Sports Columnist Jason Whitlock seems to think so.

African-American football players caught up in the rebellion and buffoonery of hip hop culture have given NFL owners and coaches a justifiable reason to whiten their rosters. That will be the legacy left by Chad, Larry and Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, Terrell Owens, Michael Vick and all the other football bojanglers.

Those are STRONG words.

Whitlock goes on to point out that the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, who are two of the ‘model franchises’ in the NFL are also two of the “whitest” teams in the league and that it is no coincidence. Whitlock isn’t trying to say that white athletes are better, he tries to make the point that the hip hop culture that most black athletes are involved in doesn’t make for good team work. He picks out two players to buttress his stance, Chad Johnson and Larry Johnson, letting them serve as a microcosm for the modern day black athlete. My problem with Whitlock’s stance aside from his self hating “Uncle Ruckus” inspired insults (the bojangles/minstrel show comments were a little harsh), is that he’s pointing the finger at the wrong culprit as ‘proof’ for his stance. If the foundation of your argument isn’t solid, everything you say after tends to lose its effectiveness.

Since when has it become acceptable to blame music for the individual actions of grown men?

When Chad Johson throws a tantrum on the sidelines, is that a result of his deep rooted disrespect for authority due to the music he listens to? When Marcus Vick steps on an opposing players leg, did he learn to be violent from N.W.A.?

At the end of the day, it does a great disservice to everyone when you throw personal responsibility out of the window to focus on other things. Would it be too much work to point out a lot of these guys in question grew up without a father figure in the home? Is it hard to envision someone growing up in tough neighborhood having a problem with authority figures? One area where Whitlock hit the nail on the head is the coddling and preferential treatment star athletes get starting in high school and even middle school in some cases. Before they sign a multi-million dollar contract, a crew of teachers and coaches have already enabled this kind of behavior. Doesn’t it seem logical to take someones past experiences into account when trying to dissect their current and future behavior? You’d be surprised how you can come to a sensible conclusion as to why they act the way they do without pointing the finger at music that had no direct impact on the choices they make.

What about athletes who carry guns? Millionaires don’t need those right???

A lot is made of athletes like Tank Johnson being arrested for carrying guns, but what is NOT made into a big deal is athletes like Dunta Robinson and Antoine Walker who were held at gunpoint in home invasion robberies this year. Dunta and Antoine were not “hanging out in the ghetto” when they were victimized, both men were in their suburban homes. A lot of young black athletes are virtually walking targets because of the amount of money they make. The notion of these guys having weapons automatically evokes a negative reaction when it’s reported, but I’ve yet to see any real insight on TV as to WHY they feel like they need this protection. I remember an old Chris Rock joke that went something like

“Don’t go to parties with metal detectors, sure it feels safe inside, but what about all those niggas waiting outside with guns…… They know you aint got one”

Sure that’s funny to me and you, but theres truth behind the statement…..

I realize that not every athlete with a gun is acting purely on 100% honest intentions, there are some ignorant knuckleheads out there making horrible decisions. All I’m asking is for people to not let the media make up your mind for you. The fact that the majority of these news outlets prioritize magazine sales, television ratings, and website hits over the public’s best interest shouldn’t be forgotten.

The Black Hip Hop Image vs. The Business Of Pro Sports

The image issue is definitely something that won’t go away anytime soon because it’s something that digs deep into America’s psyche. As evidenced by the last two presidential elections, this country is ran and supported by conservative white people. So the images of young, loud, flashy, rebellious black men will NEVER sit well with the majority. Pro sports commissioners realize this and have began taking steps to silence the individuality of “Hip Hop America” within their respective sports. David Stern took a bold step with his dress code for NBA players. Having these men walk into the arena with suits on has nothing to do with looking dapper, and everything to do with separating themselves from images that paying white customers don’t feel comfortable with. I’m willing to bet theres a sizable chunk of people who look at Allen Iverson with an arm full of tattoos, jewelry hanging from his neck, and cornrows on his head and think “he’d probably be stealing my car if he wasn’t playing basketball”.

This is not an issue of racism, but it IS a business decision based on racial insensitivity.

Some time in the future, black athletes are going to have to make a tough decision at the bargaining table. How much longer will they allow their individuality and personalities to be sacrificed for money? When will they concede money in negotiations in exchange for leniency when it comes to expressing themselves when the NFLPA and NBAPA go to the table? If you believe the NFL barring “excessive touchdown celebrations” is to “protect the integrity of the game” or to “speed up the length of the game” you really need to wake up. Where are all of the noble standards when it comes to the frequent TV time outs which halt the game in order to shovel advertisements at the fans? How are they preserving how the game used to be by shoving soft core porn in the form of “Official NFL Cheerleader” websites our way?

Think about that the next time Terrell Owens is blasted for autographing a football in the endzone.