Not
to continue to beat the proverbial dead horse, that is, the last play of Super
Bowl 2015. But damn it (I might need a few damns to get through this essay), I
gotta vent. I have given myself a week to recover, but I still find myself
having to vent. It’s my pain and it’s my pen that is my only safety valve in
this situation. So here we go: the Seahawks had the ball on the half-yard line,
trailing the Patriots by 4 points with 26 seconds to go in the game. Armed with
one of the league’s best running backs in Marshawn Lynch, as well as one of
the league’s most mobile quarterbacks in Russell Wilson a decision is made to
throw the ball on 2nd down. I hate to point a finger, but damn it,
Pete Carroll, you blew the call and blew the game. This doesn’t take away from
the fact that you are a great coach; one play can’t erase your many
accomplishments. It doesn't take away the fact that under different circumstances this was a gutsy call. It doesn’t take away from the fact that I love your enthusiasm
and the rapport you exhibit with your players, but this call is hard to digest. It definitely doesn’t take away the fact that you have 4 Black quarterbacks on the
Seahawks’ roster – that’s amazing. So, I know you get it. However, you blew it
man.
The
most important reason I must vent is because the Seahawks, led by a young Black
quarterback had the opportunity to make Black History during Black History
month. As a race man, I can’t help but to see race in everything. I cheer for
the Black coach, regardless of the team, and I definitely cheer for the Black
quarterback. A team with a Black coach and a Black quarterback is a no brainer.
I don’t care if they are 0-90, I am rooting for them. Thus, the racial
connotations, symbolism, and ramifications of this game are monumental. I am
sure you and your coaching staff, the majority of the players on either the
Patriots or Seahawks, and players and administrators throughout the league for
that matter, are oblivious to the racial significance of this game. Better yet,
what about Super Bowl 2014, where you had a younger Russell Wilson going
against the legendary Peyton Manning, the epitome of a NFL quarterback: white,
intelligent (able to read defenses), pocket passer, general on the field, you
know what I mean. Many probably missed the racial symbolism and empowerment
where here comes this young Black Russell Wilson, not fitting the description
of a Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, or Eli Manning, but he leads his
team to a Super Bowl victory. He also garnered a 10-0 record against Super Bowl
quarterbacks, all of which are white. I think you get the point.
Pete
Carroll and Seahawks offensive coaching staff I be damn if you are not supposed
to guarantee a victory in this situation: 26 seconds on the clock, 2nd
and goal, ball on the half-yard line. I don’t care if you have beef with the non-media
talking, skittles-eating, and anti-league conforming Marshawn Lynch and you didn’t
want the victory obtained by the likes of this rebel. (Just a side note, Mr.
Lynch, do you boss, I appreciate your activism and ownership of your
expression). As I was saying, regardless, you were supposed to secure a victory
in this situation. This victory would have been on the level of electing
President Barack Obama, the second time; not the first time – no way – not the
first time. It is hard to compare this to that monumental feat of putting a
Black face in the highest place in this country and one of the highest and most
powerful offices in the world – President of the United States of America. But
it would have been on par with electing President Obama for a second term in
office. History would have been made for a Black quarterback who in his 3rd
year in the NFL won back-to-back Super Bowls against future Hall of Fame
quarterbacks.
So,
just in case you are ever in this situation again, highly unlikely but
definitely possible, think about the broader social context and the
socio-historical meaning that is attached to this game; think beyond its
entertainment and commercial value. We are not in a post racial society, so
race matters and whenever, a Black man is in a situation to make a symbolically
empowering statement with his performance that is contrary to the norms, damn
it, you gotta guarantee him this victory. My final reactions can be best captured in the
words of Florida Evans of Good Times,
“Damn, Damn, Damn!”
