The recent work of Cowboys backup tight end Martellus Bennett has brought about a slew of controversy in the sports media circuit. I can't go through my blog roll this week without coming across another story about the apparent "buffoonery" of the former Texas A & M product. Bennett is a twenty-two year old tight end with a ton of upside mostly coming from his big size and pass-catching ability. Marty has decided this off-season to spend his down time blogging about his life and also broadcasting "Marty B TV" on YouTube.
(The caption really lets you know you're in for a treat)
Over a week ago Marty B TV debuted the "Black Olympics," a comical eating and drinking contest featuring Marcus Bennett (his brother) who is a rookie free agent with the Seattle Seahawks. The eating and drinking taking place in these olympic games featured Kool-Aid, fried chicken, and watermelon. The essential problem that has everyone fuming with this video is that Bennett is naturally poking fun at the typical African-American stereotypes of eating. I must say myself I don't know of anyone beside your out of the ordinary health fanatic who doesn't love the combination of fried chicken and Kool-Aid. Who also doesn't love watermelon? It's one of the most tasty fruits out there. One would think that it's a crime that watermelon is actually healthy for you.
Everyone was waiting to hear Jason Whitlock's take of the controversial video and boy did we get something last Saturday. The outstanding and controversial writer of the Kansas City Star came out blasting Bennett. He claimed that black athletes shouldn't be excused for acts of racial hypocrisy. Whitlock being an African-American considered the stereotypical eating contest as an act that was taken way too far. He stated that if Jason Witten dared to stage a stunt like this that he would be crucified so much that all the Michael Jackson coverage would instantly disappear and the world would come down on this white athlete. Why should any black athlete get a pass on such an apparent derogatory act?
Jemele Hill an African-American writer for ESPN.com's page 2 also feels the same way. Hill stating that if Martin Luther King Jr. was alive he would of slapped Bennett with his "I Have A Dream" speech. Hill also believes that Bennett's $22,000 fine by the Cowboys isn't a steep enough price for posting more videos that included derogatory comments toward African-American and gays. She believes that the Cowboys need to fine Martellus at least $50,000 because the organization is promoting a double standard for black athletes and also encouraging this bad comedy.
I must say this recent firework show by Marty B has really caused quite an uproar in the media world. When I came across the actions of Bennett and finally decided that I would waste my time and watch the footage, I really felt the whole thing was harmless. I totally agree with Whitlock and Hill's claim's on how the treatment between athletes of different races can be two-faced. I already knew that and this is how things have been for awhile. I could obviously tell that Bennett was poking fun at the whole eating stereotype and this whole act was made out of boredom. Are we really going to waste our time and try to interpret the actions of another typical NFL athlete who spends his time trying to get the most attention he possibly can. The sports is littered with attention grabbing athletes and I don't have to go to far for a fan to just think about the wide receiver position. The actions of Bennett are no different then something you would hear on Comedy Central's "Black Comedy Tour," or any stand up routine. The fact that Jamele Hill is going as far as to claim that Jerry Jones is promoting a double standard because he's not giving out a heftier fine for these actions is absolutely ridiculous. It really wouldn't matter what kind of fine Bennett got because he did this all in good fun and he didn't think much of it. Bennett was interviewed on the "Michael Irvin Show" of ESPN 103.3 and he didn't see what the big deal was.
I understand the intentions of these two writers and they are absolutely correct in their assumptions. It's not fair that certain athletes of different races can get away with different things, but once again this is truly how the world works. In the grand scheme of things the acts of Martellus Bennett are nothing to even sweat about considering all the problems among athletes in the NFL. Bennett is just another clown who was having some fun with his video camera and didn't realize he would offend so many people. As compared to some other NFL athletes and their despicable actions, Bennett's video will just be filed away to be forgotten as soon as he comes up with a big touchdown catch for the Boys this upcoming season.
We're currently in a modern NFL where players think it's okay to promote illegal dogfighting and that it's also okay to bring loaded weapons into a night club with no regard for anyone else. How can we also forget that it's okay for a player to drive over the legal drinking limit and accidentally kill someone, only to serve 24 days of his DUI manslaughter sentence? How about when one defensive player decided to make it "rain" in the club? The actions of Martellus Bennett were in every way in bad taste, but when your amongst colleagues who are committing hanus crimes can you honestly get that much of a rise out of this whole story? The real truth is that as long as Bennett helps the Boys shred up opposing defenses with his god-given talents this fall that ultimately winning cures everything. That is the sad truth.
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