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.
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.
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.
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.
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.]