Just thought I'd share some thoughts about one of the more notable
victims of the Caste system in recent times. While Steve Tasker was
recognized as a special teams dynamo, and voted to the Pro Bowl several
times in that capacity, he was never really given a chance to be a
contributing WR. I remember very clearly one season, in the early '90s,
when virtually every Buffalo Bill WR was injured during the final 4
weeks or so of the regular season, and so Tasker was forced into duty
as a starting WR. He went nuts, putting up great numbers every week he
played. QB Jim Kelly was quoted as saying how Tasker's performance
didn't surprise him at all, because the team had never had a defensive
back who could cover him in practice. This amazing statement went over
the heads of the sports "journalists," but it provides a glaring
example of the discrimination that exists in the NFL. Think about this;
Tasker could not be covered in pracice by any Bill DB the team had
during his years he played there, and during his one stint as a regular
WR, he performed like a real star. Yet despite this, the team never
thought to put a WR on the field whom none of its defensive backs could
cover in practice? And even after that great 4 week performance at WR,
Tasker was sent right back to his "place" as a special teams leader,
without anyone questioning it? We all know the reason behind this, and
it had nothing to do with Tasker's ability or lack thereof. Finally,
and few of you will remember this, but during Tasker's last home game
in Buffalo before he retired, the team honored him with a Steve Tasker
Day celebration. Nice gesture, huh? Well, yes, but what happened in the
early part of the game was absolutely unbelievable and was not
commented upon at all by anyone in the media, to my knowledge. During
the opening kickoff (I think it was the opening, might have been
another kickoff, but very early in the game), Tasker protested, in a
very mild way, to the officials about something. HE WAS EJECTED FROM
THE GAME! That's right- on Steve Tasker Day, when he was supposed to be
honored by the organization and the fans, this hapless white player was
thrown out of the game during its very early stages. I was watching the
game, and neither of the idiotic announcers protested one bit. There
was no mention of how rare it is for any NFL player to be ejected from
any game, let alone the player being honored during his final home
game. I have seen many players do a whole lot more than Tasker did in
mouthing off very briefly, and in a very non-threatening manner,
without even being penalized, let alone ejected. Anyhow, I found it
incredible, and wondered if anyone else remembers it.
victims of the Caste system in recent times. While Steve Tasker was
recognized as a special teams dynamo, and voted to the Pro Bowl several
times in that capacity, he was never really given a chance to be a
contributing WR. I remember very clearly one season, in the early '90s,
when virtually every Buffalo Bill WR was injured during the final 4
weeks or so of the regular season, and so Tasker was forced into duty
as a starting WR. He went nuts, putting up great numbers every week he
played. QB Jim Kelly was quoted as saying how Tasker's performance
didn't surprise him at all, because the team had never had a defensive
back who could cover him in practice. This amazing statement went over
the heads of the sports "journalists," but it provides a glaring
example of the discrimination that exists in the NFL. Think about this;
Tasker could not be covered in pracice by any Bill DB the team had
during his years he played there, and during his one stint as a regular
WR, he performed like a real star. Yet despite this, the team never
thought to put a WR on the field whom none of its defensive backs could
cover in practice? And even after that great 4 week performance at WR,
Tasker was sent right back to his "place" as a special teams leader,
without anyone questioning it? We all know the reason behind this, and
it had nothing to do with Tasker's ability or lack thereof. Finally,
and few of you will remember this, but during Tasker's last home game
in Buffalo before he retired, the team honored him with a Steve Tasker
Day celebration. Nice gesture, huh? Well, yes, but what happened in the
early part of the game was absolutely unbelievable and was not
commented upon at all by anyone in the media, to my knowledge. During
the opening kickoff (I think it was the opening, might have been
another kickoff, but very early in the game), Tasker protested, in a
very mild way, to the officials about something. HE WAS EJECTED FROM
THE GAME! That's right- on Steve Tasker Day, when he was supposed to be
honored by the organization and the fans, this hapless white player was
thrown out of the game during its very early stages. I was watching the
game, and neither of the idiotic announcers protested one bit. There
was no mention of how rare it is for any NFL player to be ejected from
any game, let alone the player being honored during his final home
game. I have seen many players do a whole lot more than Tasker did in
mouthing off very briefly, and in a very non-threatening manner,
without even being penalized, let alone ejected. Anyhow, I found it
incredible, and wondered if anyone else remembers it.
