God and the Air Force

[eddantes]

So the Air Force football coach made some comments that only a journalist could construe as racist. This prompted some holier-than-thou columnist on ESPN to bring this up:

Last year the outspokenly religious coach hung a banner in the Air Force locker room that read, "I am a Christian first and last. … I am a member of Team Jesus Christ." It might have been appropriate at Liberty University -- maybe. It was not appropriate at a taxpayer-funded government institution that presumably counts Jews, Muslims, agnostics, atheists and others among its student (and student-athlete) population.

So in essence, a Christian is not allowed to make any reference to his faith every under any circumstances, according to this guy. By saying "I am a Christian" -- how does that disenfranchise anyone else at the university? I mean, he referred to this as "combative Christianity."

What an idiot.

[PAmedic]

Once again, the old double standard rears its' ugly head. Had he written, "I'm gay and proud" or I'm a SATANIST" it would have raised no objection. Well, maybe the gay one ("Don't ask/don't tell).
After all, colleges are institutes of higher learning and free thought- we certainly wouldn't want to disenfranchise those in pursuit of LIBERAL ideology. Only those CONSERVATIVE WACKO NAZI TYPES.

[PAmedic]

*I'm NOT defending RACISM of ANY KIND*
But, geez- such a "serious mistep", maybe he should be burned at the stake. This is America- you have to accept EVERYONE ELSE'S views but deny your OWN. Very Orwelian. I'm interested to hear if this stuff offends any of you guys on here.

Air Force reprimands DeBerry for race remarks

Associated Press

DENVER -- Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry met the academy's new superintendent for the first time Wednesday, and found himself being reprimanded, but not fired, for statements he made about black athletes and recruiting.

The 67-year-old coach, known for his folksy, disarming charm and his homespun sayings, found himself in an imbroglio over political correctness for the second time in less than 12 months.

Last time, it was about religion in the locker room. This time, it was about black football players -- or the lack of them -- at the academy.

After his meeting with Lt. Gen. John Regni, DeBerry, who is suffering through a 3-5 season this year, issued an apology at a news conference.

"I realize the things I said might have been hurtful to many people and I want everyone to understand that I never intended to offend anyone," DeBerry said.

On Tuesday, in discussing last weekend's 48-10 loss to TCU, DeBerry said it was clear TCU "had a lot more Afro-American players than we did and they ran a lot faster than we did."

"It just seems to me to be that way," he said. "Afro-American kids can run very well. That doesn't mean that Caucasian kids and other descents can't run, but it's very obvious to me that they run extremely well."

DeBerry first discussed the topic Monday, telling The Gazette of Colorado Springs the academy needed to recruit faster players and noting, "you don't see many minority athletes in our program."

He said he realized he had erred as he was driving back to campus from his weekly luncheon with the media Tuesday.

"I have made a mistake and I ask for everyone's forgiveness," he said. "I regret these statements and I sincerely hope they will not reflect negatively toward the academy or our coaches or our players and I thank the administration for the opportunity to make this apology."

DeBerry said he had no plans on stepping down after this latest public embarrassment. Athletic director Hans Mueh, who took DeBerry to Regni's house, said the academy "has a zero-tolerance policy for any racial or ethnic discrimination or discrimination of any kind."

Nonetheless, Mueh said the coach would not lose his job.

"It was a seriously, seriously inappropriate comment," Mueh said. "This was a great first step. This was not Fisher DeBerry, not the man I've known for 25 years. I'd like for us to all just move on from there."

Air Force made two seniors, one white and one black, available after practice. Both said they were not offended by the coach's statement.

"We, as a team, didn't think he meant anything by it," said receiver Jason Brown, who is black. "He's not that kind of person. I personally wasn't offended. I think people saw today how sincere he was and he didn't mean anything by it."

Center John Wilson, who is white, said last week's loss had nothing to do with the ethnic makeup of the team.

"There are 250 guys on the team and there is not one player that was offended," by DeBerry's statements, Wilson said.

DeBerry took a few questions at the news conference after making his initial apology. At times, it wasn't quite clear whether he was apologizing for what he said, and the ideas they conveyed, or merely for his word choice.

"I feel like maybe a couple of terms I used should not have been used in any remarks I made to anybody," he said. "If I offended anyone by using the term 'Afro-American,' or 'minorities,' then I certainly did [not mean] to offend anyone. I think people know me well enough. I think people know my heart. I think my players know me and how I care about people. I used a couple of terms that don't reflect the standards and expectations and direction in our recruiting."

Asked what, exactly, was wrong with saying that blacks run very well, DeBerry replied: "I don't think there is anything wrong with that. We have some Caucasian players that run very, very well, also. My choice of words, I probably should have said 'players,' rather than expressing a particular ethnic group."

Mueh made it clear that the entire idea DeBerry was discussing was inappropriate.

"Fisher's already apologized for that statement," Mueh said. "What we're talking about is speed. There's speed that cuts across black, white, gray, blue, whatever. It was just an inappropriate comment and you all know it was an inappropriate comment."

This episode comes about a year after DeBerry was asked to remove a banner from the locker room that displayed the "Competitor's Creed," including the lines "I am a Christian first and last ... I am a member of Team Jesus Christ."

DeBerry's misstep came as the academy deals with allegations of religious intolerance. The Air Force issued new guidelines directing leaders to be more sensitive to diversity after evangelical Christians were accused of harassing cadets who hold other beliefs.

Mueh said DeBerry, who has won 164 games in his 22 years as head coach at Air Force, shouldn't be remembered for his latest mistake. The AD credited DeBerry for wanting to make a public apology.

"This is a great man, a great American," Mueh said. "For him to come forward and admit he made this mistake -- it was a serious, serious inappropriate comment -- it was a great first step."

[grm]

Dear Children,

Fisher DeBerry made two statements/comments that got him into big trouble. Trouble is, he was right both times. You guys don't remember the old NBA adage about how many "brothers" to have on the court at the same time. It went like this "one at home, two on the road, and three if you're behind!" If 20% of the population has 80% of the great basketball players, that is a ratio about 20-1 in terms of potential "greatness." Now why would that be the case? What about DB's and backs in football? It's too obvious.... blacks,
across the board, are better athletes. And Christians are going to Heaven.

[realist]

I disagree with all these statements.

The christian message would have been appropriate at LU, where students know they are attending a religious institution. The Air Force is not, and no statements should be made as such in a common gathering room. This would apply to the satanist and gay remarks as well. It is forcing your own beliefs on others, in a setting which they did not sign up for.

As for the 20-1 disparity in basketball, it has more to do with socioeconomic status and what sport african americans embrace. There is no "superior" race in terms of athletics, if this was the case, why aren't their more african americans in soccer, clearly a "running" sport. It just has to do with the different sports different races play as kids. In baseball, african americans make up 10 percent of the major league roster. Why, not b/c they have worse hand-eye coordination, it is b/c they don't play baseball as kids. Hispanics and whites do. Thus they churn out more professional baseball players. A much higher percentage of African Americans play basketball and football, compared to caucasions. Thus, they churn out more of those type of athletes.

[PAmedic]

good discussion going here- many interesting points.

[grm]

I just read all of Sly's comments on the other thread/site/whatever it is. As an older white man, I have trouble learning this computer thing. If only I were a young Oriental. Anyway,
I'm a pretty good driver. Sly, I do think we're too sensitive on race. As SCAR mentioned,
his team didn't think they should lose to those "white boys." It's an "age old" discussion.
One of the by-products of this that was enjoyable for me was to read Bald Spot relating some of SCAR's signature and outstanding plays (and then SCAR said a few things that I LOVED reading). The one about "hitting a line drive and then getting hit in the head with it as he slid into second" was priceless.

[grm]

One more thing: what if DeBerry had said what the brilliant George Mason (Black) professor, Walter Williams, said (tried to find exact quote & couldn't) that our Black Americans would be helped if they had better percentages of two- parent homes, citing (I believe) a 70% illegitimacy rate among blacks.

Walter Williams is a wonderful and gifted writer, who tells it like it is. I don't know how the rest of the world views him, but obviously there are thousands who hail him as one of the great commentators of our time.

Someone said that "the art of communication consists of being totally honest and totally kind at the same time." All too often in our zealous quest for pc-ness, we've over-emphasized the kindness to the point of removing the honesty as a legitimate part of the communication equation.

In other words (IMHO... if I've got that right) we have hesitated to allow honest communication. To be trite, no-one, except the little child, will dare say "The emperor has no clothes on!"

[PAmedic]

Loved the asian comment, but as a BAD driver I am offended by your callous disregard for my difficulties. Please attend sensitivity training. Unless that offends you.

And Walter Williams is the MAN. Used to hear him on radio when I listened to Rush more. (Limbaugh, not the group- who I also like)

[grm]

lol

[PAmedic]

JOE PA weighs in. (SLY: if you didn't like him before, well- don't even read this)

Paterno links black athletes to increased scoring

ESPN.com news services

A week after Air Force football coach Fisher DeBerry was publicly reprimanded for insensitive comments about black athletes, Joe Paterno did not shy away from the topic of race during Tuesday's Big Ten coaches teleconference.

At one point, the topic of the teleconference turned to the increased scoring in the Big Ten this season. After first mentioning that improved indoor practice facilities have helped the conference recruit kids from warm-weather climates, Paterno offered a supplemental explanation.

"You have to be careful the way you say things sometimes," the Penn State coach said. "Poor [Air Force coach] Fisher DeBerry got in trouble, but the black athlete has made a big difference. They have changed the whole tempo of the game. Black athletes have just done a great job as athletes and as people in turning the game around."

Last week, after a 48-10 less to TCU, DeBerry noted that TCU "had a lot more Afro-American players than we did and they ran a lot faster than we did.

"Afro-American kids can run very well. That doesn't mean that Caucasian kids and other descents can't run, but it's very obvious to me that they run extremely well."

DeBerry was reprimanded by Air Force's superintendent, and issued a public apology for his remarks.

[grm]

As an ex white hockey player, I'm just glad the blacks could not afford to participate. Can you imagine? ... black wingers jumping right over the top of white defensemen, landing on their feet, then going behind their backs and through their legs (ala SCAR) and humiliating and debasing the poor Canadien goalie - "e- tabalnosh" Black teams would be defeating white teams by scores like 35-1, spectacular scoring celebrations would be sure to follow, taking the practice to exrtra-terrestrial art form levels, including all kinds of "Temptation-like" choreography, and Wayne Gretsky would be just another white boy from a by-gone era.

O.K. gotta grab some chewin tobacky and go work on my car.

[PAmedic]

NICE- I hope you are familiar w/ Kevlar and don't go hunting alone! KIDDING, I know you're just bustin!

[grm]

Yes, PA. I'm enjoying life, and thank you for being a part of that!