I don't always like when people play the race card, but this is still America and racism still exist all over the place. In case you weren't sure just gooogle Jena, Louisiana. It cam as no suprise to me that Donovan McNabb would make such a statement as he did on HBO's Real Sports (still the best sports show on television), what did suprise me was the reaction. Both black and white, media and fans seemed to act as if McNabb was crazy, and how could he say such a thing. Everyone knows the story of Branch Rickey testing Jackie Robinson to make sure he would not act out because he needed someone who wasnt considered an "upity nigger." Well McNabb, Vick, McNair and others like them (meaning black QB's who run and pass) are th first true wave of "black" quarterbacks. Yeah there have been Warren Moon and Doug Williams and even the exciting Randall Cunningham, but Williams and Moon were dropbacks QB's and Cunningham was never really the best QB in the game.
McNabb has been an MVP candidate, the best guy in the league, and has the highest yards per carry average in football history. He has done all of this while being booed by his home fans, called to the mat by teammates, given little help by a cheap ownership and being criticized yearly, and all the while winning football games. But most of all he has done it while taking the high road at every turn, heck in fact half of his criticism has come from taking the high road. Other athletes we admire when they take the high road, we call them classy, McNabb we say he is not outspoken enough. He was criticized by the NAACP for not being a black enough quarterback, what the hell does that mean? Owens said McNabb should have stuck up for him, why exactly, because you treated him like a jerk?
He was criticized for not winning the big one, failing 3 times in a row int he NFC championship game (he was a one man Atlanta Braves team), then he won that game. In winning that NFC Championship game he even outgained Micahel Vick on the ground and out McNabbed him through the air. Through all of the shit McNabb has incredible statistics, throwing 153 TD's and only 73 INT's and throwing for over 2500 yards on 6 occassions. Okay you are a not a stat guy, you want results, sure McNabb has done that too, with a career record of 63-33 and 7-5 in the playoffs. And again through it all McNabb has been criticized, so why is he not allowed to fire back?
Now we look at him and say, how can McNabb say such things. He is such an idiot, every QB gets criticized is what the media keeps saying. Oh yeah, really, this side of Eli Manning nobody takes more shit than McNabb. Recently his performance has gone down, but you earn the right to play even while not being as good as you once were, that is the way it works when you are a star. Now he speaks out and get scriticized when he does, can this guy win? What is it he did to everyone?
All this and more is said much better by the great Jason Whitlock on Fox Sports here: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7241878
And if you chose not to read Whitlocks article I will give you the best line from it: Wow. This dude is as good as it gets. He comes from a great home, wonderful, dignified parents. He's carried himself with class through a ton of adversity. He's a winner. He's exactly what we claim we want pro athletes to be
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I agree 100%. McNabb is my favorite player in football. He makes plays that only a handful of guys can make, like that one against Dallas on MNF a few years ago where he scrambled right, then back left, and heaved the ball 30+ yards downfield while running left and hit the receiver dead on. Only Elway, Young, maybe Cunningham could make that play.
Look at who his leading receivers have been over the years:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phiindex.htm
Most suck. The second year with TO, he only had TO for 7 games yet TO was still Philly's leading receiver. He only had two seasons where his leading RB had over 1000 yards and he led his team in rushing in 2000.
He doesn't drive drunk, carry illegal firearms, gamble, beat his wife, paralyze bouncers at noodie bars, or dogfight. He just wins football games and carries himself with class.
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