Ben Watson's view on race during the draft

saintsfan1976 · 04-29-2020, 09:17 AM

I need to talk about this so that I can hopefully understand his perspective as well as all who agree here.

Is this really a critical issue in today's NFL? Am I wrong for disagreeing here? I respect Ben Watson and his views, I do. Even if he'd never played a down for the Saints, he's bright and a leader in the community.

However, this feels like an overreaction and slightly divisive.

He's essentially saying white coaches deserve their jobs (earned). Yet we must take action to ensure less white coaches have their jobs? Why? So we can feel better about the optics of the NFL?

And why is this directed at white people? He doesn't mention a single other race. What about all the other races who are fans, coaches and players of the NFL who don't care about race?

I'm willing to bet 95% of fans want to see their team win and don't give a damn what color their coach or player or fan next to them is. As long as the game is FAIR.

What Ben seems to be advocating for is not really fair at all.

rezburna · 04-29-2020, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by saintsfan1976

I need to talk about this so that I can hopefully understand his perspective as well as all who agree here.

Is this really a critical issue in today's NFL? Am I wrong for disagreeing here? I respect Ben Watson and his views, I do. Even if he'd never played a down for the Saints, he's bright and a leader in the community.

However, this feels like an overreaction and slightly divisive.

He's essentially saying white coaches deserve their jobs (earned). Yet we must take action to ensure less white coaches have their jobs? Why? So we can feel better about the optics of the NFL?

And why is this directed at white people? He doesn't mention a single other race. What about all the other races who are fans, coaches and players of the NFL who don't care about race?

I'm willing to bet 95% of fans want to see their team win and don't give a damn what color their coach or player or fan next to them is. As long as the game is FAIR.

What Ben seems to be advocating for is not really fair at all.

I’m only chiming in out of respect for your request.

Yes, I agree with him that there is an under representation of Black people in coaching and the front office. However, this does not surprise me in the least. The trend holds steady in practically all facets of society. Personally, I’m tired of beating a dead horse. White men started the league. White men own the teams. White men run the league. Perhaps Watson is optimistic and thinks given time we will see progress.

If it’s that important then the 70% can team up with the Black upperclass and start a new league. I really don’t even care though bruh. Our community has so much more important **** to worry about then football. I wrote a long analysis about this on Facebook maybe 5 years ago. I had statistics and Harvard studies to back me up and those on the opposite side of the fence just don’t care.

If I could talk to Watson that’s simply what I’d tell him: if the people you’re trying to persuade really gave a **** you wouldn’t have to convince them. These owners don’t give a damn and non-Black fans don’t care either. It is what is. Rooney Rule didn’t do ****.

saintsfan1976 · 04-30-2020, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by rezburna

I’m only chiming in out of respect for your request.

Yes, I agree with him that there is an under representation of Black people in coaching and the front office. However, this does not surprise me in the least. The trend holds steady in practically all facets of society. Personally, I’m tired of beating a dead horse. White men started the league. White men own the teams. White men run the league. Perhaps Watson is optimistic and thinks given time we will see progress.

If it’s that important then the 70% can team up with the Black upperclass and start a new league. I really don’t even care though bruh. Our community has so much more important **** to worry about then football. I wrote a long analysis about this on Facebook maybe 5 years ago. I had statistics and Harvard studies to back me up and those on the opposite side of the fence just don’t care.

If I could talk to Watson that’s simply what I’d tell him: if the people you’re trying to persuade really gave a **** you wouldn’t have to convince them. These owners don’t give a damn and non-Black fans don’t care either. It is what is. Rooney Rule didn’t do ****.

I'd like to read that post if you have it.

04-29-2020, 09:17 AM	#1
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,972 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Ben Watson's view on race during the draft I need to talk about this so that I can hopefully understand his perspective as well as all who agree here. Is this really a critical issue in today's NFL? Am I wrong for disagreeing here? I respect Ben Watson and his views, I do. Even if he'd never played a down for the Saints, he's bright and a leader in the community. However, this feels like an overreaction and slightly divisive. He's essentially saying white coaches deserve their jobs (earned). Yet we must take action to ensure less white coaches have their jobs? Why? So we can feel better about the optics of the NFL? And why is this directed at white people? He doesn't mention a single other race. What about all the other races who are fans, coaches and players of the NFL who don't care about race? I'm willing to bet 95% of fans want to see their team win and don't give a damn what color their coach or player or fan next to them is. As long as the game is FAIR. What Ben seems to be advocating for is not really fair at all. jeanpierre, frydaddy and burningmetal like this.

04-29-2020, 11:09 PM	#2
rezburna 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kenner, LA Posts: 7,999	Re: Ben Watson's view on race during the draft Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 I need to talk about this so that I can hopefully understand his perspective as well as all who agree here. Is this really a critical issue in today's NFL? Am I wrong for disagreeing here? I respect Ben Watson and his views, I do. Even if he'd never played a down for the Saints, he's bright and a leader in the community. However, this feels like an overreaction and slightly divisive. He's essentially saying white coaches deserve their jobs (earned). Yet we must take action to ensure less white coaches have their jobs? Why? So we can feel better about the optics of the NFL? And why is this directed at white people? He doesn't mention a single other race. What about all the other races who are fans, coaches and players of the NFL who don't care about race? I'm willing to bet 95% of fans want to see their team win and don't give a damn what color their coach or player or fan next to them is. As long as the game is FAIR. What Ben seems to be advocating for is not really fair at all. I’m only chiming in out of respect for your request. Yes, I agree with him that there is an under representation of Black people in coaching and the front office. However, this does not surprise me in the least. The trend holds steady in practically all facets of society. Personally, I’m tired of beating a dead horse. White men started the league. White men own the teams. White men run the league. Perhaps Watson is optimistic and thinks given time we will see progress. If it’s that important then the 70% can team up with the Black upperclass and start a new league. I really don’t even care though bruh. Our community has so much more important ** to worry about then football. I wrote a long analysis about this on Facebook maybe 5 years ago. I had statistics and Harvard studies to back me up and those on the opposite side of the fence just don’t care. If I could talk to Watson that’s simply what I’d tell him: if the people you’re trying to persuade really gave a you wouldn’t have to convince them. These owners don’t give a damn and non-Black fans don’t care either. It is what is. Rooney Rule didn’t do **. saintsfan1976 likes this.
	"The first need of a free people is to define their own terms.” - Stokely Carmichael

04-30-2020, 01:45 PM	#3
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,972 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Ben Watson's view on race during the draft Originally Posted by rezburna I’m only chiming in out of respect for your request. Yes, I agree with him that there is an under representation of Black people in coaching and the front office. However, this does not surprise me in the least. The trend holds steady in practically all facets of society. Personally, I’m tired of beating a dead horse. White men started the league. White men own the teams. White men run the league. Perhaps Watson is optimistic and thinks given time we will see progress. If it’s that important then the 70% can team up with the Black upperclass and start a new league. I really don’t even care though bruh. Our community has so much more important ** to worry about then football. I wrote a long analysis about this on Facebook maybe 5 years ago. I had statistics and Harvard studies to back me up and those on the opposite side of the fence just don’t care. If I could talk to Watson that’s simply what I’d tell him: if the people you’re trying to persuade really gave a you wouldn’t have to convince them. These owners don’t give a damn and non-Black fans don’t care either. It is what is. Rooney Rule didn’t do **. I'd like to read that post if you have it.