funny Jordy Nelson article...

[gbgary]

yous guys in Green Bay would know more than me because you see/hear him more on the local sports but i've only heard him speak once i think...jordy doesn't seem like the sharpest tack in the drawer. please tell me i'm wrong.

[channtheman]

yous guys in Green Bay would know more than me because you see/hear him more on the local sports but i've only heard him speak once i think...jordy doesn't seem like the sharpest tack in the drawer. please tell me i'm wrong.

He WAS born in Kansas. Kansas folk aint the sharpest tack in the draw either.

[Kiwon]

The gist of the article is that people incorrectly stereotype Jordy because he is white. Isn't it a good thing to point out that the stereotype based upon race is wrong?

No, you have completely wrong. The article doesn’t knock down assumptions based on race, it adds credence to them. Reread the article.

The article is mainly quoting Greg Jennings and bolsters his opinions on racial stereotypes. To the surprise of him, the other Black players in the league and even Black coaches (Joe Whitt, Jr.), Jordy Nelson plays the wide receiver position well as a Caucasian. Don’t let the skin color fool you. Jordy is fast.

Jennings officially declares that Jordy Nelson does not play wide receiver like a white guy. He plays at the skill level of a Black. That’s what he is saying. And the article writer says nothing to dismiss either Jennings’ assumptions or his statement. He lets it stand as is.

And that’s the point I am making. Supposedly, promoting racial stereotypes is wrong. Period. So why is it highlighted in a sports column and considered acceptable?

Just put Greg Jenning’s words and quotes attributed to coach Joe Whitt,Jr. in the context of the 1950’s NFL when most WR’s and DB’s and coaches were Caucasian; “Now, don’t let him fool you” and “It's easy for someone to say, 'Oh yeah, he's like one of those other white receivers.’…He’s not, I’m sorry, he’s not” becomes “Now, don’t let him fool you, even though he’s Black, he’s still smart enough to remember his route….He’s not like those other Black receivers who get confused or are scared to take a hit. I’m sorry, but this guy plays like a white guy. He’s actually a good football player.”

Folks want to gloss over the logic and reasoning because its football and it involves players on their favorite team, the Packers, and Jordy Nelson is playing along with it, even promoting it. But just because it’s a sports article doesn’t mean that the reader should stop thinking critically. The logic is flawed and that line of thinking is supposedly detrimental for society, according to “the experts.”

You can take the article as lighthearted if you want, and in reality it is. Jordy is promoting this stuff with the media. However, at the same time, it is also correct to expose the faulty reasoning and the double standards that the opinions in the article are based upon. If racial stereotyping is acceptable in the Sports world then in what other areas can we properly apply those same standards?

[mission]

Stereotypes are funny because they're (mostly) true. There are always exceptions -- and those you tend to appreciate -- but it is what it is.

[mraynrand]

Stereotypes are funny because they're (mostly) true. There are always exceptions -- and those you tend to appreciate -- but it is what it is.

I always heard Bose was the best, but I've had great luck with Kenwood.

[Kiwon]

Stereotypes are funny because they're (mostly) true. There are always exceptions -- and those you tend to appreciate -- but it is what it is.

You are 100% correct.

I get the thrust of the article and I love the fact that Greg Jennings appreciates Jordy Nelson for the talent he has and the work he has put in to improve. It really indicates that we've got great team chemistry.

But when I read something that uses race in a flippant way then my radar goes up and I don't like the implications. I'm not a PC guy by any stretch of the imagination but I do strongly think that individuals should be judged on character and merit and not pre-judged by factors (race, ethnicity, origin) that they have no control over.

[MadtownPacker]

Stereotypes are funny because they're (mostly) true. There are always exceptions -- and those you tend to appreciate -- but it is what it is.

And there it is!!

Jordy is the token White WR and I wouldnt have it any other way. He grew up on a farm so of course he is gonna be tough as fuck. If some dumb Ninja wants to take it easy on him cuz he is a Whitey that is their fuck up.

Anyone offended by this is full of shit. That is how the world is and if you say no it is just because you are PCed up and feel the need to lie to yourself.

[MadtownPacker]

He WAS born in Kansas. Kansas folk aint the sharpest tack in the draw either.

[Guiness]

You are 100% on the money Kiwon. I was thinking roughly the same thing, but you expressed it with "he plays at the skill level of a Black."

[denverYooper]

I always heard Bose was the best, but I've had great luck with Kenwood.

I always liked Harman Kardon.

[pbmax]

Please note that the article from Yahoo is a rewrite of two other pieces. As such, it misses a lot of info.

There is another level at work here, that has not been discussed and it plays a role in both source stories. In the sports media and especialy in the world of punditry, commentary and draft speculation, all white WRs are supposed to be the same player and constantly compared only to each other, even when their game and skills are completely different. You see this every year at draft time: hard worker, good route runner, possession receiver, surprising athleticism. For a while, every white WR was just like Ricky Proehl or Ed McCaffrey. Later it was Wayne Chrebet. Now its Welker. For Packer fans it might be Bill Schroeder. None of them had much in common except skin color. You see jokes about this phenomenon on almost all sports blogs. The people most commonly caught in this trap at color (?!) announcers who haven't had time to develop a thought beyond the patently obvious (and usually wrong).

The article is a terrible rewrite of the original articles/interviews on the subject.

Wilde got into this with Rodgers on the radio: http://www.stationcaster.com/player_...=1191&f=276931

And he specifically mentions that all WR are supposed the be the same guy, only compared to the previous, best known white WR. If you listen to the interview, the topic starts about 8:00 in. In the Press Gazette article, they are specifically batting down comparisons to Jurevicious and McCaffrey when discussing Nelson with Jennings. Both those names came from Rodgers, who mentions both and seems to be falling into the same pundit trap, but then lists several reasons why Nelson is different from each.

http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111116/PKR01/111116145/1058/Nelson-works-his-way-up-No-2-receiver-slot-by-being-himself

So Nelson not playing like a white WR (according to his teammates) is a commentary on those who believe the common, and incorrect, frame of reference. Its not that he really is good like a black WR would be, but that other players who expect him to be the stereotypical white possession receiver are in for a rude treatment.

But the give away to the less than serious work that went in to this article is that no one has unearthed any examples of this happening. Not even bulletin board quality dismissals of Nelson's talent.

Also a word about stereotypes being right. Anecdotally, you could confirm any kind of stereotype. The problem is when you reduce that common trait from a percentage of a population down to EVERY single person in that population. That is when a stereotype devolves into a prejudice. And that prejudice is what both original pieces and Jennings and Rodgers are attempting to dismantle.

[channtheman]

Stereotypes are funny because they're (mostly) true. There are always exceptions -- and those you tend to appreciate -- but it is what it is.

This is what's so funny. They only exist, because GENERALLY they are true. Obviously, there will be times where they aren't, but for the most part they are true. I don't see why people get so offended by them.

[sharpe1027]

No, you have completely wrong. The article doesn’t knock down assumptions based on race, it adds credence to them. Reread the article.

Read it twice. It is crystal clear to me that the article is about how Jordy does not match the stereotypes. I can't see how you cans say that I am "completely wrong." I didn't say it was going to "knock down assumptions based on race." Those are your words and your assumptions as to the duty of a sports reporter. Is that really the duty of a sports reporter?

The article is mainly quoting Greg Jennings and bolsters his opinions on racial stereotypes. To the surprise of him, the other Black players in the league and even Black coaches (Joe Whitt, Jr.), Jordy Nelson plays the wide receiver position well as a Caucasian. Don’t let the skin color fool you. Jordy is fast.

Yep.

Jennings officially declares that Jordy Nelson does not play wide receiver like a white guy. He plays at the skill level of a Black. That’s what he is saying. And the article writer says nothing to dismiss either Jennings’ assumptions or his statement. He lets it stand as is.

Yes. The reporter wrote the story based upon quotes of specific players saying how Jordy did not fit the stereotype.

And that’s the point I am making. Supposedly, promoting racial stereotypes is wrong. Period. So why is it highlighted in a sports column and considered acceptable?

Here is where you go off the deep end a bit. The reporter had concrete evidence (several quotes from players and coaches) that players had stereotyped Jordy and were proven wrong. He wrote the facts based upon that. I'd rather have the truth out there than have my head in the sand pretending that this type of stereotyping doesn't exist.

The article provides facts showing that this type of stereotyping exists while acknowledging that it was wrong in this case. While the reporter could have either not written the story at all (head in the sand) or ripped on Jennings, I still disagree with your conclusion that the reporter was "promoting racial stereotypes" by reporting facts that showed how a stereotype was wrong in this case.

[George Cumby]

Club me for thread-drift:

Remember when TT drafted Jordy and during the presser he had a cheshire cat grin? Now, we know why....

[gbgary]

Club me for thread-drift:

Remember when TT drafted Jordy and during the presser he had a cheshire cat grin? Now, we know why....

thanks. this tread needs to drift. wish i'd seen the presser. wonder if it's in the archives. didn't realize he's so much taller than jennings