One salute that wasn't allowed

[DainBramaged]

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.

Marshall's plan was to score a touchdown on Thursday night and then take out a black-and-white glove and hold it up to the sky. "I wanted to create that symbol of unity because Obama inspires me, our multicultured society," he said after the game, choked with tears. "And I know at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised that black glove in that fist as a silent gesture of Black power and liberation. Forty years later, I wanted to make my own statement. I wanted to make my own statement and gesture to represent the progress we made."

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 22 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 15-yard penalty for "unsportsmanlike conduct."

One can be charitable toward Stokley and Scheffler, 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.

Yet the reaction from ESPN was even worse. The first talking head back at the SportsCenter headquarters took a shot at Marshall's emotional press conference saying, "Well, the sentiment is exactly right, even if the speechwriting needs some work." His partner then said of Marshall, "It's not about you or what you think. It's about the team and what they need to do."

http://socialistworker.org/2008/11/10/one-salute-wasnt-allowed

Jocks as sportscasters, still no brains.

[Canuckistanian]

1. How would that have been unsportsmanlike conduct?

It wasn't a taunt to the opposing team. Nor was it in bad taste.

I doubt that most of the crowd would have got his point anyways.

[DainBramaged]

2. You and I know that, but it was a great excuse at the moment wasn't it?

[Rage for Order]

3. NFL rules state you cannot use a prop during a celebration

Regardless of the intent, no props allowed.

[Rage for Order]

4. This writer is an idiot

"One can be charitable toward (Brandon) Stokley and (Tony) Scheffler, 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."

First of all, why is "Black" capitalized while "white" is not? Secondly, it's a football game. NFL owners pay their players a lot of money to behave in a way that gives their team the best chance of winning. Intentionally incurring a 15 yard penalty at a critical point in the game would directly contradict this objective. If he wanted to make a political statement, Brandon Marshall could've worn the gloves to the post-game press conference. People would have still seen them and the press would have still asked him about the gloves. It's not "being charitable" to the two white players, it's understanding the rules of football and the objective of football players when they are playing in a game.

I'm glad socialistworker.org isn't coaching my favorite NFL team.

[DainBramaged]

5. Hmmmmmmmmm political expression isn't your cup of tea then?

I can understand Texas not being the most racially transparent state in the land, but I don't think the writer was an idiot at all, and if I hadn't posted this here, you would have never know how this small bit of political theater played out.

Go back to your football games, let the adults talks politics.

[Rage for Order]

6. Actually, I saw it take place

Ironically enough, if it hadn't been written about at the socialist utopia website, YOU wouldn't have known how this small bit of political theater played out.

I'm not sure how you gather from my post that political expression isn't my "cup of tea". You may have missed the part of my post where I said he should've expressed his political speech at the post-game news conference. Brandon Marshall is the second biggest star on the Denver Broncos football team behind Jay Cutler. I'm fairly certain that the press planned to interview him after the game.

Does your employer permit you to promote your political views in the workplace? The majority of Americans aren't allowed to do so while at work.

[DainBramaged]

7. I am privileged to work for a Democrat, so yes, we really enjoyed

the election (first in my life, and he has a law degree too), and not only is there a picture of Bill Clinton in my office, there is also a "KEEP LEFT" street sign on the wall.


Getting back to my previous comment, you didn't think this was very important because if you saw it live Mr. Sports Jock, and were interested one iota in the election of Barack Obama, you would have been as excited as I would have been to have witnessed this live.

I'm glad I read the socialist utopia website as you put it, because I am not a football fan, but I am a fan of good writing and political theater, and that single comment by you tells me much more than you really want me to know. I won''t be replying to your posts from this point on, but it will be interesting to see you explain your way out of this.

Ironically enough, if it hadn't been written about at the socialist utopia website, YOU wouldn't have known how this small bit of political theater played out.

[Rage for Order]

8. That's correct - I'm not a socialist

I prefer a mix of capitalism and socialism with a split of roughly 80/20, respectively. I don't know what you think I should be explaining my way out of.

I was quite interested in the election of Barack Obama. However, do you know what I was interested in when I was watching the football game? The football game. I watch sports for leisure, not to learn the political views of the players. Intentionally doing something that you know will harm your team's chances of winning is counterproductive, and Stokeley and Scheffler were right to keep him from incurring the penalty.