Another day, another bigot asking for karma to bite his ass. Jon Gruden is this time, and he never imagined that the racist comments he made several years ago in correspondence would be published.
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Andrew Beaton, Wall Street Journal's reporter on the matter, reported that Jon Gruden, Las Vegas Raiders' head coach used a racially charged description to describe DeMaurice Smith, President of NFL Players Association in an email to Bruce Allen. Gruden, who was working for ESPN at that time, sent the message during the 2011 NFL lockout to Allen.
Gruden wrote that Dumboriss Smith's lips are the size of michellin tires.
It is absurd to be a white man aged 58 in America and not have any knowledge of the racial implications for describing Black people that way. It's a complete nonsense. It's nonsense. Gruden is very clear about what he did. Gruden knew all the details, including the context, when he sent the email. Gruden used the racial stereotype to describe Smith in line with Mammy and Aunt Jemima as well as some of Disney's racist cartoons that use anti-Black imagery from the 1920s.
Gruden stated this week that I was upset. It was a terrible way to explain it.
He is not dumb, I think. He told WSJ that he doesn't think he is a liar. I have proven for 58 years that I don't have a single racial bone on my body.
Gruden does not think Smith is stupid. Okay, he got mad and went too far. Gruden apparently stands by his michellin tires size comment. He also explained how he used rubber lips to refer to people he believed were lying in the past. Gruden claims he doesn't have a racial bone, but this does not prove it.
The NFL quickly condemned the comments of Gruden, one of their most beloved coaches over the past 20 years, as though their moral compass had finally guided them in the right direction. The NFL, ESPN, as well as anyone else who is sick of this attitude toward people of color or other minorities in the country should call Gruden out.
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Brian McCarthy, a league spokesperson, stated that Jon Gruden's email demeaning DeMaurice Smith was appalling, disgusting, and completely against the NFLs values. We regret the harm it may cause to Mr. Smith and others.
Gruden's comments were also addressed by the Raiders in a statement. They took great care to pass along the blame by making it clear that Gruden wasn't working for the Raiders when he sent the message.
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https://twitter.com/Raiders/status/1446600458907254786?s=20
This is especially shocking to see such an incident within the Raiders organization. The Raiders were known as a team that valued diversity and inclusion under Al Davis's leadership. Raiders were known for providing high-profile opportunities for women and minorities of color.
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In 1979, John Madden was replaced by Tom Flores. Flores became the first ever minority head coach in the league. Art Shell was made the first Black head coach of professional football in 1989 by Davis. In 1997, Davis appointed Amy Trask to the post of team CEO. Davis would not have allowed Gruden's comments to come before he worked with the Raiders. I don't believe he would have been okay with this.
The current Raiders owner Mark Davis and the NFL are now responsible. Even if Gruden is not disciplined by the Raiders, the league could and should take some form of disciplinary action. This is the perfect chance to show that they are as committed as they say to diversity and inclusion. Send him home for a few matches. Send him home for the remainder of the season. This behavior will not be tolerated no matter who is watching. Gruden is the NFL's head coach. The shield is your protection. That's the NFL's motto. This shield is terrible. If they truly care about inclusion and diversity.
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DeMaurice Smith has chosen to follow the high road as a response to this story.
Smith said that this is not the first time I've heard a racist comment and it likely won't be the last. It is a job that requires thick skin for someone with darker skin. This has been true for many corporate America employees who are like me. People sometimes say things behind your back that you find racist, just as you hear people speak and write about yourself using thinly coded and racist terminology.
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Racism like this is a result of the fact that I am at the same table with them, and they don't think anyone who looks like me belongs. My family must see this. I'm sorry, but they should know. It will not define me.
NFL fans will follow this story closely over the coming days and weeks. In the 2011 emails, Gruden also made derogatory remarks about Roger Goodell. Although Gruden's exact remarks about Goodell are not yet public, they will most likely be released eventually. Maybe that's all it will take for the NFL care.
