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Sister at ESPN Says College Athletes Need to Have a Revolution
by Jemele Hill, ESPN.com
The problems in college athletics have been much in the news recently — from pay-for-play to unethical conduct by coaches and administrators — and it’s become clear that only a drastic measure can address the hypocrisy, the rampant rule violations and the widespread deceit permeating our so-called amateur collegiate sports.
A revolution is needed at the college level. But the only way we’ll see one is if college athletes do something so radical that it not only makes the powers-that-be take notice but jeopardizes their bottom line.
It’s an action that would require commitment, planning, patience and sacrifice.
It would come with great risk. It would make college athletes vulnerable to ridicule and criticism, and it might even have a bearing on their professional aspirations.
But it’s time. College athletes need to organize and stage a massive boycott, because unless their voice is heard this inequitable system will never change.
ESPN Talks about the Fab Five: What It Says about College Athletes Being Paid
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
I lived through the Fab Five era within college basketball, literally breathing the same air and vicariously identifying with the brothers who brought power and style to the sport. I was approximately the same age as the five freshmen who took their team to the NCAA championship, and I even wore black socks on the court (yes, I am ashamed to admit that). An ESPN special recently took my mind back down memory lane by replaying the experience of the Fab Five and how they changed college basketball forever. To this day, there has been nothing like them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if their feat is never replicated again.
The most intriguing aspect of the Fab Five special on ESPN was not their exploits on the basketball court (which were amazing), it was the conversation about money. When these five young men stepped onto the court for the University of Michigan, they instantly became cash cows for their universities. Sales of University of Michigan merchandise went from $1.5 million per year to over $10 million per year shortly after their first season. Jalen Rose, one of the members of the Fab Five, mentioned seeing that Nike had released a sneaker named after the group, and they regularly found their academic schedules being interrupted with trips around the world to promote a brand that was making everyone rich except for their own families.
ESPN Writer Howard Bryant Says Domestic Assault Arrest was Racially-Motivated
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
ESPN baseball writer Howard Bryant’s arrest has now taken a very interesting turn. Buz Eisenberg, the attorney for Bryant, claims that race was a factor in his arrest.
”Mr. Bryant was the victim of excessive force,” Eisenberg said, according to Recorder.com. ”Police responded to the scene and rather than do an investigation they made an arrest of a black man with a white wife."
Bryant, who is 42-years old, was charged with domestic assault and battery, as well as battery on a police officer. Five witnesses claim that they saw the writer choke his wife and force her into a car. He was freed on $5,000 bail on the same day.
Since the arrest, some things have changed. Bryant’s wife, Veronique Bryant, is now claiming that Mr. Bryant never assaulted her. Thus far, ESPN has declined to comment.
Your Black Sports: FOX Ignores Running Back Knowshon Moreno’s Dynamic Play
Running back Knowshon Moreno was a hot topic of conversation during this week’s teleconference with Georgia coach Mark Richt.
Moreno’s 18 carry, 168-yard, three-touchdown effort in Saturday’s 56-17 win over Central Michigan obviously wowed the sellout crowd at Sanford Stadium, but it was his hurdle of Chippewa safety Vince Agnew to complete a 29-yard run that dropped jaws.
It was a play that Georgia fans will no doubt be talking about for quite a while, but it was one that many in the country watching ESPN did not get to see except for a brief glance during a quick preview of the Bulldogs highlights to come following a commercial break.
When the network did its Top 10 plays, Moreno’s highlight was not included. Richt was asked about the omission.
“I think they missed the boat or didn’t do their homework or something,” Richt said. “Normally they do a good job with that, so it looks like somebody would have noticed that. It didn’t make their highlights, but it’s going to make ours for a long time.”
A representative from ESPN’s local online affiliate claimed that FOX did not put the highlight in its highlight package to other networks…
Your Black Sports: Players Shut Down Brandon Marshall’s Political Statement
No Obamamania for Brandon Marshall
By: Dave Zirin
All Brandon Marshall wanted was the opportunity to be part of the moment. The Denver Broncos wide receiver wanted to feel connected to the thousands who have flooded into the streets and the millions in a state of shock and awe around the world, celebrating the election of Barack Obama. [...]
Unfortunately, we will never know what would have happened, or how the crowd would have reacted. We will never have that image of a football player bringing politics to the field. Marshall did score a touchdown, but as he removed the glove from his pocket, his teammates stopped him.
The problem was that Marshall’s touchdown came with only one minute and twenty-two seconds left to play, putting the Broncos ahead, 34-30. His teammates–particularly fellow wideout Brandon Stokley and tight end Tony Scheffler–saw what he was about to do and stopped him, fearful of an automatic fifteen-yard penalty for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”
One can be charitable toward Stokley and Sheffler, given the moment in the game–although the image of two white players surrounding a black player to block his political statement is the antithesis of the very ideas Marshall was attempting to communicate [...]
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