Making the Grade: Race Stereotypes Linked to Performance
In the Unites States there is a fight against the racial stereotypes that exist in society today. Racial stereotyping is a misleading form of representation that applies exaggerated and false qualities to members of a specific race. Nowadays racial stereotypes are cast upon members of all races: African Americans, Latinos, Asians, etc. Nowadays, stereotyping is very much alive in the professional sporting world that is dominated predominately by African Americans. This form of generalization of athletes based upon race is not only unjust, but a sign of racism. The racial generalizations that are made against professional athletes, is indicative of the supra system of race that structuralism has set the foundation for over time.
Racial stereotyping has its roots since the beginnings of mankind, in which generalizations are made without taking into consideration individual differences. In our society these types of judgments are frowned upon, however in the sports world it is widely overlooked. Racial stereotypes are often times associated with ones unconscious, which over time establishes a set of beliefs and ideas. These inherent beliefs and ideas are influenced by a tremendous amount of factors such as ones upbringing, social environment and historical events. Consequently these ideals have become associated with generations and generations of people, which over time have laid the foundation for structuralism. Within this structuralist viewpoint is the supra system of race that is the causative agent of racial stereotypes and generalizations that exist in our society today.
Structuralism perceives that our human actions originate from past and present observable patterns which lay the foundation for structures. The structuralist viewpoint focuses mainly on how society is organized in regards to culture and norms. Past United States events such as the Civil War and black rights have contributed to the racial stereotypes that exist today. In the sports world, generalizations and stereotypes appear to be all to commonplace in a society that goes against such acts of prejudice. African Americans are often generalized as less intelligent, freak athletes, and all together different from their white counterparts. On the flip side, whites are viewed as individuals who possess mental intelligence, hustle and effort. The development of mass media over time, has contributed to the widespread dissemination of such generalizations and racial stereotypes.
Professional sports commentary rarely discuss race or ethnicity, however the stereotyping of athletes is done in a covert manner. The media indicates a direct correlation between race and the control of ones athletic ability. A study in 1977 by Rainville and McCormick argues that “the NFL announcers they studied believe African American performances are due to uncontrollable external forces, while European-American performances are due to controllable internal forces”.[1] The external controllable forces refer to the “natural athlete abilities” that African American athletes inherently possess, while the internal controllable forces refer to the “hard work” white athletes put in to their sport. Stereotyping in the media may not appear to be done with bad intentions, however it highlights the prejudice and racism that exists in our society. To generalize all black athletes as “powerful, quick, and naturally athletic” and all white athletes as “intelligent and hardworking” is indicative of how as a society we dismiss individual uniqueness in favor of stereotypes. The NFL is known for its use of a controversial aptitude test, which is used to measure the intelligence of prospective draft picks.
The National Football League employs the use of an intelligence aptitude test known as the Wonderlic Test. This intelligence test consists of fifty questions that are to be answered in twelve minutes, with a score range of 0-50. An aptitude score of twenty is considered average, however it is noted that the average NFL player scores above average. The test if given to professional draft pick candidates in conjunction with the physical fitness aspect of the draft combine. There are many critics of Wonderlic test that attempt to dismiss its credibility as a indicator of a NFL prospects performance. The creator of the test Charlie Wonderlic attests, “What the score does is help match training methods with a players ability”[2]. A majority of teams consider the test a critical component of draft picks, while others dismiss it’s credibility in predicting the development and performance of a player. Eli Manning and Vince Young are two starting quarterbacks that play positions requiring high intellectual ability and have different playing styles, as a result their is a link between race.
Eli Manning and Vince Young set up an ideal comparison due to their origination in the South and how they represent two ends of the spectrum, race wise. Eli Manning a white quarterback was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to later attended the University of Mississippi until he was drafted in 2004. Eli received a great education while growing up, in addition to his father and older brother being professional quarterbacks. When Eli was growing up, he was in an environment that stressed the importance of education on and off the field which most likely contributed to his success in the NFL. Vince Young a black quarterback was born in Houston, Texas, where he later attended the University of Texas until drafted in 2006. Young unfortunately grew up in a rough neighborhood ridden with gangs and street violence. While growing up, Young’s main focus was on sports rather than education which is highlighted through his dismal wonderlic aptitude test score. The two quarterbacks grew up in very different situations, which has contributed to their overall development as adults. Consequently, the differences between Eli and Vince present itself on the field and their scores on Wonderlic aptitude test.
A structuralist viewpoint would perceive the Wonderlic Score as a direct link to a players development and on field performance. They both play positions that require high intellectual ability, however they lie at two ends of the spectrum in regards to their wonderlic scores. Eli Manning scored a thirty-nine on the test, while Vince Young reportedly scored a six. The NFL views Manning's score of a thirty-nine as a direct correlation to his on field performance. Manning is viewed as a “well rounded” quarterback, through his high intellect and athletic abilities on the field. On the other hand, Vince Young is a player with great athletic ability, however he is not viewed as a “well rounded/traditional" quarterback because of his inability to exercise intellectual intelligence on the field. Because of these varying differences between the two quarterbacks, they have taken upon the roles of the “white quarterback” vs the “black quarterback”.
The characteristic “white quarterback” and “black quarterback” is formulated by society and the medias stereotypical tendencies . Race plays a major role in the labeling of quarterbacks, which is shown is the case of Vince Young. Young utilized a set of skills which relied solely on natural ability, brute force and unconventionality. Despite great athleticism, he was never able to succeed in reading defenses or running plays due to his “lack of intelligence”. Vince is therefore stereotypically thrown into the category of “black unconventional athlete” by the NFL, society and media. Young is like many of the few black quarterbacks in the NFL, such as Michael Vick who also exhibits unconventionality. However the main gripe with Young was his lack of intelligence of the field. According to structuralism, Vince is labeled as the “black athlete”, a runner that uses strength instead of wits when it comes to the passing game. The comparison to Eli is presented in a totally different manner through his labeling as a “white quarterback/athlete”.
Eli Manning’s labeling as a “white quarterback” stems from his ability to read defenses, pass in the pocket, and intelligence on the field. Yet again race comes into the picture when viewing the comparison of Eli Manning and Vince Young through structuralism. Through the lens of structuralism, white quarterbacks are associated with intellect ability, reading defenses, and passing. All these attributes are characteristic of the “white quarterback” that sticks to the rules. This structuralist view remains in place because of the success that Eli Manning has had: Superbowl victories, most valuable player, record holdings, etc. This is not to say that all “white quarterbacks” are a success, however the generalization of white quarterback as a thinker and passer remains intact.
In the past NFL season, many teams exhibited the structuralist view during there quest to fill the position of quarterback. Vince Young was an unsigned agent that was frowned upon due to his unconventional style of play and having one of the NFL’s lowest wonderlic test scores. He was labeled as the “typical black quarterback” because of his title as a runner that went against the “traditional” gameplay associated with a white quarterback. The NFL teams viewed Young as an undesirable player that lacked the intelligence needed for a high intellect position. Structuralism views “traditional" gameplay as the norm while “unconventionality” is frowned upon. To add onto that view, the traditional player is labeled “white”, while the unconventional player is labeled “black”. Therefore, it all ties back to supra system of race that structuralism has set the foundation for over time.
Currently there is a troubling trend in the NFL, in which statistics have shown that black coaches prefer black quarterbacks and white head coaches prefer white quarterbacks. Cork Gaines and editor at Business Insider decided to take a look at NFL Rosters and found the troubling trend that has been occurring. According to the data, “21.9 percent of the head coaches are black, those seven coaches have 20 quarterbacks on their active rosters. Half (10) of those quarterbacks are black or mixed race”[3] At first look it may seem to be a coincidence, but when looking at the statistics of white head coaches to the number of black quarterbacks on their rosters it is few to none. Many may argue that racism no longer exists being that we are in a post-racial society, however the statistics are very unsettling and indicative of a trend that keeps continuing.
When it comes to marketability in regards to prospective teams and endorsement deals, black and white quarterbacks market themselves in distinctively different ways. Eli Manning markets himself as traditional quarterback, thats is dependable and can win games. Eli showcases himself based upon his ability as a passer, thinker and hard worker. Subsequently he attributes these skills to the success that he has had on the field. During his career he has won Super Bowl rings and MVP which markets him as is a “highly desirable” athlete. Eli therefore fulfills the structuralist view of what a quarterback “should be” which has granted him numerous on and off the field endorsement deals. His success like many other white quarterbacks is associated with the stereotypical “white traditional quarterback” of the NFL. In contrast, Vince Young markets himself in quite a different way from Eli.
Vince Young is known by fans as the aggressive wild card quarterback, with the unorthodox sidearm throw. Young marketed himself as a runner with an aggressive unorthodox style of play and the ability to win games. During his NFL career he was very unsuccessful on the field, which led to his demise. His marketability as a draft prospect seemed very promising because his style of play was very different from “white” quarterbacks. Unfortunately all this hype was for absolutely nothing because Vince is now known as a non leader who was very unsuccessful. He was unable to get along with coaches, made up plays on the fly, and was very unpredictable. For these reason’s Young still remains a free agent because NFL teams are looking for traditional quarterbacks that can go out and win games. Due to these reasons, stereotypes begin to kick in which is why Young is considered the “typical black quarterback”.
The primary indicator of a NFL athletes success isn't always highlighted on the field, often times a players success is measured by the number of endorsement deals the individual has. When is comes to endorsements, Eli Manning has sponsors ranging from Reebok to Toyota. During the NFL season, seeing a commercial or two featuring Eli Manning is considered commonplace. What appeals most to sponsors is his success on the field and his “cool guy” persona on and off the field. Yearly Manning earns an estimated eight million dollars in endorsement deals from his various sponsors. When is comes to the public eye, Eli Manning is considered a class act. On the list of top twenty five best selling NFL jerseys, Manning is ranked sixteenth. It is also noteworthy that Eli’s older brother Peyton (quarterback as well) has the number one best selling jersey in the NFL.
The story of Vince Young’s career is quite sad because not only is he without a team, but it is reported that he is “broke”. During his career it he was not very well received by fans due to his lack of success. The biggest problem with Vince was his inability to read defenses and his reputation of not putting in the time when it came to film. Vince was viewed as the “lazy man” on the team, which contributed to his demise. When comparing Vince and Eli the differences are quite clear, however what the fans focus on is stereotyping. Instead of being looked upon as a bad player, he is characterized as the “black quarterback”. Such connotation is extremely biased however that is how the media and general public view Young. It is sad to see that this is how the majority of society perceives a athlete, however it is so commonplace because of structuralism. Past history has contributed the type stereotyping that exists today, which is a result of the structuralist society that we live in today.
The number of African Americans in the NFL has risen to seventy percent, however the most important position of quarterback remains filled mostly by whites. Unlike many other sports, football involves specialty positions that are filled by athletes who possess a certain skill set. With that in mind, the pressing issue seems to be “Why are whites traditionally slotted to fill the quarterback position? The answer to this question goes back to societies stereotypes of black and white athletes. Coaches perceive blacks as the superior athletes, whereas whites possess the intellectual capabilities. Black athletes are known for their speed and aggressiveness, therefore are developed into running backs or wide receivers. This generalization based upon race leads to a sense of favoring when is comes to slotting players for certain positions. The domination of racial stereotypes in the NFL confirms the existence of racism. In 2003 Rush Limbaugh made a controversial statement on a ESPN talk show towards Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Donavan McNabb was a African American quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles who became target of Rush Limbaugh's statement on an ESPN talk show. In 2003, Donovan McNabb led his team to a 12-4 record, in what was considered a successful season for the team. Rush Limbaugh commented on McNabb’s season with the belief the media glorified his performance on field and that he was “not a good player”. Limbaugh goes on to state the reason for his media fame is due to “a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team.”[4] This statement by Rush Limbaugh led to his immediate dismissal from the network due to his “racist and insensitive comments”. It is interesting to note that when comments are explicitly made in media, it is viewed as inappropriate or racist. However on the flip side, when statements are covertly made such as referring to black players as natural athletes and white players as intelligent it is viewed as acceptable. This highlights the structuralism that is alive in our society where stereotypes and generalizations are considered norms when describing professional athletes. The media in its full effect exhibit hints of the stereotypes that exist in society towards professional athletes of different races.
When comparing white and black quarterbacks a question which commonly arises is, “Are black quarterbacks paid less than white quarterbacks?” The answer to this question it yes, in fact data shows that black quarterbacks are in fact paid less than white quarterbacks. One may argue that this is due to the sparse number of black quarterbacks in the NFL, however they are underpaid when compared to their white counterparts. According to David Berri and Rob Simmons from the Journal of Sports Economics, “white quarterbacks tend to better fulfill traditional ideas of what a quarterback should do by surpassing their black quarterbacks in metrics like the dreaded passer rating”[5]. Yet again the stereotype of the “traditional/typical” quarterback is referenced to describe the reason why black quarterbacks in the NFL are underpaid. What is being said it that most NFL teams desire quarterbacks with a style of play that is based upon the “traditional” style passing game.
The so called “style of play” exhibited by white and black quarterback is what contributes to the differences in salaries by NFL teams. NFL teams are concerned mainly with passer ratings which is basically a measure of the passing attempts, completions, yard, interceptions and touchdowns. The main concern is the efficiency and success of the quarterback which is what is what influences a players salary. The concern with “black quarterbacks” is their primary use of running yards instead of passing yards. The fear of the running game is that is carries a greater risk of injury to the quarterback, which translates to the lose of money and a quarterback. Therefore, “black quarterbacks” are underpaid because of the “stereotype“ that they will be “runners”. NFL teams pay more for “white quarterbacks” because of their “traditional” style of play that relies on the passing game. The passing game for a quarterback has a decreased risk for injury which is why teams place a higher value on these types of quarterbacks.
When you look at the media coverage of white athletes versus black athletes, it is quite clear that their exist differences. In the years 2008 and 2010, Ben Roethlisberger a white quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers was accused of sexual assault against two women in their 20’s. It received very little coverage, despite the severity of the crime and subsequent accusations. It was not broadcasted on many major news stations and the media coverage lasted a very short time. The case against the one woman in 2008 was settled out of court, with details of the settlement being held confidential. On the other hand, the case against the woman in 2010 was dismissed by a district attorney in Georgia due to lack of sufficient evidence. It is very uncommon for the district attorney to dismiss a case, instead its typically the job of a judge or jury. To top it off NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell only suspended Roethlisberger for four games due to violating the “personal conduct policy”. When comparing this case to the media coverage of Tiger Woods, the differences are shocking.
In 2009 Tiger Woods was subject to an infidelity scandal, in which the media had a feast on. Tiger Woods is a black professional golf player who became subject to the scandal when he crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a tree near his home and several of his mistresses spoke out. The media coverage of the scandal was widespread with every single media outlet having some form of input in the scandal. Many of the mistresses participated in interviews that attacked Tiger in all aspects of his life. When comparing the media coverage between Tiger and Roethlisberger, it is quite shocking to see that Tiger received much more scrutiny. There is no question that both individuals committed terrible acts, however Roethlisberger broke the law. It appeared as if the media expected more of a response in regards to Tigers act, instead of the law breaking Roethlisberger. These two events provide even greater evidence that the rules for media coverage are different for African Americans Athletes.
The stereotypical bias of the mainstream media is quite evident, however quite interestingly enough the majority of sports reporters are white. According to the Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sports, “whites account for 94 percent of sports editors, 89 percent of assistant sports editors, 88 percent of columnists, 87 percent of reporters and 89 percent of copy editors”[6]. This statistic is quite shocking when taking into consideration the generalizations and stereotypes that exist in the sports world. In a world of professional sports that is dominated predominately by African American athletes, to hear of such a low numbers of African American journalists is appalling. The lack of diversity in sports journalism has contributed to unreliable reporting when it comes to African American athletes. Consequently the main stream media is a contributing factor to the stereotypes that society has against athletes of race.
The outward effect of media stereotyping of professional black athletes has created a certain “standard” for black men in society today. A University of Texas professor argues “The media creates false perceptions about black athletes in America and advances stereotypes of superhuman strength and aggressive sexuality”[7]. This statement highlights the medias portrayal of male black athletes as being “bigger and better” that all else. This form of portrayal goes back the generalizations and stereotypes that exist towards professional athletes of color. It is a fair argument to say that the media glorifies black men of color as the definition of a true man. For example a Old Spice commercial that is frequently aired on television pictures a muscular black male wearing nothing but a towel. The commercial ends with “smell like a man…man”, which adds to the portrayal of black men as these muscular superhuman beings. Not only does this exhibit stereotypes, but it highlights how black men are objectified. It gives off the sense that these black male athletes are glorified as “objects for sale”.
During the Olympics a noteworthy aspects of the media coverage was how black athletes were portrayed in comparison to white athletes. Many of the athletes are given interviews that touch on the past life, accomplishments and many other things. The trend that seems to repeat itself is the way in which every interview with a black athlete focuses on the past financial history of their parents. These reporters and journalists seem to formulate up a sob story, where in contrast to white athletes this typically never occurs. Although stories of personal success are admired and should be talked about, the fact that the media portrays these sob stories as only associated with black athletes shows much bias. Examples of such a trend were seen during the many interviews with Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, who happens to be African American. The first question that was often asked was “how has your life changed, from the family struggle to the sudden fame?” Rather than focusing on her astounding Olympic performances, past socioeconomic status is always brought up.
Gabby Douglas was subject to a great amount of bias and racist coverage throughout the media during her record breaking Olympic achievements. Most notable was the commercial that major news outlet NBC aired after Gabby won gold medals. The commercial that was aired pictured a monkey doing gymnastics, which was directed towards Gabby Douglas. To add more fuel to the fire NBC argued that it was only a joke and that historically black athletes are often compared to “apes”. This move by NBC was straight up offensive and if highlights that racism still exists. In yet another instance of bias and stereotypes, Douglas was coined “the flying squirrel” by multiple news outlets. Although it may not seem to be biased or racist on the surface, a deeper look into the meaning shows that is possess a negative connotation. The root of all these stereotypes lies within the structuralist culture that society lives in today. The formation of stereotypes over history is once again a contributing factor to the generalizations that exist towards members of different race.
The media’s stereotypical image of black male athletes is seen athroughout the NFL, however it has trickled down the black male youth of today. Kevin Foster an Anthropology professor states, “most young black men prefer going into sports and becoming athletes because of the glorifying images the media produces”[8] This statement is without a doubt correct, however it is noteworthy that there are more black individuals in professional careers than in professional sports. However the image of black men in professional careers is rarely if ever seen, because of the medias glorification of the black male as one day becoming a professional athlete. Therefore, many young African American children view the professional sports world as “what is expected by a black male”. The media’s representation of race is quite shocking, however society continues to divulge this information without truly acknowledging the effect it has on the formation of stereotypes.
The racial stereotypes and generalizations that exist in todays society are indicative of the supra system of race that structuralism has set over time. Based upon past history and events, society has formulated preconceived stereotypes towards members of race. Despite living in a post-racial society, stereotypes are ever present and will remain to be. As highlighted above athletes of color are subject to a great amount of bias, however with increased awareness society will realize the harsh effects of stereotyping.
Works Cited
"Biography: Vince Young." Tennessee Titans: Vince Young. N.p., 18 Jan. 2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
Gaines, Cork. "White Head Coaches Prefer White Quarterbacks, Black Head Coaches Prefer Black Quarterbacks." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 14 Sept. 2011. Web. 07 May 2014.
Johnson, John B. "Why Black QBs Are Paid Less Than White QBs: The Q: GQ." GQ. GQ, 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 07 May 2014.
"McNabb's Performance: A Rush to Judgment?" ESPN.com. ESPN, 1 Oct. 2003. Web. 07 May 2014.
Munir, Huma. "Medias Stereotyping of Black Athletes Creates High Standards, Professor Says." The Daily Texan. University of Texas, 21 Feb. 2011. Web.
Rogers, Dexter. "The White World of Sports Journalism - ColorLines." ColorLines. ColorLines News for Action, 3 Jan. 2011. Web. 07 May 2014.
Santschi, Rachel. "News." NFL Scouting Combine: The Wonderlic Test.
N.p., 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014
Wenner, Lawrence A. Mediasport. London: Routledge, 1998. 150-51. Print.
Supplementary Pictures
[1] Wenner, Lawrence A. Mediasport. London: Routledge, 1998. 150-51. Print.
[2] Santschi, Rachel. "News." NFL Scouting Combine: The Wonderlic Test. N.p., 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
[3] Gaines, Cork. "White Head Coaches Prefer White Quarterbacks, Black Head Coaches Prefer Black Quarterbacks." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 14 Sept. 2011. Web. 07 May 2014.
[4] "McNabb's Performance: A Rush to Judgment?" ESPN.com. ESPN, 1 Oct. 2003. Web. 07 May 2014.
[5] Johnson, John B. "Why Black QBs Are Paid Less Than White QBs: The Q: GQ." GQ. GQ, 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 07 May 2014.
[6] Rogers, Dexter. "The White World of Sports Journalism - ColorLines." ColorLines. ColorLines News for Action, 3 Jan. 2011. Web. 07 May 2014.
[7] Munir, Huma. "Medias Stereotyping of Black Athletes Creates High Standards, Professor Says." The Daily Texan. University of Texas, 21 Feb. 2011. Web.
[8] Munir, Huma. "Medias Stereotyping of Black Athletes Creates High Standards, Professor Says." The Daily Texan. University of Texas, 21 Feb. 2011. Web.
In the Unites States there is a fight against the racial stereotypes that exist in society today. Racial stereotyping is a misleading form of representation that applies exaggerated and false qualities to members of a specific race. Nowadays racial stereotypes are cast upon members of all races: African Americans, Latinos, Asians, etc. Nowadays, stereotyping is very much alive in the professional sporting world that is dominated predominately by African Americans. This form of generalization of athletes based upon race is not only unjust, but a sign of racism. The racial generalizations that are made against professional athletes, is indicative of the supra system of race that structuralism has set the foundation for over time.
Racial stereotyping has its roots since the beginnings of mankind, in which generalizations are made without taking into consideration individual differences. In our society these types of judgments are frowned upon, however in the sports world it is widely overlooked. Racial stereotypes are often times associated with ones unconscious, which over time establishes a set of beliefs and ideas. These inherent beliefs and ideas are influenced by a tremendous amount of factors such as ones upbringing, social environment and historical events. Consequently these ideals have become associated with generations and generations of people, which over time have laid the foundation for structuralism. Within this structuralist viewpoint is the supra system of race that is the causative agent of racial stereotypes and generalizations that exist in our society today.
Structuralism perceives that our human actions originate from past and present observable patterns which lay the foundation for structures. The structuralist viewpoint focuses mainly on how society is organized in regards to culture and norms. Past United States events such as the Civil War and black rights have contributed to the racial stereotypes that exist today. In the sports world, generalizations and stereotypes appear to be all to commonplace in a society that goes against such acts of prejudice. African Americans are often generalized as less intelligent, freak athletes, and all together different from their white counterparts. On the flip side, whites are viewed as individuals who possess mental intelligence, hustle and effort. The development of mass media over time, has contributed to the widespread dissemination of such generalizations and racial stereotypes.
Professional sports commentary rarely discuss race or ethnicity, however the stereotyping of athletes is done in a covert manner. The media indicates a direct correlation between race and the control of ones athletic ability. A study in 1977 by Rainville and McCormick argues that “the NFL announcers they studied believe African American performances are due to uncontrollable external forces, while European-American performances are due to controllable internal forces”.[1] The external controllable forces refer to the “natural athlete abilities” that African American athletes inherently possess, while the internal controllable forces refer to the “hard work” white athletes put in to their sport. Stereotyping in the media may not appear to be done with bad intentions, however it highlights the prejudice and racism that exists in our society. To generalize all black athletes as “powerful, quick, and naturally athletic” and all white athletes as “intelligent and hardworking” is indicative of how as a society we dismiss individual uniqueness in favor of stereotypes. The NFL is known for its use of a controversial aptitude test, which is used to measure the intelligence of prospective draft picks.
The National Football League employs the use of an intelligence aptitude test known as the Wonderlic Test. This intelligence test consists of fifty questions that are to be answered in twelve minutes, with a score range of 0-50. An aptitude score of twenty is considered average, however it is noted that the average NFL player scores above average. The test if given to professional draft pick candidates in conjunction with the physical fitness aspect of the draft combine. There are many critics of Wonderlic test that attempt to dismiss its credibility as a indicator of a NFL prospects performance. The creator of the test Charlie Wonderlic attests, “What the score does is help match training methods with a players ability”[2]. A majority of teams consider the test a critical component of draft picks, while others dismiss it’s credibility in predicting the development and performance of a player. Eli Manning and Vince Young are two starting quarterbacks that play positions requiring high intellectual ability and have different playing styles, as a result their is a link between race.
Eli Manning and Vince Young set up an ideal comparison due to their origination in the South and how they represent two ends of the spectrum, race wise. Eli Manning a white quarterback was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to later attended the University of Mississippi until he was drafted in 2004. Eli received a great education while growing up, in addition to his father and older brother being professional quarterbacks. When Eli was growing up, he was in an environment that stressed the importance of education on and off the field which most likely contributed to his success in the NFL. Vince Young a black quarterback was born in Houston, Texas, where he later attended the University of Texas until drafted in 2006. Young unfortunately grew up in a rough neighborhood ridden with gangs and street violence. While growing up, Young’s main focus was on sports rather than education which is highlighted through his dismal wonderlic aptitude test score. The two quarterbacks grew up in very different situations, which has contributed to their overall development as adults. Consequently, the differences between Eli and Vince present itself on the field and their scores on Wonderlic aptitude test.
A structuralist viewpoint would perceive the Wonderlic Score as a direct link to a players development and on field performance. They both play positions that require high intellectual ability, however they lie at two ends of the spectrum in regards to their wonderlic scores. Eli Manning scored a thirty-nine on the test, while Vince Young reportedly scored a six. The NFL views Manning's score of a thirty-nine as a direct correlation to his on field performance. Manning is viewed as a “well rounded” quarterback, through his high intellect and athletic abilities on the field. On the other hand, Vince Young is a player with great athletic ability, however he is not viewed as a “well rounded/traditional" quarterback because of his inability to exercise intellectual intelligence on the field. Because of these varying differences between the two quarterbacks, they have taken upon the roles of the “white quarterback” vs the “black quarterback”.
The characteristic “white quarterback” and “black quarterback” is formulated by society and the medias stereotypical tendencies . Race plays a major role in the labeling of quarterbacks, which is shown is the case of Vince Young. Young utilized a set of skills which relied solely on natural ability, brute force and unconventionality. Despite great athleticism, he was never able to succeed in reading defenses or running plays due to his “lack of intelligence”. Vince is therefore stereotypically thrown into the category of “black unconventional athlete” by the NFL, society and media. Young is like many of the few black quarterbacks in the NFL, such as Michael Vick who also exhibits unconventionality. However the main gripe with Young was his lack of intelligence of the field. According to structuralism, Vince is labeled as the “black athlete”, a runner that uses strength instead of wits when it comes to the passing game. The comparison to Eli is presented in a totally different manner through his labeling as a “white quarterback/athlete”.
Eli Manning’s labeling as a “white quarterback” stems from his ability to read defenses, pass in the pocket, and intelligence on the field. Yet again race comes into the picture when viewing the comparison of Eli Manning and Vince Young through structuralism. Through the lens of structuralism, white quarterbacks are associated with intellect ability, reading defenses, and passing. All these attributes are characteristic of the “white quarterback” that sticks to the rules. This structuralist view remains in place because of the success that Eli Manning has had: Superbowl victories, most valuable player, record holdings, etc. This is not to say that all “white quarterbacks” are a success, however the generalization of white quarterback as a thinker and passer remains intact.
In the past NFL season, many teams exhibited the structuralist view during there quest to fill the position of quarterback. Vince Young was an unsigned agent that was frowned upon due to his unconventional style of play and having one of the NFL’s lowest wonderlic test scores. He was labeled as the “typical black quarterback” because of his title as a runner that went against the “traditional” gameplay associated with a white quarterback. The NFL teams viewed Young as an undesirable player that lacked the intelligence needed for a high intellect position. Structuralism views “traditional" gameplay as the norm while “unconventionality” is frowned upon. To add onto that view, the traditional player is labeled “white”, while the unconventional player is labeled “black”. Therefore, it all ties back to supra system of race that structuralism has set the foundation for over time.
Currently there is a troubling trend in the NFL, in which statistics have shown that black coaches prefer black quarterbacks and white head coaches prefer white quarterbacks. Cork Gaines and editor at Business Insider decided to take a look at NFL Rosters and found the troubling trend that has been occurring. According to the data, “21.9 percent of the head coaches are black, those seven coaches have 20 quarterbacks on their active rosters. Half (10) of those quarterbacks are black or mixed race”[3] At first look it may seem to be a coincidence, but when looking at the statistics of white head coaches to the number of black quarterbacks on their rosters it is few to none. Many may argue that racism no longer exists being that we are in a post-racial society, however the statistics are very unsettling and indicative of a trend that keeps continuing.
When it comes to marketability in regards to prospective teams and endorsement deals, black and white quarterbacks market themselves in distinctively different ways. Eli Manning markets himself as traditional quarterback, thats is dependable and can win games. Eli showcases himself based upon his ability as a passer, thinker and hard worker. Subsequently he attributes these skills to the success that he has had on the field. During his career he has won Super Bowl rings and MVP which markets him as is a “highly desirable” athlete. Eli therefore fulfills the structuralist view of what a quarterback “should be” which has granted him numerous on and off the field endorsement deals. His success like many other white quarterbacks is associated with the stereotypical “white traditional quarterback” of the NFL. In contrast, Vince Young markets himself in quite a different way from Eli.
Vince Young is known by fans as the aggressive wild card quarterback, with the unorthodox sidearm throw. Young marketed himself as a runner with an aggressive unorthodox style of play and the ability to win games. During his NFL career he was very unsuccessful on the field, which led to his demise. His marketability as a draft prospect seemed very promising because his style of play was very different from “white” quarterbacks. Unfortunately all this hype was for absolutely nothing because Vince is now known as a non leader who was very unsuccessful. He was unable to get along with coaches, made up plays on the fly, and was very unpredictable. For these reason’s Young still remains a free agent because NFL teams are looking for traditional quarterbacks that can go out and win games. Due to these reasons, stereotypes begin to kick in which is why Young is considered the “typical black quarterback”.
The primary indicator of a NFL athletes success isn't always highlighted on the field, often times a players success is measured by the number of endorsement deals the individual has. When is comes to endorsements, Eli Manning has sponsors ranging from Reebok to Toyota. During the NFL season, seeing a commercial or two featuring Eli Manning is considered commonplace. What appeals most to sponsors is his success on the field and his “cool guy” persona on and off the field. Yearly Manning earns an estimated eight million dollars in endorsement deals from his various sponsors. When is comes to the public eye, Eli Manning is considered a class act. On the list of top twenty five best selling NFL jerseys, Manning is ranked sixteenth. It is also noteworthy that Eli’s older brother Peyton (quarterback as well) has the number one best selling jersey in the NFL.
The story of Vince Young’s career is quite sad because not only is he without a team, but it is reported that he is “broke”. During his career it he was not very well received by fans due to his lack of success. The biggest problem with Vince was his inability to read defenses and his reputation of not putting in the time when it came to film. Vince was viewed as the “lazy man” on the team, which contributed to his demise. When comparing Vince and Eli the differences are quite clear, however what the fans focus on is stereotyping. Instead of being looked upon as a bad player, he is characterized as the “black quarterback”. Such connotation is extremely biased however that is how the media and general public view Young. It is sad to see that this is how the majority of society perceives a athlete, however it is so commonplace because of structuralism. Past history has contributed the type stereotyping that exists today, which is a result of the structuralist society that we live in today.
The number of African Americans in the NFL has risen to seventy percent, however the most important position of quarterback remains filled mostly by whites. Unlike many other sports, football involves specialty positions that are filled by athletes who possess a certain skill set. With that in mind, the pressing issue seems to be “Why are whites traditionally slotted to fill the quarterback position? The answer to this question goes back to societies stereotypes of black and white athletes. Coaches perceive blacks as the superior athletes, whereas whites possess the intellectual capabilities. Black athletes are known for their speed and aggressiveness, therefore are developed into running backs or wide receivers. This generalization based upon race leads to a sense of favoring when is comes to slotting players for certain positions. The domination of racial stereotypes in the NFL confirms the existence of racism. In 2003 Rush Limbaugh made a controversial statement on a ESPN talk show towards Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Donavan McNabb was a African American quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles who became target of Rush Limbaugh's statement on an ESPN talk show. In 2003, Donovan McNabb led his team to a 12-4 record, in what was considered a successful season for the team. Rush Limbaugh commented on McNabb’s season with the belief the media glorified his performance on field and that he was “not a good player”. Limbaugh goes on to state the reason for his media fame is due to “a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team.”[4] This statement by Rush Limbaugh led to his immediate dismissal from the network due to his “racist and insensitive comments”. It is interesting to note that when comments are explicitly made in media, it is viewed as inappropriate or racist. However on the flip side, when statements are covertly made such as referring to black players as natural athletes and white players as intelligent it is viewed as acceptable. This highlights the structuralism that is alive in our society where stereotypes and generalizations are considered norms when describing professional athletes. The media in its full effect exhibit hints of the stereotypes that exist in society towards professional athletes of different races.
When comparing white and black quarterbacks a question which commonly arises is, “Are black quarterbacks paid less than white quarterbacks?” The answer to this question it yes, in fact data shows that black quarterbacks are in fact paid less than white quarterbacks. One may argue that this is due to the sparse number of black quarterbacks in the NFL, however they are underpaid when compared to their white counterparts. According to David Berri and Rob Simmons from the Journal of Sports Economics, “white quarterbacks tend to better fulfill traditional ideas of what a quarterback should do by surpassing their black quarterbacks in metrics like the dreaded passer rating”[5]. Yet again the stereotype of the “traditional/typical” quarterback is referenced to describe the reason why black quarterbacks in the NFL are underpaid. What is being said it that most NFL teams desire quarterbacks with a style of play that is based upon the “traditional” style passing game.
The so called “style of play” exhibited by white and black quarterback is what contributes to the differences in salaries by NFL teams. NFL teams are concerned mainly with passer ratings which is basically a measure of the passing attempts, completions, yard, interceptions and touchdowns. The main concern is the efficiency and success of the quarterback which is what is what influences a players salary. The concern with “black quarterbacks” is their primary use of running yards instead of passing yards. The fear of the running game is that is carries a greater risk of injury to the quarterback, which translates to the lose of money and a quarterback. Therefore, “black quarterbacks” are underpaid because of the “stereotype“ that they will be “runners”. NFL teams pay more for “white quarterbacks” because of their “traditional” style of play that relies on the passing game. The passing game for a quarterback has a decreased risk for injury which is why teams place a higher value on these types of quarterbacks.
When you look at the media coverage of white athletes versus black athletes, it is quite clear that their exist differences. In the years 2008 and 2010, Ben Roethlisberger a white quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers was accused of sexual assault against two women in their 20’s. It received very little coverage, despite the severity of the crime and subsequent accusations. It was not broadcasted on many major news stations and the media coverage lasted a very short time. The case against the one woman in 2008 was settled out of court, with details of the settlement being held confidential. On the other hand, the case against the woman in 2010 was dismissed by a district attorney in Georgia due to lack of sufficient evidence. It is very uncommon for the district attorney to dismiss a case, instead its typically the job of a judge or jury. To top it off NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell only suspended Roethlisberger for four games due to violating the “personal conduct policy”. When comparing this case to the media coverage of Tiger Woods, the differences are shocking.
In 2009 Tiger Woods was subject to an infidelity scandal, in which the media had a feast on. Tiger Woods is a black professional golf player who became subject to the scandal when he crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a tree near his home and several of his mistresses spoke out. The media coverage of the scandal was widespread with every single media outlet having some form of input in the scandal. Many of the mistresses participated in interviews that attacked Tiger in all aspects of his life. When comparing the media coverage between Tiger and Roethlisberger, it is quite shocking to see that Tiger received much more scrutiny. There is no question that both individuals committed terrible acts, however Roethlisberger broke the law. It appeared as if the media expected more of a response in regards to Tigers act, instead of the law breaking Roethlisberger. These two events provide even greater evidence that the rules for media coverage are different for African Americans Athletes.
The stereotypical bias of the mainstream media is quite evident, however quite interestingly enough the majority of sports reporters are white. According to the Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sports, “whites account for 94 percent of sports editors, 89 percent of assistant sports editors, 88 percent of columnists, 87 percent of reporters and 89 percent of copy editors”[6]. This statistic is quite shocking when taking into consideration the generalizations and stereotypes that exist in the sports world. In a world of professional sports that is dominated predominately by African American athletes, to hear of such a low numbers of African American journalists is appalling. The lack of diversity in sports journalism has contributed to unreliable reporting when it comes to African American athletes. Consequently the main stream media is a contributing factor to the stereotypes that society has against athletes of race.
The outward effect of media stereotyping of professional black athletes has created a certain “standard” for black men in society today. A University of Texas professor argues “The media creates false perceptions about black athletes in America and advances stereotypes of superhuman strength and aggressive sexuality”[7]. This statement highlights the medias portrayal of male black athletes as being “bigger and better” that all else. This form of portrayal goes back the generalizations and stereotypes that exist towards professional athletes of color. It is a fair argument to say that the media glorifies black men of color as the definition of a true man. For example a Old Spice commercial that is frequently aired on television pictures a muscular black male wearing nothing but a towel. The commercial ends with “smell like a man…man”, which adds to the portrayal of black men as these muscular superhuman beings. Not only does this exhibit stereotypes, but it highlights how black men are objectified. It gives off the sense that these black male athletes are glorified as “objects for sale”.
During the Olympics a noteworthy aspects of the media coverage was how black athletes were portrayed in comparison to white athletes. Many of the athletes are given interviews that touch on the past life, accomplishments and many other things. The trend that seems to repeat itself is the way in which every interview with a black athlete focuses on the past financial history of their parents. These reporters and journalists seem to formulate up a sob story, where in contrast to white athletes this typically never occurs. Although stories of personal success are admired and should be talked about, the fact that the media portrays these sob stories as only associated with black athletes shows much bias. Examples of such a trend were seen during the many interviews with Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, who happens to be African American. The first question that was often asked was “how has your life changed, from the family struggle to the sudden fame?” Rather than focusing on her astounding Olympic performances, past socioeconomic status is always brought up.
Gabby Douglas was subject to a great amount of bias and racist coverage throughout the media during her record breaking Olympic achievements. Most notable was the commercial that major news outlet NBC aired after Gabby won gold medals. The commercial that was aired pictured a monkey doing gymnastics, which was directed towards Gabby Douglas. To add more fuel to the fire NBC argued that it was only a joke and that historically black athletes are often compared to “apes”. This move by NBC was straight up offensive and if highlights that racism still exists. In yet another instance of bias and stereotypes, Douglas was coined “the flying squirrel” by multiple news outlets. Although it may not seem to be biased or racist on the surface, a deeper look into the meaning shows that is possess a negative connotation. The root of all these stereotypes lies within the structuralist culture that society lives in today. The formation of stereotypes over history is once again a contributing factor to the generalizations that exist towards members of different race.
The media’s stereotypical image of black male athletes is seen athroughout the NFL, however it has trickled down the black male youth of today. Kevin Foster an Anthropology professor states, “most young black men prefer going into sports and becoming athletes because of the glorifying images the media produces”[8] This statement is without a doubt correct, however it is noteworthy that there are more black individuals in professional careers than in professional sports. However the image of black men in professional careers is rarely if ever seen, because of the medias glorification of the black male as one day becoming a professional athlete. Therefore, many young African American children view the professional sports world as “what is expected by a black male”. The media’s representation of race is quite shocking, however society continues to divulge this information without truly acknowledging the effect it has on the formation of stereotypes.
The racial stereotypes and generalizations that exist in todays society are indicative of the supra system of race that structuralism has set over time. Based upon past history and events, society has formulated preconceived stereotypes towards members of race. Despite living in a post-racial society, stereotypes are ever present and will remain to be. As highlighted above athletes of color are subject to a great amount of bias, however with increased awareness society will realize the harsh effects of stereotyping.
Works Cited
"Biography: Vince Young." Tennessee Titans: Vince Young. N.p., 18 Jan. 2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
Gaines, Cork. "White Head Coaches Prefer White Quarterbacks, Black Head Coaches Prefer Black Quarterbacks." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 14 Sept. 2011. Web. 07 May 2014.
Johnson, John B. "Why Black QBs Are Paid Less Than White QBs: The Q: GQ." GQ. GQ, 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 07 May 2014.
"McNabb's Performance: A Rush to Judgment?" ESPN.com. ESPN, 1 Oct. 2003. Web. 07 May 2014.
Munir, Huma. "Medias Stereotyping of Black Athletes Creates High Standards, Professor Says." The Daily Texan. University of Texas, 21 Feb. 2011. Web.
Rogers, Dexter. "The White World of Sports Journalism - ColorLines." ColorLines. ColorLines News for Action, 3 Jan. 2011. Web. 07 May 2014.
Santschi, Rachel. "News." NFL Scouting Combine: The Wonderlic Test.
N.p., 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014
Wenner, Lawrence A. Mediasport. London: Routledge, 1998. 150-51. Print.
Supplementary Pictures
[1] Wenner, Lawrence A. Mediasport. London: Routledge, 1998. 150-51. Print.
[2] Santschi, Rachel. "News." NFL Scouting Combine: The Wonderlic Test. N.p., 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
[3] Gaines, Cork. "White Head Coaches Prefer White Quarterbacks, Black Head Coaches Prefer Black Quarterbacks." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 14 Sept. 2011. Web. 07 May 2014.
[4] "McNabb's Performance: A Rush to Judgment?" ESPN.com. ESPN, 1 Oct. 2003. Web. 07 May 2014.
[5] Johnson, John B. "Why Black QBs Are Paid Less Than White QBs: The Q: GQ." GQ. GQ, 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 07 May 2014.
[6] Rogers, Dexter. "The White World of Sports Journalism - ColorLines." ColorLines. ColorLines News for Action, 3 Jan. 2011. Web. 07 May 2014.
[7] Munir, Huma. "Medias Stereotyping of Black Athletes Creates High Standards, Professor Says." The Daily Texan. University of Texas, 21 Feb. 2011. Web.
[8] Munir, Huma. "Medias Stereotyping of Black Athletes Creates High Standards, Professor Says." The Daily Texan. University of Texas, 21 Feb. 2011. Web.