Flanagan: LJ rips Vermeil in HBO interview

[tk13]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16118327.htm

JEFFREY FLANAGAN TOP OF THE MORNIN’
Kansas City Star

Johnson tuned out when Vermeil talked

Larry Johnson, appearing in a feature with Cris Carter on HBO’s “Inside the NFL” this week, makes it clear again that he really wasn’t all that interested in playing for Dick Vermeil.

“I wouldn’t pay attention,” Johnson said of playing under Vermeil. “My eyes, I would be up in the sky. You know, I would be sleeping in my locker. I wouldn’t carry my playbook because I was just trying to get away from this building, you know, when Dick was here.”

(It should be interesting when Vermeil calls the Chiefs-Oakland game for NFL Network Dec. 23.)

Carter’s interview with Johnson, which appears at 9 tonight, also focuses on LJ’s relationship with Herm Edwards.

Carter asked LJ, “Do you think Herm Edwards, being an African-American and you being raised, of course, by an African-American, that you see a lot of similarities in Herm that you saw in your dad that made you open up to him?”

LJ’s response: “I think so. I could relate to Herman. I couldn’t do that with the other coaches I had because they had not done it. You know, they haven’t put those pads or they haven’t been in the situation as a young black athlete and know what we had to go through.

“You know, when we go out, you know, we like to go out. You know, we like to hang out. We like to have fun. But then you got to worry about the guy around the corner with the gun. You got to worry about this girl on the block. You got to worry about, you know, your parents. You got to worry about your homeboys taking advantage of you.

“There’s so much things you got to worry about being a young black athlete. And to be able to have a father like mine and have a coach like Herm, I was able to escape a lot of those realities and find myself in a new ray of light.”

Edwards also contributes to the show.

“First time I saw (Johnson), I said: ‘Are you ready? Are you ready to touch the ball 30 times a game?’ ” Edwards said. “And he kind of looked up at me, and he probably thought, ‘I haven’t even met coach yet, and he’s — what, is he messin’ with me?’ ”

[Hammock Parties]

Like Larry could possibly understand what senior citizen white head coaches go through.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

Damn, Dane...THAT'S exactly what I've been saying the whole time.

Dude, I understand where you're coming from. I really do. But unlike superstar athletes, *most* actors and actresses have honed their craft and talent over countless years. Plays, summer-stock, audition after audition to chase a dream and many times, alienating their families in the process. The road to becoming a film or television star is far different than the road to becoming a star professional athlete.

Professional athletes are generally coddled and applauded their whole lives and are given things that most *common* people never receive let alone million dollar contracts at a young age. *Most* actors have to come up the hard way and therefore are a little more grounded in reality.

Being *grounded* is something I'd never expect from today's pro athlete.

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by BigRock

Something like this? Something like what?

What did LJ say in this interview... or, more specifically since none of us have seen the actual interview, the portions quoted in this article?

He said he didn't like playing for Dick Vermeil. No surprise there.

Then, in response to a direct question about race that compared Herm to LJ's own father, LJ said he liked playing for Herm because he can relate to him. Both as a former player, which is the first thing LJ mentions, and because Herm is black and understands what young black athletes go through.

What is controversial about those comments? Absolutely nothing. Like Flanagan said in the article, the only thing that will come out of this is that Vermeil doing the commentary on the KC @ Oakland game might be more interesting.

I highlighted the portions of the article, which I consider attempts to invoke the race card....to embrace the victim/thug/gangster persona....back in post #143. (It was in an "edit" in case you missed it the first time.)

That he made these sorts of statements in response to a direct question, only mitigates the matter slightly. The message is one of division, of an "us versus them" mentality....and that only aggravates the racial divide remains in this country, IMO.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

I highlighted the portions of the article, which I consider attempts to invoke the race card....to embrace the victim/thug/gangster persona....back in post #143. (It was in an "edit" in case you missed it the first time.)

That he made these sorts of statements in response to a direct question, only mitigates the matter slightly. The message is one of division, of an "us versus them" mentality....and that only aggravates the racial divide remains in this country, IMO.

He did no such thing.

Like I said earlier in case you missed it:

LJ isn't talking about being black and growing up in the hood he is talking about the life of a young black athlete in the NFL with all of the hanger-ons, groupies, and the thugs that try to drag you down. He is saying because of his father and Herm that he has been able now to avoid those situations that could get him in trouble.

[Chief Faithful]

Originally Posted by TEX

You are exactly correct. Rerverse discrimination is perfectly acceptable in almost any circumstance and especially in sports. What makes this totally perplexing is the fact that in the outside world, reverse discrimination is accepted because it is committed by defination by the minority - yet in the sports world said minority is often times the majority of the playing population.

Even the term 'Reverse Discrimination' is perplexing because it assumes Discrimination is bascially only a white on black phenomenon.

[Chiefnj]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

LJ isn't talking about being black and growing up in the hood he is talking about the life of a young black athlete in the NFL with all of the hanger-ons, groupies, and the thugs that try to drag you down.

Why is that a black thing? Aren't there hanger-ons, groupies and thugs trying to get to white athletes?

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

If you don't sense that from what the guy says, you aren't as bright as I had assumed. My bad.

Ah, I had forgotten that your perspective is the only one that is informed. Hey, whatever makes you feel better about yourself.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by NewChief

I disagree. I think LJ is more comfortable with Herm, who happens to be black, as his coach vs. DV, who happens to be white, as his coach. It's no secret that DV and LJ didn't get along for a variety of reasons. I don't ever hear LJ dissing JoePa.

I think that is probably a big part of it. LJ obviously needed to grow up, but DV didn't seem to be helping the situation.

[GoHuge]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

He did no such thing.

Like I said earlier in case you missed it:

LJ isn't talking about being black and growing up in the hood he is talking about the life of a young black athlete in the NFL with all of the hanger-ons, groupies, and the thugs that try to drag you down. He is saying because of his father and Herm that he has been able now to avoid those situations that could get him in trouble.

I agree but that's not how people are gonna take it.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

DV posted a reply over at ESPN:

"I'm sorry if I offended the young man [LJ] during my time as head coach. It's just that Priest was a light skinned black man and I could relate to him better than LJ. Priest played white man games like chess. I showed LJ a rook once and he asked if it was a sex toy.

I remember I once talked about a fine bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon in the locker room. Priest appreciated my comments on the silky texture of the wine with its subtle hints of oak and currants. LJ looked at me and said something about preferring ripple or mad dog, then he closed his eyes and went back to sleep mumbling something about me lacking street cred. Let me tell you something - I've got lots of "cred" on the streets in Napa."

Damn Vermeil for not playing LJ sooner. I mean with all his hard work of not paying attention, not bothering to learn the playbook, sleeping during meetings, etc. That was sure to impress a head coach.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

Why is that a black thing? Aren't there hanger-ons, groupies and thugs trying to get to white athletes?

Probably so but what is the ratio of black players vs white players in the NFL? 80-20, 85-15?

The Chiefs if I counted right has 15 white players out of 53 which equals 28%.

In the NBA it is probably alot bigger more like 95-5.

[Chiefnj]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Probably so but what is the ratio of black players vs white players in the NFL? 80-20, 85-15?

The Chiefs if I counted right has 15 white players out of 53 which equals 28%.

In the NBA it is probably alot bigger more like 95-5.

The ratio has nothing to do with it. Why are the problems listed (groupies, hangers-on) limited to young black athletes? I'll answer it for you - it has nothing to do with color. It has everything to do with money and the power that comes from it.

[InChiefsHeaven]

I wonder what would have happened if this interview had happend with the white QB from Oakland, Walter, and he had said the same thing about Art Shell...hmmmmmm...

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

He did no such thing.

Like I said earlier in case you missed it:

LJ isn't talking about being black and growing up in the hood he is talking about the life of a young black athlete in the NFL with all of the hanger-ons, groupies, and the thugs that try to drag you down. He is saying because of his father and Herm that he has been able now to avoid those situations that could get him in trouble.

We disagree then; because I consider his comments in this article to be divisive, and an indirect use of the race card. And it's just unnecessary.

I'm not saying (in case you missed it) he's from trying to be from the ghetto; I'm saying he's invoking the race card, and embracing the whole thug-gangster-hip/hop persona to a degree that contributes to racist divisiveness.

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

The ratio has nothing to do with it. Why are the problems listed (groupies, hangers-on) limited to young black athletes? I'll answer it for you - it has nothing to do with color. It has everything to do with money and the power that comes from it.

And THAT'S the part that dirk and PittGorilla and others are missing...this SHOULDN'T be about race, despite Carter's question. LJ chose to make it a racial issue--with several references.

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

The ratio has nothing to do with it. Why are the problems listed (groupies, hangers-on) limited to young black athletes? I'll answer it for you - it has nothing to do with color. It has everything to do with money and the power that comes from it.

Exactly.....and that's why I'm disappointed with the interview's line of questioning and the answers that came from LJ.

When does it stop being about race, and just being "young athletes" period???

Carter could have evoked the same kind of responses from LJ about Vermeil, growing up, etc etc without using the word "black" in front of young athlete....