Media Attitudes

[devans]

Last weekend <?:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region> played <st1:country-region w:st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region> at <st1lace w:st="on">Rugby</st1lace> as part of the Six nations championship. The Scottish Winger, Thom Evans, eluded a tackle and started down the left sideline. He had a pretty open path to the score line but the opposing England Winger Ugo Monye a black player of Nigerian parents, had an angle from the centre of the pitch to make a tackle. Wingers are the speed men on the <st1lace w:st="on">Rugby</st1lace> field by the way.
The commentator said something like, "Evans is through and no one is going to catch him". Monye showed good pace to come across and just get enough of Thom Evans legs to cause him to slip over the side line. The commentary team expressed surprise that Monye had managed to stop Evans making the try (score) and complemented him on his pace. They said something like. "Evans is thought to be the fastest man on the field but Monye looks like he may want a say in that". I had never heard of Evans befoe by the way. he is not a big star.
The point in my story is to show that in some places Black players, even wingers, are not automatically thought to be the speedsters, and the white men the slow coaches. Most people in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">UK</st1lace></st1:country-region> have not yet been brainwashed to think like this, and the media do not appear to be afraid to see things as they are. They expressed surprise that the black <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">England</st1lace></st1:country-region> player caught the white Scottish player. I think they had it in their mind that Monye was not as fast. In fact he is very quick - just like Evans. I've seen the same kind of accuracy and fairness in Soccer games where black players are described as "not the fastest" or doing well to stay with the pace of a speedy white player, and vice versa of course where the opposite is true.
Can you imagine a similar situation in an NFL game? A commentator expressing surprise that a black cornerback was able to keep pace with Matt Jones or Kevin Curtis? Of course not, because white equates to slow possession receiver and all cornerbacks are lightening fast aren't they.
I'm not trying to gloat here. I want to confirm your suspicions and claims that things are not right in the American sports media. I have watched NFL football for over 20 years and can count similar fairness and accuracy on one hand. I can remember Don Beebe being described as fast and Billy Brooks (a black bills receiver) being described as a possession receiver. I recall Jeff Query was described as speedy and Travis Jervey, and I think that is it in the last 20 odd years. Otherwise it has been a depressing succession of stereotypical low risk descriptions of gritty team players, blue collar over-achievers, possession receivers with great hands and smarts, on-the-field coaches and fan favourites with non stop motors. Enough to make you think you need a Special Olympics for white people. So keep fighting back against this inept reporting and demand quality and accuracy from the media. I believe that truth has a habit of emerging in the end.

 

[PhillyBirds]

This doesn't surprise me, as rugby is a sport that relies less on freak athleticism and more on strategy and fundamentals. Of course, having blinding speed helps, but it does you no good if you can't pass or kick properly.

Playing scrumhalf or flyhalf are probably some of the toughest positions to play in all of sports. There's so much rapid decision-making involved, that it makes little difference what 40-time you run if you can't call a play, or execute a pass.

That being said, I'm quite happy that I've mastered the art of scrumhalf on a college level.

 

[devans]

Phillybirds, I'm pleased to hear you are playing Rugby. I think it is a great game. I played the odd game on the wing to fill in for a couple of teams and really enjoyed it. And the social side is usually great as well. I agree with you that scrum half is a difficult position. Together with fly half that is almost the quarterback part of a rugby team. Also scrum half tend to be small and quick. Even though they are often the smallest player on the team they play alongside the big forwards and have to get stuck in and take on men much bigger than themselves.
There are some rugby threads in the other sports section that may be of interest and good luck with the Rugby.

 

[Europe]

Devans, I assume you watch football on Sky. It seems they have 3 black color commentators on the games. I don't know how many total there are, but it seems disproportionate.
Also, do you think the announcers, both black and white, are too negative? They never seem to give the offensive player credit for scoring. It seems it's so often called a mistake by the defense. Maybe being in the US I am used to the offensive players given more credit by the announcers or maybe that's just the nature of soccer.
Are there limits on foreign players in rugby? Are there limits on non EU players only?

 

[j41181]

I see little difference between Rugby and Football (American). These guys endure rumbles and tumbles like those US footballers without any shoulder pads. In terms of athleticism, many rugby players are on par with those black running backs, fullbacks and wide receivers of the NFL. If you want to find further proof that whites really can excel in football as running backs, fullbacks, and wide receivers, look to rugby.

 

[Guest]

This doesn't surprise me, as rugby is a sport that relies less on freak athleticism and more on strategy and fundamentals. Of course, having blinding speed helps, but it does you no good if you can't pass or kick properly.

Playing scrumhalf or flyhalf are probably some of the toughest positions to play in all of sports. There's so much rapid decision-making involved, that it makes little difference what 40-time you run if you can't call a play, or execute a pass.

Isn't that the point though...that many White athletes do have "freak athleticism" and many blacks do not? If Whites need to rely on strategy and fundamentals to compete then the basic precepts of the caste system are legitimate and will remain.

I think it's important to understand that while it is true that Whites tend to stick to fundamentals more and play better team ball that there are also White athletes who have unequaled genetic talent.

 

[PhillyBirds]

I see what you mean Latspread, and I think more or less it comes down to that whites aren't being minimized in favor of blacks as they are in North American sports. If someone makes a terrific play in say, an NFL game, the announcers would, without fail, praise the athleticism of the player in question.

I suppose more or less my point was, that fundamentals trump athleticism in terms of what people and announcers notice. The skills of the game sit at the forefront, while North American sports see more of your 40-time. Sorry if that was unclear.

 

[devans]

Devans, I assume you watch football on Sky. It seems they have 3 black color commentators on the games. I don't know how many total there are, but it seems disproportionate.

Also, do you think the announcers, both black and white, are too negative? They never seem to give the offensive player credit for scoring. It seems it's so often called a mistake by the defense. Maybe being in the US I am used to the offensive players given more credit by the announcers or maybe that's just the nature of soccer.

Are there limits on foreign players in rugby? Are there limits on non EU players only?

I've not really noticed about the ratio of announcers to be honest with you. I have noticed how nearly every goal is attributed to a defensive mistake though, and you are right in the U.S. more credit is given to offensive play (unless a white safety is around)
I am not sure about the rules on foreign players in club Rugby - they are probably pretty lax as there are numerous players from Polynesia, Fiji, South Africa, Tonga, New Zealand, France and so on in British club rugby. Not quite as bad as the premier league but getting close. Bear in mind however it is now a business, and if American Football was played worldwide the NFL might have a simillar situation as money has a worlwide attraction. It's starting to happen in the NBA I believe.