McNabbed By the Criticism

If you follow sports (otherwise, you're here just because you're my friend), then you have probably heard all the hubbub about comments made by Philadelphia Eagles' QB Donovan McNabb.

In short, McNabb was interviewed by James Brown (the commentator, not the Godfather of Soul, rest his soul) approximately three weeks ago on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. I guess it's not always with Bryant, which is probably a good thing given the topic that was discussed. Anyhoo, during the interview with Brown, McNabb said that black quarterbacks face more scrutiny that their white counterparts. Here's an excerpt from the interview:

McNabb: "I pass for 300 yards, our team wins by seven, 'Oh, he could have made this throw here. We would have scored more points if we would have done this.' "

Brown: "But doesn't every quarterback go through that?"

McNabb: "Not everybody."

Brown: "You don't think that Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, the white quarterbacks, isn't the press as tough on them in those situations as, as the average black quarterback?"

McNabb: "Let me start by saying, I love those guys. But they don't get criticized as much as we do. They don't."

Of course this one bit of conversation has sparked thousands more. Some say that he's crying sour grapes. One writer just got in his behind. Others say he has a point. Jason Whitlock, columnist for FoxSports.com, has an interesting perspective on all this. He says that McNabb was not only treated differently by the white, higher-ups, but also by other black people. He mentions other black football players who he says were more comfortable being led by a white QB rather than a black one, and the drama created by Terrell Owens (whom he calls an "idiot cancer") that gave the perception that McNabb was a "sellout."

Here's my take on this whole situation. First, horrible timing on this interview. When they taped this interview nearly three weeks ago, I am sure they knew McNabb had a game that previous Monday night, so there was a chance that he was going to have a bad game. Add to that the fact that he hasn't played well since returning from injury, and I think there was a more than decent chance that he might stink. Did HBO know all this when it scheduled it? Unless you work for them or Real Sports, then your guess is as good as mine.

Second, it shouldn't have to be said that racism still exists in this society. One look at the situation in Jena, Louisiana, where the racial tensions there make it feel more like 1957 rather than 2007, should clue you into that fact. Not to mention that Rush Limbaugh lost his job with ESPN when he said that McNabb was an overrated QB who was only where he was because the media "had been very desirous that a black quarterback do well."

But at the same token, being the quarterback brings with it a lot of criticism and hatred, too. Just ask Joey Harrington, the struggling QB for the Atlanta Falcons. He's white, and he is one of the most hated QB's in the league. A Google search for "Joey Harrington sucks" - in quotes - returns 1,240 hits. Of all the odes to him, I prefer this one for its simplicity. That's just one example. I hear the Oakland Raiders hate their QB, too, preferring either of their two black QB's to him. So, no question, being a QB is hard, no matter what race you are.

However, even with all that said, I don't think the fact that other white QB's are also hated and criticized addresses his point. I'm forced here to think about one of my favorite performers, Michael Jackson. I recognize Michael is a little bit special, but stick with me.

Nobody knows what it's like to be Michael Jackson. No one has a clue because no one has ever been a mega star from childhood all the way through adulthood, the premier artist in his class, without taking any breaks. And Michael Jackson went to trial, supposedly judged by a "jury of his peers," and they acquitted him of child molestation. Why? My guess is because they realized that while this man may be different from them in all ways possible, a child molester he was not. Yet everyone on the outside judged him and said he was crazy and insane because grown men aren't supposed to act the way he does.

I think we have a case of "MJ Syndrome" here with McNabb. Yes, anyone who has ever called himself (or herself) a QB has been vilified at some point, but no one say for certain McNabb has not been treated differently than other QBs because no one really knows. He was one of the first popular, black QB's from an era where there were few. He is in that locker room every week. He talks to the coach and his teammates. He faces the (tough!) Philadelphia fans and media on a weekly (more likely, daily) basis. This is the same guy whose "friendly neighbors" broke into his "family’s suburban home years ago and punched holes in their walls, urinated on their carpets and spray-painted the N-word on the side of their house." Walk a mile in his shoes first, that's all I'm saying.

I should add that this is not a guy who just says anything just for the sake of saying it. Yes, his career may be coming to its twilight, and yes, he had an awful outing on Monday night, but that doesn't make his comments any less true. I know it's easier and more comfortable to dismiss his comments as crazy and off base, but what if he actually has a point? Then what?