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ESPN Asks "The Dumbest Question™" (what if Vick was white)

b0ng

b0ng

Bad Hombre
http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/...hael-vick-white-quarterback-nfl-espn-magazine

All of that is why, to me, Vick seems to have a deeply African-American approach to the game. I'm not saying that a black QB who stands in the pocket ain't playing black. I'm saying Vick's style is so badass, so artistic, so fluid, so flamboyant, so relentless -- so representative of black athletic style -- that if there were a stat for swagger points, Vick would be the No. 1 quarterback in the league by far.
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This is actually going to be in ESPN The Magazine. I am in shock at how in bad taste it is. Just look at the accompanying picture:

576x324_vickwhite.jpg


Really :mariopalm: :mariopalm: :mariopalm:
 
K...I'm not sure how to feel on this one. What if he were an ethnic Albanian? What if I were 1/8th black instead of 1/8th caucaucasian. What if Bill didn't care for alcohol and scantily clad women? What if Joe were known for his calm demeanor and conservative choice of head gear at games? What if?
 
Dread-Head said:
K...I'm not sure how to feel on this one. What if he were an ethnic Albanian? What if I were 1/8th black instead of 1/8th caucaucasian. What if Bill didn't care for alcohol and scantily clad women? What if Joe were known for his calm demeanor and conservative choice of head gear at games? What if?
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It's one of those things that makes problems when theey dont need to be made. What was this picture really going to do? Its a stupid preference anyway. People dont care what Vick would look like white. It's almost like poking the bear looking for some food. Some people are gonna get their panties in a bunch cause its racist. Some will get mad cause they are actually racist and love to get in arguments with the sensitive folk. I'll get mad cause they are all stupid and worrying about stupid stuff when our country is slowly sliding into the crapper. Stop refering to them as black QB's, or white receivers ect...and just call them QB's and receivers. I don't care what color people are, just be cool and lets drink a beer and chill.
 
The article was bad from the get-go, but when the writer uses the term "white privilege," is where the thing goes from shock journalism to down right drivel. This article makes a claim that seems to be common with race, and that's one of childhood difficulties. Many whites don't live in your Leave it to Beaver white picket fence neighborhood either. For every bad black neighborhood that contains a kid using dogfighting as a way out, there's a white equivalent with a kid going to town on some crystal meth. While subjective, there are quite a few studies have shown that alcoholism is a major problem for white and hispanic families, more so than blacks. All races face different challenges, but being black in this nation isn't any harder or easier than being white or any other race for that matter.
 
Dread-Head said:
:lol: Okay...That...that's just funny. Dude you got photoshop. Can you do one where he looks like a large order of fries? I'm wondering if he would look like "Frylock" from "Aqua Teen Hunger Force."
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Not my work unfortunately. But here's another:

vNSiv.png
 
Articles like this actually detract from Vick's accomplishments, IMO. He was a bad QB before he went to prison, and that had nothing to do with him being black. He simply didn't perform the required job duties. He admitted to Jim Mora, Jr. in an interview that he didn't watch film, for example. Once Vick got a wake-up call, he started doing what was necessary to become a good NFL QB. And now that he's become one, his ability to extend plays and scramble make him an even better QB. The man has put the work in and has become a good NFL QB.

But ESPN would rather talk about how he's a black QB. I'd be insulted if I were him.
 
What if Pony Boy was black gangbanger?
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Waht if Sam Malone was a black bartender/ex pitcher?
ted-danson-blackface-1b.jpg


What if Michael Jackson was white........wait
michael-jackson-died.jpg


What if Rambo was a black Vietman vet looking for P.O.W.s
rambo2mud.jpg
 
I've worked in Sports journalism for the last 5 years, and not once, in ALL my conversations with hundreds of diehard NFL fans that eat, drink and sleep this stuff, has a single person ever once raised this question.

This was one of the dumbest ****ing story ideas ever approved by an ESPN editor, and the sad thing is that it will sell like hotcakes - he'll get rewarded when I believe he deserved a much worse fate.

Wonder if ESPN was ever going to produce a "what if Tom Brady or Peyton Manning were black" article. I won't hold my breath.

They ought to be completely ashamed of this - I'm no fan of Vick but what they did to him here was garbage.
 
I don't have a problem with it. I don't think the article is incredibly insightful, but I don't see it as racist. The author is a black guy, and I appreciate the fact that he says the punishment Vick received had nothing to do with racism; it just had to do with Americans and our love for dogs.

He also makes an interesting point that had Vick grown up in a white family with a good dad instead of a dad that did drugs and taught him to like dog fighting, then things would have been vastly different. At the same time, Vick wouldn't be the amazing QB we know him to be today.

I think people are overreacting but maybe there is something I am missing.
 
Ckw said:
I don't have a problem with it. I don't think the article is incredibly insightful, but I don't see it as racist. The author is a black guy, and I appreciate the fact that he says the punishment Vick received had nothing to do with racism; it just had to do with Americans and our love for dogs.

He also makes an interesting point that had Vick grown up in a white family with a good dad instead of a dad that did drugs and taught him to like dog fighting, then things would have been vastly different. At the same time, Vick wouldn't be the amazing QB we know him to be today.

I think people are overreacting but maybe there is something I am missing.
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All the article did for me was re-enforce the thought of black QBs are affletes andso on. Literally nobody should care what would be different if Vicky were a honkey. The first four paragraphs are pure crap.
 
Ckw said:
He also makes an interesting point that had Vick grown up in a white family with a good dad instead of a dad that did drugs and taught him to like dog fighting, then things would have been vastly different.
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Really? That's an interesting point? What if Vick grew up in a black family with a good dad that didn't do drugs and dog fighting? What, good dads don't exist in black families?

People are so f'ing ignorant.
 
Speedy said:
Really? That's an interesting point? What if Vick grew up in a black family with a good dad that didn't do drugs and dog fighting? What, good dads don't exist in black families?

People are so f'ing ignorant.
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Sensitive much? :mariopalm:
 
I get the idea most of you didn't even bother to read the whole article. I can't blame you as I almost quit reading a paragraph into it as well. But you all really need to read the last couple paragraphs. It sums up what the authors point was of the whole article pretty well

Ultimately, there is no separating Vick from his circumstances: his race, parents, economics and opportunities. Alter any of those elements and everything about him and how the world sees him would be unrecognizable.

So let's look at him a different way. Let's see him as someone in the third act of the epic movie that is his life, leading a team that many expect to see in the Super Bowl. Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" is playing underneath because the humbled protagonist has finally overcome his personal demons and has begun living up to his athletic promise. And to those who believe we should judge a man by how he responds when dealing with the worst life has to offer -- with how he climbs after he hits rock bottom -- Michael Vick has become heroic.

And that has nothing to do with race.
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What if ESPN was....credible?

What if...football teams existed outside of Boston, New York, Pennsylvania, the East Coast, ECT...
 
toronto said:
I've worked in Sports journalism for the last 5 years, and not once, in ALL my conversations with hundreds of diehard NFL fans that eat, drink and sleep this stuff, has a single person ever once raised this question.

This was one of the dumbest ****ing story ideas ever approved by an ESPN editor, and the sad thing is that it will sell like hotcakes - he'll get rewarded when I believe he deserved a much worse fate.

Wonder if ESPN was ever going to produce a "what if Tom Brady or Peyton Manning were black" article. I won't hold my breath.

They ought to be completely ashamed of this - I'm no fan of Vick but what they did to him here was garbage.
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Agree completely.

Now it seems ESPN has issued..................no apologies or explanations.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/ESPN-The-Magazine-editor-in-chief-discusses-82?urn=nfl-wp5964

(excerpt)

If there's no apology about the picture or defense of the decision to run it, why release a statement at all? Surely there could have been at least an explanation about why ESPN.com temporarily switched the photo (see right) after the uproar began on Thursday. ESPN has no problem tuning out dissenting opinions. The magazine could have let this story evaporate in the Hurricane Irene news cycle and nobody would have cared in a few days.

Ah, but why pass up the opportunity to keep the story flickering a little longer? Think about it; when do you ever hear anything about ESPN The Magazine other than when it features naked athletes on the cover? The decisions made on the Vick story may be bad journalism or exhibit the lowest of the tabloid mentalities. It was an undeniable attention-grabber for ESPN though.
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One day there will be competition (though it will not be in my lifetime - see Versus). One day they will have to clean house and start over in order to keep up with the new kid on the block (whoever that might be).

Until then they do what they do and scratch their nose on camera with their middle finger.
 
Showtime100 said:
One day there will be competition (though it will not be in my lifetime - see Versus). One day they will have to clean house and start over in order to keep up with the new kid on the block (whoever that might be).

Until then they do what they do and scratch their nose on camera with their middle finger.
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Agree with everything here. FoxSports should be that somebody but they just can't get popular for some reason. Bad marketing, Bad P.R., and bad location on the channel guide--ESPN is at the beginning of your TV guide and FoxSports is stuck somewhere between the porn channels and the XM satellite radio channels. WTH? No wonder nobody watches you, FoxSports...you're location is in Siberia. Nobody is surfing through channels 425 and 800. Dumbasses.

Makes you wonder how much ESPN is paying companies like DirecTV to NOT allow FoxSports to have channel 213 right behind NFLN at channel 212, when ESPN is sitting at 206????? Hmmm.......

As for the article, I'm actually quite amazed that b0ng is appalled and offended by the content of the article. He's the last person I would have suspected to have his panties in a twist over what I think is just a "Ponder this..." op/ed article. Make fun of dead people? That's OK. Publish a "What if?" article? The author is an a-hole. Go figure.

Anywho.....carry on.
 
Ckw said:
I get the idea most of you didn't even bother to read the whole article. I can't blame you as I almost quit reading a paragraph into it as well. But you all really need to read the last couple paragraphs. It sums up what the authors point was of the whole article pretty well
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It is imposible for me to take this article seriously. They crapped on thier credibility right from the start. It is a cheap and weak ass attempt to get attention over an irrelevant aspect of his own demise. So being black may have played a role in his destructive behavior but being black put him back on the road to redemption? No it's bs. This is the lady gagafication of writing. I'll make a point about animal cruelty by wearing a dress made entirely of raw meat. Wow how profound and enlightening. No it's just Weak weak weak.
 
chicagotexan2 said:
It is imposible for me to take this article seriously. They crapped on thier credibility right from the start. It is a cheap and weak ass attempt to get attention over an irrelevant aspect of his own demise. So being black may have played a role in his destructive behavior but being black put him back on the road to redemption? No it's bs. This is the lady gagafication of writing. I'll make a point about animal cruelty by wearing a dress made entirely of raw meat. Wow how profound and enlightening. No it's just Weak weak weak.
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Fair enough. I don't feel like going back to read it again, but where did they say the bold? If this is in there, then yeah I agree it is a pretty stupid article. Being black had nothing to do with him getting back on the football field. Finally studying film, working harder, and becoming a better passer are what got him back on the field.
 
GP said:
As for the article, I'm actually quite amazed that b0ng is appalled and offended by the content of the article. He's the last person I would have suspected to have his panties in a twist over what I think is just a "Ponder this..." op/ed article. Make fun of dead people? That's OK. Publish a "What if?" article? The author is an a-hole. Go figure.

Anywho.....carry on.
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Thread was an excuse to post the Vick spareribs photoshop.

E: totally worth it
 
what-if-michael-vick-were-white.jpg


What if Michael Vick... was Cheddar Bob?

Tiger.jpg


What if Michael Vick... was Tiger Woods?

Arlene-Ackerman.jpg


What if Michael Vick... was Arlene Ackerman?

what-if-michael-vick-were-a-white-huricane.jpg


What if Michael Vick... was a white hurricane?

what-if-michael-vick-had-michele-bachmann-eyes-e1314383103349.jpg


What if Michael Vick... had Michele Bachman's eyes?
 
The premise is the thought of an 11-13 year old who has an identity problem. Of course, this article could have been targeting that demographic.

ESPN has been lost for quite some time and is going the way of MTV - falling short on their respective core competency.
 
chicagotexan2 said:
It is imposible for me to take this article seriously. They crapped on thier credibility right from the start. It is a cheap and weak ass attempt to get attention over an irrelevant aspect of his own demise. So being black may have played a role in his destructive behavior but being black put him back on the road to redemption? No it's bs. This is the lady gagafication of writing. I'll make a point about animal cruelty by wearing a dress made entirely of raw meat. Wow how profound and enlightening. No it's just Weak weak weak.
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When will any of you realize that the mileage this has been given on here, and elsewhere, is all that matters at the end of the day?

It's like bitching about a bad jingle on a radio or TV commercial. "Hey, have you heard the stupid jingle for that local car dealership, Joe's Good Deal Dealership? Man it sucks." But yet you remembered it AND you remembered the company's name. And you talked to someone about it.

Mission accomplished if you're the person or entity wanting publicity.

Plus, the degree to which people are banging on this article is amazing. It's just an article. No animals were harmed in the making of that article. No children were abused. It was just words. But it sure got you guys talking.

This is how people like Richard Justice make a living, and KEEP on making a living. Clicks, discussions, more clicks, rinse and repeat. Not saying anybody here is dumb for having discussed this topic. Just saying that we're a part of the machinery here.
 
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