Rhoden - NFL News Media Shows Bias

Newspapers are like a dinner plate for me. I have to eat or read everything that is served.

I assume since Bill is a columnist that he does not expect everyone to agree with him.

The counterpoints raised here to his work are not unreasonable. He has written about the black QB bias at least 6 times in past two months. In 2007 I just do not think it exists in the NFL.

If he still thinks there is a bias why is he using Russell as his example? Why not use Chris Leak or Troy Smith - black QB's who could be more easily pushed aside because in some circles they are not thought of as traditional NFL QB's.

 

Give Bill a call. He answers the phone.

 

I can appreciate that, but a story that alleges bias in the news media goes beyond the usual "you don't have to read it" disclaimer. This column is put together sloppily to force the appearance of old stereotypes dogging a young black quarterback. Rhoden found time to quote James Harris directly on the subject, but when it came to clearly showing us the alleged bias that was the whole point of the column, he gave us only that Russell was "peppered with questions," even about his commitment to football.

I'd like to read the questions. I'm guessing they weren't as damning as Rhoden wants us to believe. He quoted Harris. Why not quote the "biased" media?

I finally did Google, and the first story I found described a list of questions a good reporter would ask any aspiring NFL quarterback. LSU folks I know said Russell showed up about 12 pounds heavier than his playing weight, wearing a baggy shirt that gave the appearance of a gut. If reporters see that, are they not allowed to question the work ethic and commitment of someone whose future will be shaped by this draft? Is that automatically a "bias" on their part?

I read the column again, and it bothers me more the second time than the first. It's not intellectually honest, in my opinion.

 

enough with the rhoden threads.

all the racist trolls appear - like vampires at night.

 

JD - you nailed it- its not an intellectually honest column.

 

I'm not a racist. Bill is good people and he actually laughs at the stuff written here. He only wishes that those who write anonymously would give him a call.

 

Yeah right Henry. We'll stop the Rhoden threads when you stop misreprenting yourself as Henry Hect.

 

Henry Hecht was the NY baseball writer.

slobodan henryhecht was a 16th century croatian composer.

different spelling.

but slobodan henryhecht was white. so put away your venom.

 

Henry - you are changing your story. This is what your wrote on Jake Scott thread:

 

There are a lot of charges of racism being thrown out without citing names or specifics. It's the vagueness of it that bothers me, here and in the column.

 

i can borrow his name, but didn't.
i borrowed slobodan henryhecht's name.
yes, i respect Henry Hecht.
but not nearly as much as slobodan henryhecht.

 

Sooner or later, a measure of racebaiting (from the usual suspects) frequently leaks in on the fringes of these discussions. It sucks. But for BR to dismiss his critics because of the ingrained attitudes of a couple of whackjobs is equally ludicrous. Until BR acknowledges and faces some relevant facts he always conveniently ignores in his one-way diatribes, he's going to continue to get hammered here
by people looking for a well-rounded, rational line of logic in BR's pieces -- and not finding it, in most cases.