FANGIO, NAPEAR APOLOGIZE FOR COMMENTS
NFL head coach, former NBA announcer show that ignorance is part of the problem
In these red-hot, racially sensitive times, people have to think very carefully about what they say before it comes out of their mouth.
Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio is finding that out now, just as NBA announcer Grant Napear did earlier this week.
Surely Fangio would like to take back the words he used on a video call with reporters, when he said: “I don’t see racism at all in the NFL, I don’t see discrimination in the NFL.”
Obviously it exists. The league has admitted as much by making changes to the Rooney Rule, then saying more are needed.
Anyway, almost immediately, the hammering of Fangio began.
Seahawks safety Quandre
Diggs asked, “Is he blind?”
His teammate, running back Chris Carson called Fangio “a joke.”
Similar reactions came from other players and personnel in and around the league through Wednesday. Talk show hosts piled on.
The popular consensus: Fangio was being honest, that he doesn’t see it, but also that his ignorance is part of the problem. Especially in the position he holds.
As the leader of such a large group, a head coach must be educated and in tune with all matters — especially such important ones — so he can do something to kill any signs of racism in his room.
Fangio might not have a racist bone in his body, and by all accounts, neither does Napear. But after the latter was asked about Black Lives Matter — a movement that began in 2013 as a campaign against systematic racism and violence toward black people — Napear tweeted “All Lives Matter … Every Single One!” and soon wished he hadn’t.
The public response indicated many believed the 60-year old Napear was mocking Black Lives Matter. In turn, he was fired from his job at Sports 1140 KHTK in Sacramento, then resigned as the Kings TV playby-play announcer.
“(I was) not as educated on
BLM as I thought,” Napear said in an apology published by the Sacramento Bee. “I had no idea what when I said ‘All Lives Matter’ that it was counter to what BLM is trying to get across.”
Fangio also issued a statement late Wednesday, acknowledging what he said “regarding racism and discrimination in the NFL was wrong.
“While I have never personally experienced those terrible things first-hand during my 33 years in the NFL, I understand that many players, coaches and staff have different perspectives,” he said. “I should have been more clear and I am sorry.”
Over the past few days, NFL players, coaches, managers and owners have come out with strong statements about the horrific murder of African-american George Floyd by a white cop in Minneapolis.
While eloquently sending out messages to a world that is suddenly sitting up and taking notice, those speaking out are educating all white people who never imagined they were even the slightest bit racist, but also have no idea what black people endure. We could fill this entire paper every day with all the strong, impactful, moving words and feelings that are being shared.
Closed eyes are being opened. The one thing we can all agree on, I think, is a hatred for the looting and vandalizing taking place across the U.S. under the excuse of protesting. Honest, hard-working people are being robbed and having their establishments destroyed by individuals hiding behind masks that are protecting them from the virus.
We don’t know who is committing the crimes, nor does it matter. They’re wrong and they’re distracting us from the messages that should be making our world a better place to live.
SECOND AND LONG: Drew Brees reiterated his position in 2016 when he spoke of how both his grandfathers fought for the country and that he “will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.”
NBA star Lebron James blasted Brees on Twitter, asking the New Orleans Saints QB if he “literally still don’t understand why (Colin Kaepernick) was kneeling on one knee?” Yes, these are very sensitive times in the U.S. … Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott made a $1 million pledge on his Instagram account “to improve police training and address systematic racism through education and advocacy in our country.”
EXTRA POINTS: With Luke Kuechly’s retirement becoming official this week, it appears the former Panthers All-pro linebacker will be joining the team’s scouting staff. Don’t imagine it will be his last job. Can’t you just see the cerebral Kuechly as a coach or GM or TV analyst some day? … Jonathan Vilma is switching teams and going up a league. A former middle linebacker who spent his 10 year career with the New York Jets and Saints from 2004-13, Vilma is leaving his job as an ESPN college analyst job to join Fox, where he’ll be paired with Kenny Albert on NFL game broadcasts.