ESPN White Pass: Stephen A. Smith Challenges Brett Favre Love Affair
July 26, 2008
ESPN’s bias in its coverage of white vs. black misbehaving athletes is not merely a product of any paranoid imagination, but can be easily quantified via its website, TV, and radio coverage (see final paragraphs). For a long time Sports On My Mind has been banging this drum and will continue as long as necessary. ESPN’s problem is one of entrenched institutional bias where it is not uncommon that black athletes get TV segments for traffic tickets [1] while white athletes charged with far more serious crimes get the mandatory minimum coverage.
The “great white pass” has gotten so bad that, thankfully, some voices from within ESPN are finally saying: “enough is enough”. Ignited by ESPN’s ongoing “love affair” with Brett Favre that is even making Tyler Hansbrough jealous, Stephen A. Smith has recently been raising the issue. On Thursday on 1st and 10, Smith gets warmed up:
Smith on Favre: “I want to make it clear to everybody out there that I don’t have a problem with Brett Favre the football player. I know how great he has been. What I have a problem with is what I think has been just this strenuous effort to give this man the benefit of the doubt in every single thing he has done. He is a football player. That is all he is…. Bottom line: He is not infallible, he makes mistakes, he has flip-flopped, he has been inconsistent, he has been selfish, he has been inconsiderate of his teammate in Aaron Rodgers. All of these things come to pass and I believe in my heart that if I had heard that more over the last few months than perhaps I wouldn’t be so diligent and so emotional about Brett Favre. …”
Smith’s comments speak for many who have watched the Favre coverage unfold. As the deification of Favre was reaching epic proportions back in March, SOMM’s D.K. Wilson cited many illustrative examples of this media lovefest which including this one by NFL.com’s Adam Schefter:
“When Packers wide receiver Javon Walker considered holding out of training camp a few years ago, Favre ripped him the way callers to sports talk radio would. Favre didn’t like the idea of a player not honoring his contract the way we don’t like the idea of a player not honoring his contract. Favre spoke for us.”
Leaving many dissenters wondering exactly who “us” were, Schefter pulled a rabbit out of a hat by turning one of sport’s most selfish acts into an incredibly noble Favre moment. As Wilson pointed out, NFL contracts are not guaranteed, NFL clubs routinely fail to “honor” their contracts, and Favre broke standard NFL etiquette about protecting teammates. And as fate would have it, Javon Walker would end his holdout, subsequently tear up his knee in the Packers very first game that year, and likely lose untold millions in future earnings. There has been no word yet, Favre, Schefter, or the fans Brett spoke for will compensate Walker and his family for the lost revenue. Schefter’s comments are merely one of a slew of examples of twisted Favre-loving coverage.
After Smith’s initial commentary on 1st and 10, partner Skip Bayless rightfully honed in on the broader context fueling Smith’s disdain. Bayless interjected: “I will admit that you are correct that the white media over the years has been a little overprotective of Brett Favre and I’ve said this on this show”. While Smith may have wondered if “a little overprotective” was “a little understated”, he went on to address the larger issue of “The Great White Pass” in mainstream media.
Smith: And that’s the thing… Whether it’s a Roger Clemens or a Mark McGwire, to me it doesn’t have to be about steroids, it’s the same thing that I’m talking about. I’m talking about equitable and fair treatment: not just under the law, but under the guise of the media. You are supposed to cover everybody. If you are talking about Barry Bonds – I know he is considered acerbic and abrasive – but let’s deal with the issues because Clemens was just as popular as Barry Bonds. He is a future Hall of Famer as well, but now that he is walking into the sunset, the heat is coming on him when it should have came on him years earlier. Brett Favre, the heat should have came on him before, why are we waiting until now.
Smith’s question of “why are we waiting until now” is fundamental to understanding how “The Great White Pass” operates. There is a long historical record of mainstream sports media, and especially ESPN, not covering the misdeeds of white athletes — until forced. There is no truer example than Mark McGwire. To this very day few know about 1991 Operation Equine federal steroid sting that implicated Big Mac and many subsequent events were also ignored [2]. Clemens was protected for years until The Mitchell Report, terrible lawyer advice, and his own personal arrogance forced the media into coverage [3]. ESPN reporters often went to absurd lengths to extend benefit of the doubt to Andy Pettitte’s HGH use. Now Favre’s selfishness is finally being exposed because the “benefit-of-the-doubt” fountain has been milked completely dry.
The mainstream sports media will often spend great amounts of resources investigating black athletes suspected of misbehavior (see Barry Bonds, OJ Mayo, Adam Jones), but won’t investigatete, won’t report, and will even blatantly ignore the misbehaving white athlete until absolutely forced by outside entities. (note: the lone exception is The New York Daily News whose steroids I-Team has regularly investigates and exposed white athletes such as McGwire; Giambi; Clemens; Andy Pettitte; Rick Ankiel; Troy Glaus, etc.). And there is no greater purveyor of the great white pass than ESPN. And Smith ends his statement by making this point very clear:
Smith: “I would like to see people point that out including people at this network. That’s right – I said it. As opposed to this love affair with [Brett Favre]… and because of that we just sweep all the selfishness aside. We would point it out about everybody else. Let’s point it out about him, and then you’ve got no problems with me. You’ve got no problems with me if you do that.”
Besides notable exceptions of Sal Paolantonio (on-field) and Jemele Hill (off-field), few ESPN staffers have offered any real critcism of Favre. Smith’s remarks about ESPN come only one day after making similar remarks on the same show, and one week after Smith sounding off in no uncertain terms (see video). Predictably, the bombastic Smith and his claims will be dismissed or marginalized by many who can’t receive a message without approving of its messenger. However, ESPN’s “Great White Pass” is not some subjective opinion – it is a simple fact of how ESPN runs its business. Its viewers and readers — consciously or subconsciously — wish for more positive stories about white athletes and more negative ones about black athletes — and ESPN gives them what they want.
ESPN’s customer service comes in a variety of forms when depicting the misbehaving white athlete. This includes: 1) fewer website articles; 2) different tenor, tone, and length of those articles [4]; 3) less coverage on their ESPN afternoon shows [1]; 4) more apologists for those athletes; 5) less racial stereotyping; 6) treatment as an individual and not as part of a racial group or indicative of their “league”; 7) greater explanation of surrounding “context”; and 7) refusal by ESPN to expend its resources to investigate a story further [5].
Finally, it is impossible to separate ESPN’s “great white pass” from ESPN’s lack of racial diveristy amongst its journalists. A clear pattern has emerged where white writers will rarely investigate or write disparaging articles about white iconic figures until absolutely necessary. And the few criticisms of any kind of figures like Favre or Clemens disproportionately come from black journalists. But that is a subject for another article. Until then, lets hope that other ESPN staffers with more institutional clout than Stephen A. Smith will step up firmly and loudly to help clean ESPN’s own house of its unacceptable biases. Are you listening Chris Berman?
Author’s Endnote: In response to SOMM’s recent slew of articles depicting ESPN’s racial double standards, I have seen multiple comments and emails requesting that we get back to writing about the game more and less about this topic. We share the very same wish as these critics. And as soon as ESPN begins to conduct its business in a fair and equitable manner, then that will happen. Until then, critics can be an ally by contacting ESPN about its biased WEBSITE coverage THROUGH THIS LINK and tell them about their biased TV and RADIO coverage THROUGH THIS LINK. You can also contact them by phone at 1-888-549-ESPN.
Related:
- ESPN-ing Blackness (July22, 2008)
- ESPN: Don’t Hate the Journalists, Hate the Machine (July 16, 2008)
- Whiteboys-Gone-Wild: It’s a Racist, Racist World (July 11, 2008)
- ESPN Games: Dressing Up Bonnie While Stripping Jemele (July 1, 2008)
- NBA League Pass: Does David Stern Own ESPN? …The OTHER Ref Scandal (June 19, 2008)
- OJ Mayo Report 2: Investigation, the ESPN Way (May 13, 2008)
- ESPN’s Rap Sheet: “Pacman As Black Man” (7/12/2007)
——————————————
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Bull’s rookie point guard Derrick Rose showed up on three afternoon TV shows on July 2nd after receiving his very first speeding ticket. Earlier in the year Lebron James also made news for speeding, and last year three traffic tickets (soon thrown out) for Adam Jones not only made big news. In contrast, Matt Jones cutting up coke in his car received no coverage.
[2] It took 14 years for Operation Equine to be reported by any media outlet, and apparently no media members were aware during that entire time. In the meantime, every piece of circumstantial evidence was there to see in 1998 but no media members spoke up besides the andro issue; Jose Canseco’s book allegations were categorically dismissed years later; and the New York Daily News 2005 expose of Operation Equine was and has since been largely ignored by all national media. It was only one week after the Operation Equine article surfaced when McGwire sniffled in front of Congress that the mainstream media turned on Big Mac. In every previous instance ESPN and the national media looked the other way, until that option was no longer a choice.
[3] Prior to the Mitchell Report forcing media coverage of Clemens, nearly every suspicious sign that could be applied to Barry Bonds was also true of Roger Clemens (late career surge, weight gain, bouts of anger, etc.) When a Jason Grimsley report surfaced implicating Clemens and Pettitte, ESPN provided little subsequent coverage after the initial story, few repeated references in subsequent articles, and did not use its resources to investigate further. The following year, Clemens and Pettitte were allegedly cleared from being implicated in the Grimsley story, but once again ESPN showed that it would not lend its investigative support or resources to continued coverage.
[4] A recent example of how length, tone, and tenor are different can be seen looking at two-time all-star Brad Miller’s minimal paragraph of coverage after his THIRD NBA drug violation. Just a few days later a passenger riding with NBA unknown Shawne Williams was arrested for marijuana possession and ESPN posted an article three times the length as Millers containing multiple quotes, explained history, and an admonishing Larry Bird.
[5] Example is ESPN’s 4 month investigation into OJ Mayo, but refusal to investigate the Donaghy scandal with any real depth.
Comments
32 Responses to “ESPN White Pass: Stephen A. Smith Challenges Brett Favre Love Affair”
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Great piece. Solid.
MODI
Thanks for the write-up. We all here know that SAS’s remarks are, in fact, mild compared to the crime. I applaud his effort but wish it would have been far more direct. I of course know that he couldn’t speak the entire truth and he’ll probably be dismissed for speaking up as he did, still, it’d be nice to see an employee of the ractist machine call them out completely on their shit.
Your words on benefit of the doubt are completely correct as well. I have a canned speech about bigotry that I use and it shows the spectrum of bigotry from frank hatred to the simple notion of to whom you decide to extend the benefit of the doubt. As you’ve pointed out, the racist machine uses this as it’s primary tool.
Fuck em.
KD, I thought that this SAS video from last week was pretty direct even if it could have been tighter. I included it toward the end, but probably didn’t highlight it enough. http://www.faniq.com/blog/Video-Stephen-A-Smith-Unloads-On-Brett-Favre-And-The-Media-Coverage-Of-His-Potential-Return-Blog-10256
SAS is on a bit of a crusade on the Favre issue, and it is my guess that he won’t be working for ESPN this time next year. But what really needs to happen is getting the larger bias beyond Favre addressed. No small task. But it will have to take voices from the outside and the inside for any progress to be made. And that is even a longshot.
I liked Smith’s take. Yeah, he could have been a bit tighter or tougher, but at this point I will really take anything.
Modi, Nice read. Surprising to see that someone at espn brought some journalistic integrity o their job and called out St. Brett.
Props to Stephen A., I’m not his biggest fan, but considering his reduced income streams (TV gig gone, Phili paper gig gone) the brother spoke up and spoke the truth about the worshiping at the alter of St. Brett, and I got to respect the brotha for that. Chris Berman on the other hand has been with espn over 20 + years, perhaps the most secured of their on screen personalities and he will not bring balance to the Favre situation. In a way, that’s to be expected, cause berman have not said anything meaningful in over 20 years. My guess is that cris will tell you that because Tom Jackson has been on the program for 20 years that racism does not exist at espn.
“Its viewers and readers — consciously or subconsciously — wish for more positive stories about white athletes and more negative ones about black athletes — and ESPN gives them what they want.”
You speak the truth my friend
I’m thankful that you and the rest of SOMM are attacking this very agitating issue.
“Its viewers and readers — consciously or subconsciously — wish for more positive stories about white athletes and more negative ones about black athletes — and ESPN gives them what they want.”
MODI, maybe you’re right. i don’t think so, but maybe you are.
Does this uncertainty make me a potential “flip-flopper”? Or simply a practitioner of a more robust definition of “truth”? Is romanticizing racism a more lucrative lure for white reporters, or African Americans?
How may white people you know that you can honestly ask this question of….and can receive an honest answer?
As Scratch Perry asks, what’s your favorite dish?
YOu need to move that Shawne Williams and Brad Miller stuff into the actual article. That was an egregious example of the bias. After all, Shawne Williams is a nobody. Very few casual fans no who he is. Don’t we hear allt he time that a players celebrity determines the coverage he receives. Brad Miller is a former Olympian and All-Star with multiple weed violation that have led to his suspension. And the longest story we get on him was the sympathetic tripe in the Sacremento Bee?
I remember when Lamar Odom was having problems with weed. Nobody treated him with kid gloves. There have been no stories about how he overcame those drug problems to be a productive player in this league. Very few stories about how he avoided tempation after the sudden death of his infant son a few years ago. Nothing about his determination.
It’s some bullshit.
“A more robust definition of truth.”
Sounds pretty, but it’s really bullshit. MODI has provided tons of proof and examples to buttress his point. Bruhman, why don’t you do the same research to prove that MODI’s is wrong?
Props to SAS. Can you imagine if this was Terrell Owens or Mike Strahan instead of Farve. ESPN would be dripping with racilaly charged incidiary commentary on the selfish nature and myopic self-serving attitude of the over-paid, troubled athlete (code word for blackmen).
So-called Bruhman says
“Or simply a practitioner of a more robust definition of “truth””
LOL…uh….no….
Big Man
So-Called Bruhman ain’t out for the truth. He’s out to bash anyone with the notion that there is profound institutional racism in the MSM.
He’s not smart enough to defend the defensible, let alone the indefensible.
Big man and kevdog I couldn’t agree more. Not sure what that dudes problem. As far as Miller’s weed habit you are so right Big man. Amazing how this has been barely covered.
Anyway great post Modi as always. Also I wanted SAS to say more but atleast he said something. Most of his black coworkers won’t say anything.
But now for the real fire works. Do you think ESPN will have a article about this calling out SAS. Maybe have a black writer doing this.
Something similiar to how that fool Bill simmons wrote an article in response to scoops vegas piece.
– Thanks Illiam… we’re just getting warmed up…
– bruhman, verifying that ESPN is “giving the viewers what they want” is as easy as checking out the comment sections whenever black athletes misbehave. The quantity dwarfs that of white athletes, the lack of fatigue in the story dwarfs it too (see Adam Jones), and the quality of the comments are different. Think of comments as a customer service feedback box. Again, ESPN’s biased ways is not a matter of opinion, it is a quantifiable fact.
– Rock, it actually already happened with T.O. after he risked his career with a broken ankle. Almost overnight, every media member sided with Philly management and TO was killed in the press. And this was before TO’s forthcoming antics on the situation.
– Big man, good point on Shawne Williams/Brad Miller. I will dig deeper in an upcoming article. I didn’t want to get too far off the path in this one… which i tend to do some times. I have noticed that when i make the mistake of focusing on too many examples, many get lost in the sauce.
– On 1st and 10 today, the “Two Live Stews” also mentioned their disgust with the Favre love affair… it would be nice to see the sentiment come from some white reporters.
What Big Man said. Way to bring it, MODI. Williams vs Miller is the litmus test going forward. We’ll watch how/if the weight shifts over time.
p.s. oh yeah, eff B. Favre.
MODI:
Thanks. Once again you’ve saved me the time and expense of ritual humiliation at the hands of an avowed enemy.
Great frickin’ article. Anybody who doesn’t see this as ESPN’s business model is being willfully obtuse. It’s been that way for awhile. Kornheiser used to touch on it when he had a radio show. The evidence is all there.
MODI:
You know Renaldo Balkman was traded, right?!? Holla!!
Yeap Temple. The last Knick player that played defense is gone. The knicks are now truely a D’antonio team.
Score 130 points give up 129.
temple, I’ve been depressed all day about the balkman thing… They gave him away for nothing! he was not “a salary cap dump” at all as is being reported because there is a “team option” on his contract and he makes peanuts anyway. It’s a fucking joke. I know that they are now stacked with young forwards, but you just don’t give away players like Balkman who are valuable role players on any team. Watch him shine in Denver as he fills that spot left by najera.
I can only interpret this move as some symbolic turn the page shit on Isiah. If they release Marbury as is being reported, I am going to fucking throw a fit. I swear.
And when did Chris Duhon become a great point guard? Someone explain this shit to me? The guy shoots 39%!!!!! Shit, even Charlie ward shot better than that, and defenses sagged on his ass all day!!! The only reason I’m not writing about this is because I’m really pissed, and I’m smack dab in the middle of an ESPN-accountability crusade that might not end anytime soon…
D’antoni will find out that the magic of Steve Nash’s passing was predicated on the fact that he was a guard who shot 50% so you could never sag on him. Duhon is nothing more than a back-up.
D’antoni will find out that the magic of Steve Nash’s passing was predicated on the fact that he was a guard who shot 50% so you could never sag on him. Duhon is nothing more than a back-up.
Cosign all day Modi. Also don’t forget what made Steve Nash so great in Phx is that he had finshers. Guys who could finish at the rim. Like I said before when they darfted the dude from italy……..exactly how are you going to run a pg orientated offense without a pg????
Chris Duhon can only work if you have solid players around him in a half court offense. I always felt that when the bulls had chandler and Curry they could actually trade hinrich for some players and keep duhon. But the bulls aren’t a pg heavy offense whne skiles was there. But D’antoni runs a pg heavy offense, I can’t wait to see this.
D’Antoni’s system is predicated on guys who can shoot. A lot of them. When you got sharpshooters on the floor and the main object is to rush up and take the first open three, defenses don’t get to “set up” and “read” what’s coming. Your first and immediate reaction is to run up and defend the perimeter, which leaves you handicapped along the baseline and the lane. Dribble penetration off overcommitting is what makes D’Antoni’s system tough to defend.
The pick and roll with Nash and Amare was a thing of beauty to watch. I fully expect to see a lot of that with Chandler and Marbury if the Knick owner decides Marbury should stay. Marbury could run the same system if they use Roberson, Gallinari and Chandler a lot of minutes. Lee could play that post pick and roll guy like Diaw did to a degree.
This team will still suck. We need 2 or 3 more dominant scorers to help out the offense.
Crusade is a good word.
Not to hijack but, WTF??
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/toby-keiths-pro-lynching_b_115526.html
Yo AWB I thought the only artist that talked about stuff like that were those thug rappers.
You know country music is so sweet and innocent. Same for rock.
I thought he wanted to lynch Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld. Isn’t the song about gangsters doing evil deeds and rope in Texas. I don’t see a conflict.
Origin,
He should stop making that kind of music-for the children.
T3,
You know. That is probably the right way to interpret this. I’m too sensitive.
Just read those Toby Keith lyrics - WOW!!! Just WOW!!!
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