , Al Sharpton, Malcom X ,50 Cent , Charlie Pride, George Washington Carver....the list is endless and endlessly diverse.
You have successfully identified the problem. It all depends on who you ask. I personally don't think 50 Cent represents black people well, but someone else may think differently. I think it's just a lot of undue pressure, and people should worry about representing themselves well, and you'll inherently represent your race, your nationality, your country well.
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
What is wrong with these "million dollar crybabies" ? Man, If I could have just a percentage of his talent, I would be happy .Just go out there and play your best ! ! ! You don't hear McNair, Leftwich, Jackson, Garrard or ANY other QB who is of AA Descent complaining about the game, Hell, I thought that this BS was over and done with when He (McNabb) took his team to the SB.. .What a bunch of BULL.....
Quote: that pressure is being successfull while representing your race,
How does one go about representing his race the right way ? Not trying to srir up another racially divided thread but I am really curious. Wouldn't that representation mean different things to different people of the same race ? Seems that there may be a slippery slope of sterotypes involved in representing all of "Black " America since all people are different . Does Barrack Obama represent the Black race well ? How about Tiger Woods, Clarence Thomas, Snoop Dog , Tupac , Al Sharpton, Malcom X ,50 Cent , Charlie Pride, George Washington Carver....the list is endless and endlessly diverse.
You see my confusion when I asked what being a good representative of being Black entails ? I would be just as perplexed if someone asked me how a person is supposed to be a good amasador of being White. To me you strive to be a good person and leave the baggage associated with the label of color out of it ( in a perfect word.)
Arthur Ashe used to struggle with this concept. He felt an obligation to his race and himself, and said he was often torn.
Quote: White people haven't had to fight for their right to just be called a human being, so they've never had to have a leader, or a savior. Unfortunately, black people have.
Now that is a crock. It is 2007. What professional player or anybody for that matter born after 1866 has had to fight for their right to be called a human being?
NONE.
1865 Slavery abolished in the U.S. by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
1866 14th Amendment to the Constitution defines a citizen as anyone born in the U.S. (except Native Americans) or naturalized, thereby extending all rights of citizenship to African Americans.
Now this:
Quote: people should worry about representing themselves well, and you'll inherently represent your race, your nationality, your country well.
McNabb is coming off an injury still has no recievers and a suspect defense.
If extra means winning the big game when you had the chance....well lets just say that ALL qb's are measured with the same stick and you have to be pretty damn good to even get into that conversation. McNabb sees the end of his run and now he is letting his emotions get the better off him.
I personnaly think the guys deserves to get a chance to leave philly after this year and have another chance to win the big one. It isnt happening in Phill y this year.
I get so sick and tired of hearing this "Black Discrimination" BS...
This is 2007...This ain't 1960...
This goes for ALL BLACK AND WHITE...U wanna sit on the front porch and produce massive amounts toward our population...Then turn around and collect food stamps and every other kind of government assistance???
Quote: I guess his 0-2 start is already getting the best of him.
McNabb has missed 13 games due to injury in the last 2 years... the team has lost 6 of his last 7 starts.... Jeff Garcia came in last year and lit it up with the same talent...... they are off to an 0-2 season this year.... his QB rating is 68..... and there is a high draft pick holding a clipboard on the sidelines..... there isn't a QB in the world, black, white, yellow, or purple, that wouldn't be feeling the heat under those circumstances....
Nailed it.
McNabb is stinking it up against some mediocre competition and all of a sudden it's a race issue? Come on.
Quote: I'd call junk too... Like you said, quarterbacks will always have the spotlight on them, and remember he's playing in a big market city. What does he expect, to have no pressure in Philly?
Hurricane and everybody else, If you remember this day in "Young McNabb's life" This would have been my "sign" to get out of Philly while the gettin's good. .It ain't about race, it's about performance and the fans (Philly) who suck at being that, fans.... If the Eagles were 2-0, would we all be having this conversation?? I don't think so..JMHO
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? Man, If I could have just a percentage of his talent, I would be happy 
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