America’s national pastimes, “Sports,” reflect and embody
all of America’s broad societal ills and woes.
With that noted, It’s “interesting” to observe
Trump’s cult, which is composed apparently of
many White Americans. White America, which is the
National Football League’s historical fan
base, longs for a “Great White Hope,” a
“strong” man to rule the day, in both the real
world and the sports world. They long for
strong powerful White men to dominate the game
and rule the day, rule the country, with an
iron fist, hence Brock Purdy and Jason Allen.
The White Quarterback is becoming, right before our eyes,
a rarity.
The response is no different from how White America
searched for a “Great White Hope” to defeat
the nation’s first Black Heavyweight Champion,
the immensely “manly” and uppity Jack Johnson.
Delve into the depths of the Neo-Confederate surge
gripping our nation and unravel the intricate
strands fueling the fervor, the almost savage
zest and fire behind King Trump’s loyalists. What fundamental social dynamics propel the palpable
cultural apprehension, the “fear” of
displacement, and relegation to the periphery
of the American narrative?
Direct your gaze towards the core of America’s national
ethos.
The National Football League is our national religion. It
reflects and embodies our national character
and essence. We are well-dressed cave people.
As the NFL playoffs unfold, the artificial turf is adorned
with Black quarterbacks and coaches,
indispensable protagonists in the riveting
gridiron saga. Their presence, an indomitable
force, has irrevocably altered the racially
polarized landscape of the sporting realm,
defying comparison.
Are we approaching change? Nay, change is already upon us!
We is here baby, and he is him, and he is an
ebony alpha male. My Lord, Mary, sweet momma
of baby Jesus, well slap my behind and call me
Mr. Field General!
Exploring the male soap opera that is the NFL, we can’t
help but confront the “isms” plaguing America
at large, encapsulated within the league’s
century-plus-long narrative. The last
half-century unfolds as a pigskin canvas where
White men, engaged in a work of futility,
relentlessly sought to thwart the ascent of
the Black gladiator. Their manipulation of the
gridiron landscape aimed to favor the
nonathletic White quarterback, with the
coveted “Signal Caller” position enjoying top
status in the real world - where Presidents,
movie stars, astronauts, kings, and queens all
yearn to enter the party with the star
quarterback. Such has been the perennial
desire of men - to be them - and women - to be
with them.
Black quarterbacks, e.g., CJ Stroad, Jordan Love,
Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes are not merely redefining their role; they are
reshaping the very fabric of the game, akin to
the transformation witnessed in other
positions on the field.
MAGA yearns to reclaim their nation and its cherished
pastimes and make them both Alpine snow White
again.
The NFL’s future mirrors America’s evolving tapestry,
profoundly influenced by the contributions of
Black individuals and people of color. The
desire of predominantly White males is evident
- they yearn to reclaim their sporting domain,
aspiring to emulate cultural icons like Elvis,
longing to be the defining figures in a world
characterized by equity and fairness.
The glory days of total domination were fake and
fabricated, only created by excluding Black
people, and other folks of color. The legends
and highlights only really exist because we
weren’t allowed to compete. If we had been,
I’d argue the legends of yesteryear, YA Title,
Bobby Lane, Bart Star, and alas, Johnny U.,
arguably might not shine so bright at their
high school or college if it weren’t for “Jim
Crow,” the deliberate and strategic exclusion
of Black folks from competing on a fair and
balanced field of competition.
There should be an asterisk (*) in place by all NFL
player’s names who shined and made the Hall Of
Fame in Canton, Ohio, because, as we all know,
they achieved all those accolades minus the
most talented and spirited foes not allowed to
participate.
Stop me when I’m lying.
All we’ve ever asked for was fairness and decency. It’s
sadly tragic how trifling White America
appears in denying us that.
Yet, the fortress of White supremacy stands besieged; the
ideals of integration and inclusion unravel
the fraudulent grip on dominance. The
cherished “Field General” position is on the
brink of transformation, poised to assume a
complexion as rich and bold as a Tomahawk
Steak. By the dawn of 2030, Black signal
callers may outnumber their White
counterparts. While the likes of Jason
Whitlock may espouse a contrary narrative on
behalf of the establishment, I contend that
the NFL’s metamorphosis will culminate in a
Black quarterback, guided by a Black Head
Coach, triumphing over a storied White figure
like Bill Belichick, who had at his team’s
helm the archetype of the Great White Hope
quarterback - immobile, rigid, and hesitant to
run, signaling the last stand of a fading era.
White America, just like the NFL’s traditional base, longs
for a “Great White Hope,” a “strong” man to
rule the day, they long for strong, powerful
White men to dominate the game and rule the
day, rule the country, with an iron fist.
How scary is this White supremacy insanity?
Very scary!
Within the echelons of the NFL owner’s round table, a resounding resistance echoes against the prospect of
Antonio Pierce, the interim hire, ascending to
the coveted role of Head Coach for the Las
Vegas Raiders. Such a move, deemed unfavorable
for the bottom line in our current
hyper-sensitive business environment, is met
with apprehension and reluctance.
The league’s ownership are Trump loyalists. Many would
like to return the nation, and the league to
1957, no Black coaches, no Black Signal
Callers, hell, no Black players.
Embracing the logical choice of appointing Pierce as head
coach not only accelerated the process of the
NFL taking on a more diverse hue but also
fueled the flames of controversy, inciting the
super-sensitive and highly irritable “good old
boy” base.
As the NFL deepens in its diversity, it simultaneously
repels the “Make America Great/White Again”
sports fan base - a formidable demographic
constituting a significant portion of both fan
and advertiser/sponsor bases. The looming
specter of a potential boycott by 60 million
individuals could deliver a resounding blow to
the league’s financial standing.
Just ask Budweiser about the palpable impact such a backlash can have on
one’s wallet. The NFL sees itself turning as
“Black” as the National Basketball
Association, and that transformation would be
the equivalent of the “end of the world.”
