Jon Gruden Is Not An Anomaly!

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If you’re under the impression that the saga of now-former NFL coach Jon Gruden is a rarity in sports, guess again!

Sports
Jon Gruden resigned on Monday as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders football team only hours after The New York Times broke the story that he had engaged in homophobic, misogynistic, and racist remarks via a series of emails. His behavior was a blow to the National Football League, particularly since Gruden had been a marquee analyst on ESPN and won the Super Bowl with Tampa Bay in 2002.

Jon Gruden

Raiders owner Mark Davis announced in a statement that he accepted the resignation, and added that Rich Bisaccia, the Raiders’ special teams coordinator, has been elevated to interim head coach.

In a Twitter apology, Jon Gruden took the walk of shame with a statement that has many scratching their heads.

“I have resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” Gruden said. “I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”

I’M SORRY and I NEVER MEANT TO HURT ANYONE? Seriously???

“It doesn’t matter when he said the f-word or used (homophobic) slurs, it’s never OK. My hope is that he’s educated himself since then to know better. But part of it isn’t surprising. I used to hear ‘no homo’ type comments in the NFL and slurs in locker rooms growing up. If we dug through other (coaches’) trash, it’d be interesting to see what we’d find.” – Ryan O’Callaghan, openly gay former NFL player

According to The New York Times, a workplace misconduct investigation found that Gruden casually and frequently unleashed misogynistic and homophobic language over several years in an effort to denigrate people around the game — and mocked the league’s most momentous changes promoting inclusion. He denounced women becoming referees in the game, blasted the drafting of a gay player, and dismissed the tolerance of mainly African-American players who knelt in protest during the national anthem.

And now he’s sorry??

Jon Gruden is not sorry for what he said. He’s sorry he got caught. The fact he has engaged in degrading remarks over years is no mistake. It’s part of the fabric of who he is as a human.

What’s more, is that Gruden is not alone in his thinking. He’s only the latest person in sports to be exposed.

Homophobia, misogyny, and racism run rampant in sports and have since the beginning of time.

Jon Gruden — Colin Kaepernick leads protest during national anthem

The reaction against Michael Sam for coming out as gay after being drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2014 was telling. The reaction of Dallas Cowboy’s owner Jerry Jones against his Black players for daring to kneel during the national anthem was telling. The reaction of the NFL as a whole toward Sarah Thomas, the first female referee in professional football was telling.

Jon Gruder got exactly what he deserved for his ignorance. Now, it’s time to root out all the other Jon Gruder’s in order for sports and society to move forward in its thinking.

OK WASSUP! discusses Sports News:
Jon Gruder is not the only one in sports.

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DJ October 14, 2021

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Truthiz1

Sr. Member

October 14, 2021 9:06 AM

You hit it OUT the park with this one DJ, from start to finish. Thank you!

I especially appreciate this:

[ Jon Gruden is not sorry for what he said. He’s sorry he got caught. The fact he has engaged in degrading remarks over years is no mistake. It’s part of the fabric of who he is as a human.

Homophobia, misogyny, and racism run rampant in sports and have since the beginning of time.]

Last edited 3 years ago by Truthiz1

October 14, 2021 9:26 AM

Full disclosure: I have never liked Jon Gruden. I always felt the guy was overhyped by sports media – by ESPN, in particular. And there was just something about the man that always gave me a bad vibe.

So frankly, when I initially heard this breaking news I can’t say I was that surprised that he harbors such poisonous beliefs, thoughts and feelings. Shocked that the fool sent all that garbage (and probably more) via email (from 2011 to 2018 no less)…smh!

But no….not surprised.

October 14, 2021 10:38 AM

And let me add this….DJ is absolutely right: “Homophobia, misogyny, and racism run rampant in sports and have since the beginning of time.” Yep. And Jon Gruden felt comfortable in emailing all that isht because he was among “friends.” Men who look like him and think like him. All part of a “good old boys network.” A “network” that wreaks of (mostly) straight, White male privilege. Just look at the Myth of Jon Gruden. Gruden was/is a “Mediocre” football coach who won a Superbowl Championship in 2003 w/a team mostly put together by a BLACK man, Tony Dungy. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gruden won only 2 playoff games after that and was later FIRED in 2009. He later left coaching to do a tv gig as some “Quarterback Guru” who to the best of my knowledge NEVER actually developed ANY “elite” quarterback. (perhaps a reader will correct me on this). But after 9 years away from… Read more »

Wil

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Reply to Truthiz1

October 14, 2021 10:54 AM

You’re correct. Gruden has always been overrated.

October 14, 2021 10:58 AM

The Guardian:
But the fact that Gruden felt free enough to insult the appearance and intelligence of NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith (who is also Black) in a message to Bruce Allen (then the WFT’s highest-ranking executive) over a corporate server not only confirms what most Black people around the game have long figured (this is what these white folk really think about us). It proves that Black people aren’t crazy for thinking that they’re being denied opportunities in the league because the white ruling class have no interest in sharing power with them.

Reply to Wil

October 14, 2021 11:38 AM

And let the Church say AMEN!

October 14, 2021 11:27 AM

But here’s the kicker (and I imagine a rude awakening for Jon Gruden)….. That same “good ole boys” network that made him….abandoned him. Threw his Mediocre White azz to the wolves as soon as it became clear they (the owners) need a scapegoat or sacrificial pig! All the Owners knew the FBI had seized 650,000 emails from the Washington Football Team during the FBI’s investigation. Gruden had exchanged all kinds of emails with Bruce Allen (Washington Football team exec, at the time) and also with other high-ranking people in the NFL, I’m sure. You best believe there’s a lot of emails Goodell and NFL owners are scared sh*tless of ever seeing the light of day. So in a panic the owners discussed among themselves “Who do we sacrifice? Who do we sacrifice?” Take a guess as to who they settled on. In other words Jon, you were part of them… Read more »

Mr.BD

October 14, 2021 12:09 PM

You made another good article DJ. All facts here but like Truth said the best line is Gruder was only sorry he got caught. I cannot understand why these clowns even apologize knowing good and well we have the receipts showing they are not the least bit sorry. He was a nothing before and he is still a nothing now. Good riddance to him.

October 14, 2021 12:38 PM

And let’s not ignore the “passive aggressive” response of Mark Davis (owner of the Las Vegas Raiders).

HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis broke his silence Wednesday morning in the wake of Jon Gruden’s resignation as coach on Monday night.

“I have no comment. Ask the NFL. They have all the answers,” Davis told ESPN. […]

First: He certainly did NOT “break his silence” on this because he said absolutely Nothing about it. Instead he gave some smug, Cowardly-azz flippant answer.

Btw, Mark comes across as GAY to me. I’m not saying he’s gay. I’m simply saying that’s the vibe I get when I look at him. And gay, rich, White men are some of the the most, if not the most, two-faced, Racist and hateful people out there.

October 14, 2021 12:46 PM

You are right again

October 14, 2021 1:15 PM

Just ran across this…

Stephen A. Smith criticizes Raiders owner Mark Davis for his comments on the resignation of Jon Gruden (2 hrs ago)

First Take: “Mark Davis told on himself with Gruden response.” – ESPN

Link: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/32400033

October 14, 2021 1:20 PM

DeMaurice Smith discusses email trove from WFT investigation, questions whether race a factor in hiring decisions around NFL

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith says one of the primary reasons for his request that the NFL release emails from its investigation of the Washington Football Team is that he wants to determine whether race has been a factor in hiring decisions around the league and whether teams have been “actively hostile to players that have chosen to self-identify in various ways.”

Smith discussed a range of topics, including the NFL investigation into workplace misconduct with the Washington Football Team and the reported emails that led to Jon Gruden’s resignation from the Las Vegas Raiders, as part of an interview Wednesday with ESPN’s Bomani Jones. […] – ESPN, 10-13-21.

Saleem

October 14, 2021 6:09 PM

I’m not much into football due to time constraints, but I can recognize a bigot a mile away. Gruden achieved the trifecta as a racist, homophobe and misogynist rolled into one. I’ll echo Mr. B.D. and say good riddance to him.