Are You Ready for Some Football?
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2010
by Tony Price
The Darker Shade of Sports
The NFL has done a great job of branding that tag line into the psyche of the American public even the occasional sports fan has heard that infamous line shouted in bar rooms, restaurants and living rooms across the country. This is why it immediately came to mind after receiving a targeted email from a member of an organization called "Color of Change". The email was detailing the bias of Fox TV and its rightwing platform that allows individuals like Glenn Beck unlimited access to the airwaves and a captive influential audience, the organization was encouraging everyone including businesses to launch a boycott of Fox TV programming, by simply not tuning into the station. My initial reaction was what a good idea, especially since Fox does not have the best reputation of quality programming featuring or targeted towards people of color.Coincidentally as this campaign is starting, across my laptop came news of a recent blowup in the NFL involving the legendary football great Jim Brown and his role or lack thereof within the Cleveland Browns organization, now that Mike Holmgren was brought in to make changes. You have to wonder what the players many of them African-American must feel or think about these recent events or do they even care? after all this is their job and they have families to feed, cars , houses and bling to acquire, for some it may be a case of leaving the political and social agenda's to others, why rock the boat. As a passionate fan, I am left in a quandary, one side of me strongly supports the boycott, not because I am a liberal or democrat, (I happen to be an independent) but I do feel that Fox has served as an instigator fanning the flames of bigotry and instilling fear which has led to an increase of racial tensions in the country, and the level of disrespect for Jim Brown does not sit well, though I do not have all of the details of the meeting between the two. On the other side the love of football coupled with my understanding of the First Amendment which guarantees an individual the right to freely express their opinions are putting up a fierce battle. A decision will have to be made soon, as I sit in my favorite spot on the couch armed with the remote in hand accompanied with an assortment of snack foods. Alas what's a person to do?
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)This will be a tough call for you, poor thing. I do have a question though. I watch Fox at times as I do other stations to get a variety. I've never seen or heard anything come from them that shows bigotry that you indicated. Do you remember any instances of this that you can relate for me? Thanks!GraceGraceThank you for the comment the boycott is an interesting dilemma for me as a football fan, as I wrote in the article the initiative launched by Color of Change was sent to me and I found it to be of interest. In recent years Fox TV and other major networks have been criticized fairly or unfairly for lack of quality shows and roles featuring people of color. They have also received criticism for airing shows that perpetuate stereotypes i.e sitcoms, crime shows, reality TV etc. and for launching a network complete with shows specifically targeted to people of color only to drop the shows once their ratings and place as a major network has been established. The WB network comes to mind as another example. You and I may respectfully disagree on this topic and that's fine. I appreciate your feedback,Oh I wasn't disagreeing with you, I simply had not seen it myself. I do not watch enough television to make an opinion, that's why I had asked.GraceNo problem Grace another recent incident that came to mind was the soundbites that Fox News played in first reporting the Shirley Sherrod incident which really brought to light the bias in reporting they took a couple of soundbites and ran with it as a breaking story without executing due diligence and responsible journalism, like yourself I don't watch much TV either it just disappoints me to hear soundbites and interviews from people with political agenda's and they use fear tactics to influence the public i.e when someone says we have to take back our country I always ask from whom?I have heard and read so much about things I consider irresponsible journalism, but I hear it from just about every source imaginable. When reading blogs I'm constantly surprised that no other outlet than Fox is mentioned when I see political agendas and bigotry on every station (which is why I rarely watched tv in the past few years). Thanks for this discussion. I've enjoyed getting a new perspective.Grace
I can understand your dilemma, and I can relate to it. But even if the boycott is only effective during the week, it will still affect Fox's overall ratings. Perhaps Color of Change can persuade another network to provide the same kind of coverage. Is that possible? I enjoyed reading your article, thanks.Hi JenniferI think Color of Change can present and argue their reasons better than I for launching the boycott, as you know media coverage is never totally fair to either the right or left, but each deserve the opportunity to expose their platform and agenda. We'll have to see if the boycott is effective and how it may impact the other major networks.Thank you for the comment and feedback
Tony, I think you're getting Fox TV confused with Fox News. True, they are both owned by the same company, but I have never see anything overtly political on Fox TV, and I thought they had plenty of shows with African-American characters. Of course, Fox News is a completely different story. They are very biased toward right-wingers and right-wing issues, much of which I agree with. However, I still don't like the bias, and I don't like the way they give right-wingers a pass for the very things they would criticize liberals for. For example, Sean Hannity is always labeling various members of the Obama administration as "tax cheats", yet he gives Tea Party candidate Christine O'Donnell a pass on her tax problems. That's totally unfair (although I do appreciate the way Karl Rove stood up to him the other night on this very issue). And I say that as one who agrees almost completely with O'Donnell's right-wing social stances.Now, regarding the NFL, I have a bone to pick with them as well, even though I am a big football fan like you are. However, it has nothing to do with Jim Brown or other minority issues. I believe the league has traded common sense for political correctness in regard to the issue of female reporters on the locker rooms. The commissioner, as well as all of the owners, should grow a collective backbone and say no reporters in the darn locker rooms. While there's never an excuse for sexual harrassment (as the Jets have recently been accused of), the NFL's reaction to it has been to bend over backwards to kowtow to political correctness. Allowing reporters in the locker rooms creates an uncomfortable situation not only for the players, but also for the female reporters, putting them at a disadvantage to their male counterparts. The Players Association should take a stand on this issue when the new labor agreement is negotiated next year. They should demand that all reporters be banned from the locker rooms or there will be no deal. Period.
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