ESPN Analyst calls RG3 a ‘Cornball Brother’ because he may be a Republican and has a white fiance

[key2thecup]

ESPN Host Calls Robert Griffin III A "Cornball Brother"

ESPN personality Rob Parker is a talking head on "First Take," which is a terrible show. It's the lowest common denominator on a network that features multiple programs devoted to people yelling at each other. And Parker is not exactly a bastion of fine journalism himself.

But Thursday, Parker took it to a new level while discussing Washington Redskins QB/sensation Robert Griffin III. Parker basically said Griffin is "distancing himself from black people" after the QB made comments how being African-American does not define him. Parker went on to criticize Griffin for having a white fiancee and for identifying politically as a Republican.

Parker's inane line of reasoning stems from an interview in USA Today, where Griffin said the following:

“I am an African-American in America. That will never change. But I don’t have to be defined by that…We always try to find similarities in life, no matter what it is so they’re going to try to put you in a box with other African-American quarterbacks – Vick, Newton, Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon…That’s the goal. Just to go out and not try to prove anybody wrong but just let your talents speak for themselves.”

The Big Lead pulled the best quotes from Parker's appearance on First Take today, and the money quote is this:

"It makes me wonder deeper about him. I’ve talked to some people in Washington D.C. My question, which is just a straight, honest question, is he a brother or is he a cornball brother”

First and foremost, what does that even mean? Parker is questioning Griffin's level of blackness simply because Griffin doesn't want to be defined solely by his race. Parker said this: "We all know he has a white fiancee. People always talk about how he’s Republican. There’s no information at all. I’m just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue."

Honestly, what difference does it make? Does Griffin have to prove something to Rob Parker or the world at large about his race? Parker is insinuating that Griffin is rejecting his own skin color based on his love life or his voting record, which is insane and offensive. Nothing about him as a person affects the enjoyment we all get from watching him perform on the field. Obviously, that sentiment cuts both ways - he could be a terrible guy but great on the field, and we'd still like him all the same. Thankfully, he seems to be a pretty great guy and has been since his Baylor days. What is the point of taking a shot at him based on some innocuous and fairly correct comment.

The fun thing about RGIII, the thing that makes him so special already, is that he bears little resemblance to other players who have come before him. The lazy comparison is to equate Griffin with Mike Vick, or Warren Moon, and Griffin realizes that. But he's more accurate than Vick, more exciting than Daunte Culpepper or Donovan McNabb. Why not just let him be... RGIII, instead of constantly comparing him to other black quarterbacks that have preceded him in the NFL? In a sense, this is similar to the backlash Cam Newton faced earlier this year for his reaction to his team losing. Tom Brady is just as demonstrative on the field, and Jay Cutler is just as much of a "malcontent," but for some reason it seems like Newton endured weeks of bad press simply because he was mad after not playing well.

There is still a strange racial expectation attached to the quarterback position, and Griffin will most likely have to rail against it for the rest of his career. But for now, we should all sit back and enjoy the ride.

Watch the stupidity below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHhv7VDab3U

http://www.vibe.com/article/espn-host-calls-robert-griffin-iii-cornball-brother

[Strawberries]

[Wetcoaster]

Maybe Parker gets shown the door like Rush Limbaugh.

Several hours after an ESPN commentator questioned whether Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is authentically black, ESPN said those comments were out of line.

In a statement released by an ESPN spokesman, the network said, “The comments were inappropriate and we are evaluating our next steps.”

It will be interesting to see what those “next steps” are, and whether they lead to the commentator who made the comments, Rob Parker, to lose his job. When another ESPN commentator, Rush Limbaugh, made racially charged comments about another quarterback, Donovan McNabb, that ended up being the last day that Limbaugh appeared on ESPN’s NFL pregame show.

In Parker’s case, the comments would seem to be even further outside the bounds of what’s acceptable than Limbaugh’s claim that McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to promote a black quarterback. Parker went so far as to say that being engaged to a white woman somehow made Griffin “not really” black. That’s way, way outside the bounds of what’s generally considered an acceptable part of the discourse.

http://profootballta...-inappropriate/

[:D]

He'll need to be careful not to burn himself....

[Jägermeister]

Parker is a goofball brother.

[Common sense]

Because to be black, you need to vote Democrat and marry another black person.

I wonder if it works the other way around.

[Pears]

Because a black man having a white woman as a fianceè is totally illegal right?

Idiot.

[theminister]

Umm... he is aware who the President is..... right?

/ The USA, where everything is black or white.

[D.Doughty]

If a black man dated an asian.... what would he say? haha

[Wetcoaster]

If a black man dated an asian.... what would he say? haha

[Red Light Racicot]

Looks like you guys already got this one covered, thanks a bunch

[BurnabyJoe]

How is this not racism? What a dipcrap.

[etsen3]

What a moron. Those type of comments do nothing to solve racial problems in society. RG3 is a human being and an individual, he's allowed to vote for whoever he wants and he's allowed to marry whoever he wants. What this Parker guy is doing is promoting stereotypes for his own race by implying that true black people have to act a certain way. In fact it shouldn't even matter how "black" someone is. Just let people live their lives.

[DonLever]

I thought the comment came from Rev. Al Sharpton who is known for such comments.

[Electro Rock]

I guess its difficult for an African American man of Parker's generation to understand the worldview of young blacks who came of age after anti black racism ceased to be national doctrine in the U.S.

I find it difficult to explain how much the U.S. changed in that regard in the early '90s.

[Monty]

He'll need to be careful not to burn himself....

[TOMapleLaughs]

No it's okay. He's black too.

[Mr. Ambien]

No it's okay. He's black too.

[The Colt 45s]

People are surprised? He is from Copperas Cove, a small town in Central Texas. He went to the world's largest Baptist college, Baylor Univeristy in Waco, Texas, for four years on scholarship.

I have friends that knew him in high school. He was an amazing QB back then--took a nobody team to the state finals. From everything they have ever said, he has always been an outstanding person and has lots of integrity.

People might not agree with him, but he is right. Your character and witness matters.

[Trelane42]

Because a black man having a white woman as a fianceè is totally illegal right?