In January 1988 I wrote a column in the Lansing State Journal in which I accused myself of racism.
Doug Williams was about to lead the Washington Redskins into the Super Bowl against the favored Denver Broncos. The quarterback duel featured Williams vs. John Elway.
Being a Dallas Cowboys fan, I can’t stand the Redskins and it is one of few NFC teams I have rooted against in the Super Bowl. But this time it was different. This time a black quarterback had a chance to win the Super Bowl.
I wanted Washington to trounce Denver. It happened.
On Sunday, Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers will take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos. It’s a 1988 redux, as far as I’m concerned. I want the black quarterback to win. I wanted Russell Wilson to win the past two Super Bowls.
I’m not going to apologize for my stance. If you’re older than 50, you remember the ridiculous debate on black quarterbacks. It was a serious question of the intelligence, leadership and fortitude of not just black quarterbacks, but black men in general. Today’s debate pales in comparison.
There are plenty of people out there who want Manning to win, and most will say that race has nothing to do with it. If they are being truthful, that’s cool.
I want Newton to win, and I’m not his biggest fan. But on the Super Bowl stage, I want him to shine.
For all those that respond, “What if a white man said that about a white player?” I’d say, ‘At least they’re being honest.”
Shepherd takes me to task
Tom Shepherd, Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed’s chief of staff, rushed to his defense after reading last week’s Sports Eye. His response is published this week as a letter, and I invite you to read it.
Shepherd says Reed was not “mum” when the public vote was ruled invalid by Judge Thomas Frawley because Reed sent Mayor Slay a letter recommending that the decision should be appealed. I have requested a copy of that letter, because I have not been able to find any media reference to it in The St. Louis American or through any other media outlet.
I wrote about Frawley’s decision on August 4 in the SportsEye and received no response from Reed, Shepherd or anyone else in city government.
Shepherd goes on to say that Reed was not consulted about the city’s decision to turn down the arbitration settlement and that it “was all the mayor’s office, CVC and Regional Sports Authority.” He contends the Board of Aldermen had nothing to do with the $16.2 million spent by the task force and that Reed was not in office (obviously) when the original lease was penned that attracted he Rams to St. Louis.
I’m sorry. I can’t give Reed a pass on anything that has transpired during the past year. He was free to speak up about every move the city, CVC and RSA made in regard to stadium funding and the maneuvers of the task force. He is BOA president, for gosh sakes. While the buck doesn’t stop at his desk, it certainly crosses over it.
Comptroller Darlene Green made it clear early on that she opposed the stadium financing deal and would not vote for it, regardless of how the city got into its desperate situation.
Shepherd added there is “nothing wrong with requesting the NFL make up for the debt we are left with.”
Former Comptroller Virvus Jones said that action would create another financial problem.
Jones said, “A private entity (the NFL) paying more than 10 percent of debt service will make the bonds taxable, which would trigger a rebate to the IRS from the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and State of Missouri.”
In his personal opinion, Jones said, “That is why it is all political theater to provide cover for Reed’s complicity in blocking a public vote when the ordinance was introduced by (Alderwoman Christine) Ingrassia.”
Martz’ math favors Bruce, Holt
We’ll learn who enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, but we know Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt will not be voted in. Both former St. Louis Rams receivers did not make the final ballot.
Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens are on the final ballot, much to the chagrin of former Rams head coach Mike Martz.
Martz told the Post-Dispatch that Owens’ being a finalist in his first year of eligibility is “just plain out-and-out ridiculous.”
“Had they promoted themselves, which was contrary to everything we were about, they’d probably get in without an issue. That’s just not who we were,” said Martz, who must have momentarily forgotten the Rams’ receivers “bob and weave” end zone celebrations.
“Look at their production.”
OK, coach, let’s do that.
Bruce’s career ended with 1,024 receptions (eighth all time) for 15,208 yards (fourth) and 91 touchdowns (11th).
Holt had 920 receptions for 13,382 yards and 74 touchdowns. He had six consecutive seasons with at least 90 catches and 1,300 receiving yards, a NFL record.
Owens’ 15,934 yards is second in NFL history and his 153 touchdowns ranks him third. He caught 1,078 passes, and he held the record for catches in a game when he had 20 receptions in a 2000 game against the Chicago Bears.
Harrison had 1,102 receptions for 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns. He was also selected to the All-Decade Team of the 2000s.
I think voters decided Bruce and Holt come in behind Owens and Harrison based simply on comparison of numbers. But Martz does deserve praise for sticking up for his guys.
Las Vegas Raiders?
Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis was in Las Vegas last week to discuss a proposed plan to build a NFL stadium there to lure his franchise.
The gambling capital of America and the NFL – it’s a match made in heaven.
The NFL issued a memo stating the same stuff it did as the Rams prepared to move to L.A., but it did not say Las Vegas was off limits.
“There is no prohibition under league rules on a team moving to any particular city. Any proposal for relocation would be evaluated based on the same standards as apply to any proposed move,” the memo states.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Davis met with Sheldon Anderson, the billionaire Las Vegas Sands chairman, and Steve Wynn, chairman of Wynn Resorts, who reportedly would want in on the deal. The 65,500-seat stadium would be built on a 42-acre site owned by the University of Nevada – Las Vegas.
Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows. His Twitter handle is #aareid1
