Peyton can thankfully put this year’s Superbowl in the rear view, but for the rest of the NFL, the off season’s drama is just as lively as the regular season. Michael Sam made an appearance this weekend answering questions about his position in the draft, his play on the field, but mostly about is sexual orientation.
As much attention as Micheal Sam occasioned this weekend, the issue of acceptance of professional male gay athletes is just beginning. Much older, and still in many ways unresolved, is the issue of racial diversity in the NFL. This season again spurred several high profile racial flaps like those that we talked about here, and here.
The NFL is now considering a new rule that would levy a 15 yard penalty against players using a racial slur on the field during the game. Before it is even voted into place, the rule is already stirring up a predictable hornets’ nest of naysayers. Will the rule be equally enforced? And if so, by whom? Won’t it ruin the game to have to police players’ language? Oh, and the game is so rough, maybe calling people n@##er and f$**ot are part of the game we can’t do without.
The NFL, despite their sweet tax status, is a workplace. I don’t know about you, but if I yelled a racial slur at my colleague in a faculty meeting, best believe I would be packing up my office by the end of the day. Now, I don’t want my football ruined any more than you do, but if we’re going to fine players for this:
and this
shouldn’t we fine them for yelling n@&&er on live TV? And if we do, will we fine this guy every time he says redskins?
Susan X Jane 