ESPN’s Rob Parker has been no stranger to controversy throughout his career.
Back in October of 2008, Parker erroneously reported that then Michigan State quaterback Kirk Cousins (now with the Redskins) was involved in a fight with the school’s hockey team. This obviously wasn’t true as it was later reported that during the time of the supposed fight Cousins was attending church with his parents.
In late December of 2008 Parker was involved in yet more controversy during a press conference following a Detroit Lions 42-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints. During the presser, Parker asked then head coach Rod Marinelli if he wished his daughter married someone else other than Joe Barry who was the teams defensive coordinator and Marinelli’s son-in-law. The following day Parker wrote a column in the Detroit News saying his comments were “an attempt at humor”. The following month the Detroit News announced that Parker had resigned from the paper.
Which brings us to Thursday morning on ESPN’s First Take and Parker’s latest set of controversy.
The segment in question started with a USA Today quote of Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III:
“I am an African-American in America. That will never change. But I don’t have to be defined by that…We always try to find similarities in life, no matter what it is so they’re going to try to put you in a box with other African-American quarterbacks – Vick, Newton, Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon…That’s the goal. Just to go out and not try to prove anybody wrong but just let your talents speak for themselves.”
Ok, simple enough RGIII seemingly wants to be his own man and write his own career without having to be compared to other black quarterbacks. Very reasonable even if he wasn’t an African American.
Parker however wanted to complicate things and take a flying leap into quicksand by stating that RGIII is “distancing himself from black people”. Parker even went on to question whether or not RGIII was a “brother or cornball brother” (whatever that is) even bringing in his white fiance and that he’s a republican in which case you obviously can’t be black if you’re a republican or have a white girlfriend…
We keep hearing this so it makes me wonder deeper about him. I’ve talked to some people in Washington D.C. My question, which is just a straight, honest question, is he a brother or is he a cornball brother”
He’s not really. Okay, he’s black, but he’s not really down with the cause…
He’s kind of black, but He’s not really the guy you want to hang out with. He’s off to something else.
We all know he has a white fiancee. People always talk about how he’s Republican. There’s no information at all. I’m just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue.
Parker eventually tried to defend himself by stating his comments reflect what “real people” in the “barbershop” were talking about. Even if that’s the case does what goes on at a barbershop make it ok to discuss on a nationally televised sports show? Especially coming from a professional journalist?
Sports is an outlet and in many way not reflective of real life so why bring topics such as this into the fray? The issues surrounding Griffin, even despite the quotes in USA Today, should be about his knee heading into the weekend, whether or not he’ll live up to his draft status or whether or not he’ll be able to continue his success into next season.
But then again in this day and age with television ratings are what’s key and I’m positive with these moronic statements by Parker, they’re sure to bring in the viewers wondering what stupid thing he’ll say next.
h/t: USA Today, ESPN