Race-baiting for ratings - The media has struck a new low

[BlueStreak]

What was all the discussion about the last two weeks? It was about whether Cam Newton was evil incarnate or whether all white people are racists. That was really disgusting.

I always thought Newton was a pretty good athlete, and was developing as a QB. He had a very good season.

No, as an old white guy, I don't enjoy the endzone dancing. But it has nothing to do with race. I don't enjoy ANY athlete carrying on like a fool. I didn't enjoy it when Mark Gastineau used to make an idiot of himself after ordinary plays. I think it is ridiculous for Johnny Manziel to do the money sign or for Aaron Rodgers to do the belt thing. I wish they would all just play football and leave it at that.

But it seems that many people enjoy those things and the NFL didn't ask my permission. I must say, many of the black athletes seem a lot better at these dances that I could ever be, so there is that.

At the core of this was the usual fake, manufactured controversy that has become the engine of the modern media. Every issue must be reduced to two polar positions, and every viewer must take one side or the other. It is all about getting people to watch.

It is one thing when people manufacture controversies about trivial things. But to use race this way, that is despicable, IMHO.

[Bok_Tukalo]

1. Billy "White Shoes" Johnson

When I was a kid, I loved his end zone celebrations. I guess it's what the kids like. Now, I don't watch football so I don't know if I would like it or not.

But I did at one time. I thought it was fun.

[BlueStreak]

2. I am torn. If they were on Dancing with the Stars

I would love it. I just don't like it with my sports. But I'm not big on marching bands either. It is part of the scene, and doesn't really hurt anybody. It isn't worth getting worked up over. And that was my point. it seems to me this was a very calculated, intentional effort to systematically use race-baiting in order to get more people to watch. The appeal was:

"Watch the came to see Cam Newton put in his place"

or

"Watch the game to see Cam Newton stick it to Whitey"

It was just a football game. We didn't need all that fake racial tension. Plenty of black and white players on both teams.

[LWolf]

10. When I hear

"Billy White Shoes Johnson," this immediately comes to mind:

[Jenny_92808]

3. I don't like sports period!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

4. It was a shame

I like both Cam Newton and Peyton Manning. I wanted Peyton to win what is likely his last game, but I also felt Carolina is the best team and wanted to see Cam shut up his detractors. Really was torn. The race stuff was nauseating, but not surprising.

[BlueStreak]

6. Race-baiting has been a central part of electioneering for a long time, but it is a shame

that it has found a home in the mainstream media. After all the controversy about no black actors in the Oscar nominations this year, you can bet people will be looking for all sorts of wedges to get people to watch the tube.

This is a really sick turn in our society, IMHO.

There are enough REAL race problems. We sure don't need manufactured ones.

[Elwood P Dowd]

11. Payton Manning is a right wing repuke jerk. (nm)

[tazkcmo]

5. Not surprising.

So glad I missed all the hype and just about everything else on the idiot tube these days. I unplugged the cable and the TV years ago. I did watch most of he game online and was pulling for Carolina. I like Cam Newton as an NFL QB and I'm betting he leaves his mark in a good way. I'd also like to add that he really is one good looking man! I mean really! He's friggin' hot!

I'm straight but if I got drunk enough, I'd have his baby.

[ShrimpPoboy]

7. I agree about the dancing and showboating.

Its one reason why I prefer college ball.

[alarimer]

8. Well, Cam behaved poorly when he lost.

Like, I guess, the immature jackass he is.

His behavior is not an issue so much when the team is winning. They had a good season, but it was a team effort and Cam seems to think it's all his doing. A more mature player acknowledges the efforts and gives credit where it is due. And some, like Brady or Russell Wilson accept responsibility when their teams lost, even though those losses were also a group effort.

But Newton failed to attempt to pick up his own fumble and, even though the game may have been lost at that point, it really put it out of reach.

His showboating is okay when the team wins, everyone shrugs. And it doesn't matter then. But wait until the Panthers stop being a winning team, which will happen eventually. Then, his behavior becomes toxic to the morale of the team.

This is a guy, who, like many athletes, has been coddled and catered to his whole life. But he always used to whine when he didn't get enough playing time, so maybe he is just a whiny baby. Or maybe he is just immature.

[BlueStreak]

12. The game was very much in play at that moment

Carlina was only down 10-16. If he covered the fumble, they could have punted with 4 minutes left in the game. I think they had at least 2 TOs left. They get a 3-and-out and they would have the ball back with 2 minutes, which is plenty of time for a winning drive.

Carolina was a good team, like most years, one team gets a whole bunch of breaks where everything just bounces right for them. That was Carolina's year for the good breaks. They were probably legitimately a 21-4 team, which is really good, but not quite the "superman" thing that seemed to be in Newton's mind. He got beat up quite a bit in this game and it looked like he was mentally defeated at that point. When you listen to the post-game conference, that was bizarre.

This is the guy who strutted out for warm-ups sporting gold-plated spikes on his shoes.

Maybe he learned an important lesson in humility yesterday.

[romanic]

9. I didn't even know race was involved.