Stereotypes Remain Alive in NFL
By Marc J. Spears, AOL BlackVoices Columnist
Racist questions about whether a black quarterback has “the necessities” to lead an NFL team are a thing of the league’s ugly past. From Donovan McNabb to Michael Vick to Daunte Culpepper to Steve McNair to Byron Leftwich to Aaron Brooks, several African-American QBs now start. And 17 years have now passed since the Washington Redskins’ Doug Williams went from being asked how long he had been a black quarterback to being the first to win a Super Bowl.
So the black QB story isn’t a story anymore, right? Yeah, right. Until a couple more racial hurdles are overcome, the answer is sadly no.
McNabb will be the third African-American to start in NFL championship game as he leads the Philadelphia Eagles into Super Bowl XXXIX on Feb. 6 against the New England Patriots. The other two were Williams and McNair. McNair’s Tennessee Titans lost to St. Louis in 2000.
While a black QB in the Super Bowl is nothing new, McNabb’s arrival to this stage brings back stinging memories of Sept. 28, 2003, where words did hurt. On that day, conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh made a racist remark regarding McNabb on ESPN’s NFL pre-game show.
"The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well," Limbaugh said. "There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve."
An embarrassed ESPN issued the statement saying those comments were “insensitive and inappropriate.” Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md., who chaired the Congressional Black Caucus, called it "outrageous and offensive." On Oct. 3, 2003, Limbaugh resigned from ESPN although he said he wasn’t forced. He never apologized for his words.
McNabb has been dealing with racism issues since he was a kid once living in a predominately white neighborhood in Chicago. But instead of understandably lashing out at Limbaugh, McNabb was the bigger man as he told the Philadelphia Daily News: “It's sad that you've got to go to skin color. I thought we were through with that whole deal.”
So Sorry,Donovan, that whole deal isn’t quite over yet in the realm of the NFL and won’t be over in our lifetimes. But you can help make it better and move it along.
A McNabb Super Bowl triumph would not only finally shut up Limbaugh but also make the thought of a black QB winning a Super Bowl a rerun. A story is still a story if something is done just once, as is the case for an African-American QB winning a Super Bowl. But if McNabb could get that Lombardi trophy, it’s an old, been- there- done- that story.
I’m a die-hard Oakland Raiders fan, and have always bled Silver and Black. But with the possibility of McNabb changing history on Sunday in mind, I’m sure all the brothas and open-minded people on the Raiders will give me a pass if I root for the Eagles this on Sunday. Plus, I get another pass since New England has a Super Bowl ring with an asterisk next to it due to that stupid tuck play a couple years ago against the Raiders. But that’s another story.
Even with a Super Bowl title for McNabb, the black QB story won’t die. But hopefully the next time the issue arrives in major fashion, it will be an issue to celebrate.
Entering the NFC Championship game on Jan. 23, much ado was made about the contest pitting two black QBs in McNabb and the Atlanta Falcons’ Michael Vick. With so many talented black QBs in the NFL now and more coming in the future from college, don’t be surprised if two will meet up in the coming years in the Super Bowl. And it will be on that day that the true arrival of the black QB will take place and racism toward that subject will finally die. And after that historical day passes, a story of racism, struggle and triumph for the NFL black QB will finally be one for the history books.
Also at that time, more energy can go to the real African-American challenge in the NFL:. Ggetting more blacks head coaches and executives in the NFL. It’s Super Bowl XXXIX on Sunday. Considering the way society is, the good ‘ol’ boys network and the lack of minority ownership in sports overall, no telling what Super Bowl it will be when that issue gets solved.