Here's an article that at least acknowledgesthe tip of the iceberg when it comes toracism against White football and basketball players, but the author feels compelled to do so by mixing in a strong dose of silliness with the "redheads" stuff.
Is there a bias against redheads in football?
Stereotypes still pervasive in sports
by Mike Bianchi
Bruce Miller has been victimized by bias throughout his life.
He has heard taunts and teasing from people who make fun of his color.
He has had to overcome a pigmentation prejudice.
"I think there is a bias toward redheads in football," says Miller, the UCF star who played in Saturday's East-West Shrine Game at the Citrus Bowl.
He is mostly kidding, of course, but I believe Miller to be the poster boy for preconceived notions in sports. With his red hair and freckles, he looks like the kid next door and not like one of the most relentless and fearsome football players in UCF history.
Miller, a defensive end in college who was the two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, broke the UCF career record for sacks with 35.5 and led the nation in career sacks among active players last season. Yet he was barely even recruited out of high school and is considered, at best, a late-round NFL draft prospect.
"There are stereotypes all over sports and society," Miller says. "Is the redheaded thing one of them? Who knows. Maybe there are some people who believe redheads aren't as athletic as others."
Don't laugh because there is a long history of prejudice against redheads â€" or "gingers" as they are often called â€" dating back thousands of years. There is even a term â€" "gingerism" â€" that addresses the bias.
Remember the controversial "Ginger Kids" episode on "South Park'' that portrayed redheads as soulless, creepy and stupid? That 2005 episode spawned a Facebook page for "National Kick a Ginger Day" and there were actual cases of redheads who were assaulted in schools. One police spokesman in Canada told the Vancouver Sun at the time that kicking redheads was considered a "hate crime."
But I digress.
Although we have made progress throughout history, stereotypes in sports are still widely prevalent today. The Magic's J.J. Redick says there are preconceived notions based on a number of factors and says "every player, every position and every race" has to deal with them.
Redick, for instance, has had to deal with the "White Men Can't Jump" stereotype popularized in the old Wesley Snipes-Woody Harrelson movie. Even though he was the all-time leading scorer in ACC history when he played at Duke, he was considered by many to be too slow and not physically gifted enough to be a factor in the NBA. Ask yourself this: Would that have been the perception of Redick if he were a black player from Kentucky?
And then there's UCF quarterback Jeff Godfrey, who was discriminated against because of his size (generously listed as 5-foot-11 in the UCF media guide). Even though he was the all-time leading passer in Dade County history at Miami Central High School, none of the big-time BCS schools recruited him as a quarterback. He signed with UCF and has quickly distinguished himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
"It motivates me a lot," Godfrey said during last season. "A lot of colleges said I was too short to get the job done. Me and Drew Brees are the same height, and he won a Super Bowl. It has nothing do with height; it's the heart that you have."
At least now Godfrey doesn't have to deal with the "black quarterback" stereotype that was pervasive in sports for so many years. The myth that African Americans couldn't effectively play quarterback has been dispelled by players like Doug Williams, Warren Moon, Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick. Both quarterbacks in college football's national championship game â€" Auburn's Cam Newton and Oregon's Darron Thomas â€" are black.
The bias that once plagued black quarterbacks now curses white running backs. Just ask Peyton Hillis, the Cleveland Browns star who this season became the first white running back in 25 years to run for 1,000 yards.
Because of his race, Hillis was always pegged as a blocking fullback who didn't have the speed or elusiveness to actually the run the ball. He only got a chance as a primary ballcarrier this season when injuries forced Cleveland coach Eric Mangini to use him. Hillis recently told national radio host Dan Patrick that opposing players regularly mock his race.
"Every team did it," Hillis said. "They'll say, 'You white boy, you ain't gonna run on us today.' "
Hillis ran for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns and proved a very valuable point.
It doesn't matter if you're black or white, small or tall, blond-haired or redheaded.
In sports, perspiration is more important than pigmentation.
You should be judged on what you do; not on how you look.
Read Mike Bianchi's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/openmike and listen to his radio show every weekday from 6 to 9 a.m. on 740-AM. You can e-mail him at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com.
<a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/os-bianchi-red-head-ginger-20110122,0,7135339.column" target="_blank">
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/os-bianchi-red-head-ginger-20110122,0,7135339.column</A>Edited by: Don Wassall
Is there a bias against redheads in football?
Stereotypes still pervasive in sports
by Mike Bianchi
Bruce Miller has been victimized by bias throughout his life.
He has heard taunts and teasing from people who make fun of his color.
He has had to overcome a pigmentation prejudice.
"I think there is a bias toward redheads in football," says Miller, the UCF star who played in Saturday's East-West Shrine Game at the Citrus Bowl.
He is mostly kidding, of course, but I believe Miller to be the poster boy for preconceived notions in sports. With his red hair and freckles, he looks like the kid next door and not like one of the most relentless and fearsome football players in UCF history.
Miller, a defensive end in college who was the two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, broke the UCF career record for sacks with 35.5 and led the nation in career sacks among active players last season. Yet he was barely even recruited out of high school and is considered, at best, a late-round NFL draft prospect.
"There are stereotypes all over sports and society," Miller says. "Is the redheaded thing one of them? Who knows. Maybe there are some people who believe redheads aren't as athletic as others."
Don't laugh because there is a long history of prejudice against redheads â€" or "gingers" as they are often called â€" dating back thousands of years. There is even a term â€" "gingerism" â€" that addresses the bias.
Remember the controversial "Ginger Kids" episode on "South Park'' that portrayed redheads as soulless, creepy and stupid? That 2005 episode spawned a Facebook page for "National Kick a Ginger Day" and there were actual cases of redheads who were assaulted in schools. One police spokesman in Canada told the Vancouver Sun at the time that kicking redheads was considered a "hate crime."
But I digress.
Although we have made progress throughout history, stereotypes in sports are still widely prevalent today. The Magic's J.J. Redick says there are preconceived notions based on a number of factors and says "every player, every position and every race" has to deal with them.
Redick, for instance, has had to deal with the "White Men Can't Jump" stereotype popularized in the old Wesley Snipes-Woody Harrelson movie. Even though he was the all-time leading scorer in ACC history when he played at Duke, he was considered by many to be too slow and not physically gifted enough to be a factor in the NBA. Ask yourself this: Would that have been the perception of Redick if he were a black player from Kentucky?
And then there's UCF quarterback Jeff Godfrey, who was discriminated against because of his size (generously listed as 5-foot-11 in the UCF media guide). Even though he was the all-time leading passer in Dade County history at Miami Central High School, none of the big-time BCS schools recruited him as a quarterback. He signed with UCF and has quickly distinguished himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
"It motivates me a lot," Godfrey said during last season. "A lot of colleges said I was too short to get the job done. Me and Drew Brees are the same height, and he won a Super Bowl. It has nothing do with height; it's the heart that you have."
At least now Godfrey doesn't have to deal with the "black quarterback" stereotype that was pervasive in sports for so many years. The myth that African Americans couldn't effectively play quarterback has been dispelled by players like Doug Williams, Warren Moon, Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick. Both quarterbacks in college football's national championship game â€" Auburn's Cam Newton and Oregon's Darron Thomas â€" are black.
The bias that once plagued black quarterbacks now curses white running backs. Just ask Peyton Hillis, the Cleveland Browns star who this season became the first white running back in 25 years to run for 1,000 yards.
Because of his race, Hillis was always pegged as a blocking fullback who didn't have the speed or elusiveness to actually the run the ball. He only got a chance as a primary ballcarrier this season when injuries forced Cleveland coach Eric Mangini to use him. Hillis recently told national radio host Dan Patrick that opposing players regularly mock his race.
"Every team did it," Hillis said. "They'll say, 'You white boy, you ain't gonna run on us today.' "
Hillis ran for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns and proved a very valuable point.
It doesn't matter if you're black or white, small or tall, blond-haired or redheaded.
In sports, perspiration is more important than pigmentation.
You should be judged on what you do; not on how you look.
Read Mike Bianchi's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/openmike and listen to his radio show every weekday from 6 to 9 a.m. on 740-AM. You can e-mail him at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com.
<a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/os-bianchi-red-head-ginger-20110122,0,7135339.column" target="_blank">
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/os-bianchi-red-head-ginger-20110122,0,7135339.column</A>Edited by: Don Wassall
