Here’s a clip from ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” telecast of Falcons owner Arthur Blank talking about the possibility of Michael Vick returning to the team. Some are suggesting that what he said was racist.
Fuzzy Zoeller on Tiger Woods: “That little boy is driving well and he’s putting well. He’s doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it?” Zoeller then smiled, snapped his fingers, and walked away before turning and added, “or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.”
Arthur Blank on Michael Vick: “…if he doesn’t watch himself and eat a lot of friend chicken and fries in prison and come out 215 pounds, he’s not going to be the same athlete.”
Are we serious here? Keeping in mind the entire context of Blank’s comments, there’s little to suggest that he was trying to be racist. Unlike Zoeller, he didn’t specifically try to attribute certain foods to Vick’s skin color. Should he have gone with pizza and fries? Probably, but suggesting he’s racist is a bit much, especially when you consider what Zoeller said about Woods. This is being way overblown.
