Joe Paterno Comments On Black Athletes Without The Controversy
[Originally posted: Friday, 04 November, 2005]
[See PTI Video] Another prominent collegiate football coach has weighed in on the black athletes. In a teleconference with Big Ten coaches and the media, Paterno identified black athletes as one cause, among a list of others, for the increase in scoring. ESPN reports:
At one point, the topic of the teleconference turned to the increased scoring in the Big Ten this season. After first mentioning that improved indoor practice facilities have helped the conference recruit kids from warm-weather climates, Paterno offered a supplemental explanation.
"You have to be careful the way you say things sometimes," the Penn State coach said. "Poor [Air Force coach] Fisher DeBerry got in trouble, but the black athlete has made a big difference. They have changed the whole tempo of the game. Black athletes have just done a great job as athletes and as people in turning the game around.
These comments are reminiscent of those made by Air Force Academy football coach Fisher DeBerry last week. Coach DeBerry comments were widely reported in the media (AP, ESPN's Pardon The Interruption) and were reported by many bloggers (Tim Ellsworth, Incongruent-Affect) as well as prominent Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon. What is different this this time is the almost total lack of uproar in the media. The ESPN story is dated November 4th, three days after the remarks were made. I could only find one other prominent media story on the incident. The Chicago Tribune posted a story on November 2nd but Paterno's comments were buried near the end of the article and prompted no commentary whatsoever.
Why did the media lambaste Air Force Academy coach DeBerry last week and virtually ignore the comments made by Coach Paterno? I don't think either coach's comments were out of line in this current politically-correct environment and racial hyper-sensitivity. Each coach was stating a facts regarding black athletes and their achievements and role within each school's football program. I am inclined to think that after many of those in the media supported DeBerry and criticized the criticism he received for his comments, writers are now thinking twice about blindly criticizing anyone commenting on race in the public. Has the DeBerry incident awakened a sense of rationality and thoughtfulness regarding those who speak on racial issues? I surely hope so.
See also: Black Kids Can Run
(h/t: Outside The Beltway, OTB previous, Off wing Opinion)
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