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Richard Sherman: 'racism is alive and active' in NFL and America Richard Sherman: 'Racism is alive and active' in NFL and America
(about 20 hours later)
Richard Sherman, the Seattle Seahawks cornerback whose post-game comments caused controversy earlier this year, has said that Donald Sterling – the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers who was last week banned for life by the NBA for making racist comments – would not have been so harshly disciplined had he owned an NFL team.Richard Sherman, the Seattle Seahawks cornerback whose post-game comments caused controversy earlier this year, has said that Donald Sterling – the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers who was last week banned for life by the NBA for making racist comments – would not have been so harshly disciplined had he owned an NFL team.
Speaking to Time magazine, Sherman also said people should not have been surprised by Sterling's opinions, because there was “a lot of racism still alive and still active” in the US.Speaking to Time magazine, Sherman also said people should not have been surprised by Sterling's opinions, because there was “a lot of racism still alive and still active” in the US.
It was reported on Wednesday that Sherman has agreed a $57.4m, four-year contract extension with the Seahawks which will make him the highest-paid player in his position. Sterling is set to be forced to sell the Clippers franchise.It was reported on Wednesday that Sherman has agreed a $57.4m, four-year contract extension with the Seahawks which will make him the highest-paid player in his position. Sterling is set to be forced to sell the Clippers franchise.
Asked by Time if he thought NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would have taken the same hardline stance as the NBA commissioner Adam Silver, whose response has been widely praised, Sherman said:“No, I don't.”Asked by Time if he thought NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would have taken the same hardline stance as the NBA commissioner Adam Silver, whose response has been widely praised, Sherman said:“No, I don't.”
He elaborated: “Because we have an NFL team called the Redskins, I don't think the NFL really is as concerned as they show. The NFL is more of a bottom-line league. If it doesn't affect their bottom line, they're not as concerned."He elaborated: “Because we have an NFL team called the Redskins, I don't think the NFL really is as concerned as they show. The NFL is more of a bottom-line league. If it doesn't affect their bottom line, they're not as concerned."
The Washington Redskins' name has for some time caused protests from native American groups, although the team's owner, Dan Snyder, has repeatedly said he will not change it. Like the Sterling case, controversy over the Redskins name has attracted comment from President Barack Obama.The Washington Redskins' name has for some time caused protests from native American groups, although the team's owner, Dan Snyder, has repeatedly said he will not change it. Like the Sterling case, controversy over the Redskins name has attracted comment from President Barack Obama.
Of the media frenzy whipped up by Sterling's comments – made in conversation with his girlfriend, V Stiviano, and reported by TMZ and Deadspin – Sherman said: "I wasn't really shocked or anything because of what I saw after the incident after the NFC Championship Game.”Of the media frenzy whipped up by Sterling's comments – made in conversation with his girlfriend, V Stiviano, and reported by TMZ and Deadspin – Sherman said: "I wasn't really shocked or anything because of what I saw after the incident after the NFC Championship Game.”
After Seattle's victory over the San Francisco 49ers in that game, in January, Sherman told a television interviewer, Erin Andrews: “I'm the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like [Michael] Crabtree, that's the result you're going to get. Don't you ever talk about me.”After Seattle's victory over the San Francisco 49ers in that game, in January, Sherman told a television interviewer, Erin Andrews: “I'm the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like [Michael] Crabtree, that's the result you're going to get. Don't you ever talk about me.”
Asked who was talking about him, Sherman replied: "Crabtree. Don't you open your mouth about the best or I'm'a shut it for you real quick.”Asked who was talking about him, Sherman replied: "Crabtree. Don't you open your mouth about the best or I'm'a shut it for you real quick.”
Sherman's comments stoked controversy, largely concerning the use of racial stereotypes on social media, that affected the build-up to the Seahawks' victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl LXVIII two weeks later.Sherman's comments stoked controversy, largely concerning the use of racial stereotypes on social media, that affected the build-up to the Seahawks' victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl LXVIII two weeks later.
He subsequently said he regretted his comments, saying: “People think I'm just a loudmouth, angry guy … there's more to me than that rant.”He subsequently said he regretted his comments, saying: “People think I'm just a loudmouth, angry guy … there's more to me than that rant.”
Speaking about his own experience, he said: “You've got a lot of racial backlash, and a lot of racist comments that were uncalled for – I can never see a time where racism is called for. So [Sterling's comments] didn't shock me as much as it would have had I not experienced that personally, had I not seen those things.”Speaking about his own experience, he said: “You've got a lot of racial backlash, and a lot of racist comments that were uncalled for – I can never see a time where racism is called for. So [Sterling's comments] didn't shock me as much as it would have had I not experienced that personally, had I not seen those things.”
He added: “It showed me that America still had some progress to make … it just seems like a lot of people gave [Sterling] a lot of flak, well deserved, but you know – I feel like a lot more people were surprised than they should have been."He added: “It showed me that America still had some progress to make … it just seems like a lot of people gave [Sterling] a lot of flak, well deserved, but you know – I feel like a lot more people were surprised than they should have been."
"That's why a lot of people shy away from the conversation that I forced on us in January. People want to it to be done, they want that uncomfortable truth to be over with, they want the racism to be done, they want to believe everything is great and hunky-dory. And it's not.""That's why a lot of people shy away from the conversation that I forced on us in January. People want to it to be done, they want that uncomfortable truth to be over with, they want the racism to be done, they want to believe everything is great and hunky-dory. And it's not."
“There's a lot of racism still alive and still active. And it just forced America to rethink it once again, and to really, really understand that racism isn't gone. We have to actively push it out. And snuff it out."“There's a lot of racism still alive and still active. And it just forced America to rethink it once again, and to really, really understand that racism isn't gone. We have to actively push it out. And snuff it out."