From Forbes, by way of MSNBC, comes this year's list of the most hated individuals in the sports business:
- Michael Vick, former NFL star/dogfighter
- Manny Ramirez, Los Dodgers outfielder
- Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees third baseman
- Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills wide receiver
- Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers guard
- Allen Iverson, NBA star
- Isiah Thomas, Former NBA star/former New York Knicks GM
- Stephon Marbury, NBA star
- Nick Saban, Alabama head football coach
- John McEnroe, former tennis icon
As you can see, 80% of the list, including the top eight are either black or Hispanic. You have to get to Nick Saban to find the first white person on the list.
Even the way these athletes are described by Forbes is reminiscent of the way bigots justify their hatred:
Some pro athletes just have a way of getting under people's skin. Whether its brashness, perceived insincerity or crime, some guys can't buy a break from the public.
Or basically, Joe the Racist saying:
I don't hate black people, just the uppity ones and the criminals!
Would this list include so many minorities if not for the election of Barack Obama, our first black president? I have no idea, but the way the "birthers" have taken a hold of the Republican Party, it's a fair hypothesis. I mean, we saw the race-based criticisms of Hispanic Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, so why not now of minority athletes?
Post-racial society, my ass.