Since we did not have a class this past week due to the Thanksgiving weekend, I've decided to blog about the most recent thing we did discuss in class. Last class we saw several major scenes from Bamboozled. I found the movie to be a sharp, honest look at race in our modern American culture and was thoroughly surprised at how daring many of the scenes were.
I hadn't seen the movie before we saw it in class and was genuinly glad that it was shown to us. I feel that it's a film that is brutally honest and raw in its depictions of racism and differing perceptions among the races. It didn't pull any punches as Spike Lee was as edgy as ever while directing this movie.
I also connected with what you said about the movie Network. I saw that classic several years before and instantly recognized the scene where Man-Tan tells his fellow brethren to go to their windows and basically say the same thing as was said in the famous Network scene. Judging by what you said about the ending to Bamboozled being similar to that of Network, I drew the following assumption: That a lot of people die in Bamboozled, particularly Man-Tan and/or Sleep And Eat.
I'll never forget the ending to Network, which thoroughly shocked me. I hope we will get to see more of Bamboozled in later classes as it perfectlt demonstrated many of the racial themes and issues we have been discussing in class. I could tell by looking at the startled and impassioned faces of many of my classmates that they, too, had enjoyed and appreciated this honest look at race through film.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Blog 10: The Players' Side of Things
I've done some thinking and decided that I wanted to discuss the role the three players more. These three players who have pointed the finger at Dodge and his coaching staff have created quite a media storm and all the while they have said very little. I've realized that right or wrong, the burden of proof is on Dodge and his coaching staff and not the players who have created the situation. They just get to sit back and let the coaches' take the hard hits.
I know this is the case because during the time last week when I spoke to the class, one female student said she knew two of the players. She said they were bragging about how they had created this mess and how it really wasn't such a big deal to them. This shocked me as I genuinly hoped that the players had filed a complaint because they felt wronged, not because they were too immature to accept the reality that they were kicked off the team, as stated by several of the current players who said these three players were jokes.
The three players haven't said much since they made their initial complaints. You would think they would want to get the word out as often as possible about their problems and give detailed, lengthy examples of the series of recurring hardships they have had to endure. Other than a very brief FOX 4 interview that mentioned friction over a team rule regarding hats and a few handpicked, thin interviews in between, the three players haven't been seen nor heard. Dodge, meanwhile, has had to suffer the brunt of the issue. The vast majority of Mean Green fans, especially through online message boards, support and believe Dodge. Many have even gone as far as to say that these three players are unfairly playing the race card.
Joseph Miller, who is biracial and like the three players, also plays defense (meaning he is quite familiar with them), emphatically told me on the record last week that these players need to accept the reality that they're no longer on the team and move on with their lives. He said there is no truth whatsoever to their claims.If what Dodge says is true is indeed true, then things are gradually going down the right path for him. However, if what the three players say is right, then they need to get the lead out and make up some ground.
They should want to be believed, but right now the consensus among the fans and the general support is in Dodge's favor.Once all the information is gathered and all parties have told their side of the story, a resolution can be made. Until then, closure will be withheld for all involved.One thing is for sure. This will unquestionably go down as an increasingly unforgiving season for Dodge, who is learning the hard way that the old college try is not good enough in college football.
I know this is the case because during the time last week when I spoke to the class, one female student said she knew two of the players. She said they were bragging about how they had created this mess and how it really wasn't such a big deal to them. This shocked me as I genuinly hoped that the players had filed a complaint because they felt wronged, not because they were too immature to accept the reality that they were kicked off the team, as stated by several of the current players who said these three players were jokes.
The three players haven't said much since they made their initial complaints. You would think they would want to get the word out as often as possible about their problems and give detailed, lengthy examples of the series of recurring hardships they have had to endure. Other than a very brief FOX 4 interview that mentioned friction over a team rule regarding hats and a few handpicked, thin interviews in between, the three players haven't been seen nor heard. Dodge, meanwhile, has had to suffer the brunt of the issue. The vast majority of Mean Green fans, especially through online message boards, support and believe Dodge. Many have even gone as far as to say that these three players are unfairly playing the race card.
Joseph Miller, who is biracial and like the three players, also plays defense (meaning he is quite familiar with them), emphatically told me on the record last week that these players need to accept the reality that they're no longer on the team and move on with their lives. He said there is no truth whatsoever to their claims.If what Dodge says is true is indeed true, then things are gradually going down the right path for him. However, if what the three players say is right, then they need to get the lead out and make up some ground.
They should want to be believed, but right now the consensus among the fans and the general support is in Dodge's favor.Once all the information is gathered and all parties have told their side of the story, a resolution can be made. Until then, closure will be withheld for all involved.One thing is for sure. This will unquestionably go down as an increasingly unforgiving season for Dodge, who is learning the hard way that the old college try is not good enough in college football.
Blog 9: UNT Football Racism Situation
Dr. Lambiase: I thank you for letting me speak to the class last week about the football team's racism allegations. I felt like the class was interactive and was very glad that so many students cared to discuss such a very vital issue on campus.
The issue is not quite dead as the NAACP hasn't made their ruling yet, but for the most part the issue has been put to bed. Especially after the UNT administration recently cleared the coaching staff last week of any wrongdoing.
My thoughts are that the recent allegations of racism towards head coach Todd Dodge's coaching staff from three former players have created more of a stir than any of Dodge's seven current losses in eight games this season. And that's saying a lot considering there have been some truly gut-wrenching losses, too.Although I'm sure Dodge has realized the following long before now, the fact remains that the events of this past week drove home the revelation more so now than ever before: despite the geography which states he's only a little over 20 miles from his old stomping grounds, in truth he is a world away from Southlake Carroll.
The three players have continually said that their issues have been with the coaching staff as a whole, but since Dodge is the head coach, he must speak for them because he is the head of the program. Not one of Dodge's coaches has said anything to the media yet. Whether it's right or wrong, Dodge has come under the most fire since he is the head coach and as a result, he is responsible for the actions of his coaching staff. In this "very disappointing" season of multiple hardships, Dodge has also admitted that several games have been "nightmarish" for him. Through hindsight, the word best describes this past week more than it does any football game. According to the calendar, Dodge is not even one year removed from his fourth high school state title in five years, a streak in which he lost only one game. Realistically, though, he's about as far removed from those glory days as he can possibly be.
The honeymoon has been over for quite some time, but these series of allegations have only further divorced him from his last dominant stop. The first game of the season (a 79-10 historic thumping by OU) is arguably NT's worst loss ever, but even that didn't cut Dodge as deeply as these allegations have. I was there with several other news outlets last Tuesday as Dodge gave his first interview since the story broke. I have never seen Dodge so out of his element and visibly distraught as I did that day, not even in the post game interviews following the many tough, heartbreaking losses NT has endured.
Dodge has always been honest, constantly taking responsibility for things that don't work in a game or blaming himself for mistakes he made. He has given me no reason to disregard his words now. He takes great pride in knowing that he does his best to run a professional, classy program. At the beginning of the season, he said the reason why he brought his assistant coaches to NT was because he could trust them. Their loyalty and character meant more to him than their strong lack of college coaching experience. However, if there is truth to what the players say, then it appears that the problem is with his coaches.Then there are the three players. I don't doubt that they felt discriminated against, but that doesn't mean that they were.
Misunderstandings, especially with a new coaching staff, are common as everybody tries to get comfortable under a new program. Winning cures all ails, so I can't help but wonder if these allegations would have surfaced if the team was winning. That's not to question the validity of the claims or to say that the coaching staff is to blame, just that troubles are endured and forgotten as long as teams are winning. This has been seen throughout the world of sports for decades. As long as things are going well, everyone is happy, but once the losing starts, suddenly things that weren't a problem become one.
The issue is not quite dead as the NAACP hasn't made their ruling yet, but for the most part the issue has been put to bed. Especially after the UNT administration recently cleared the coaching staff last week of any wrongdoing.
My thoughts are that the recent allegations of racism towards head coach Todd Dodge's coaching staff from three former players have created more of a stir than any of Dodge's seven current losses in eight games this season. And that's saying a lot considering there have been some truly gut-wrenching losses, too.Although I'm sure Dodge has realized the following long before now, the fact remains that the events of this past week drove home the revelation more so now than ever before: despite the geography which states he's only a little over 20 miles from his old stomping grounds, in truth he is a world away from Southlake Carroll.
The three players have continually said that their issues have been with the coaching staff as a whole, but since Dodge is the head coach, he must speak for them because he is the head of the program. Not one of Dodge's coaches has said anything to the media yet. Whether it's right or wrong, Dodge has come under the most fire since he is the head coach and as a result, he is responsible for the actions of his coaching staff. In this "very disappointing" season of multiple hardships, Dodge has also admitted that several games have been "nightmarish" for him. Through hindsight, the word best describes this past week more than it does any football game. According to the calendar, Dodge is not even one year removed from his fourth high school state title in five years, a streak in which he lost only one game. Realistically, though, he's about as far removed from those glory days as he can possibly be.
The honeymoon has been over for quite some time, but these series of allegations have only further divorced him from his last dominant stop. The first game of the season (a 79-10 historic thumping by OU) is arguably NT's worst loss ever, but even that didn't cut Dodge as deeply as these allegations have. I was there with several other news outlets last Tuesday as Dodge gave his first interview since the story broke. I have never seen Dodge so out of his element and visibly distraught as I did that day, not even in the post game interviews following the many tough, heartbreaking losses NT has endured.
Dodge has always been honest, constantly taking responsibility for things that don't work in a game or blaming himself for mistakes he made. He has given me no reason to disregard his words now. He takes great pride in knowing that he does his best to run a professional, classy program. At the beginning of the season, he said the reason why he brought his assistant coaches to NT was because he could trust them. Their loyalty and character meant more to him than their strong lack of college coaching experience. However, if there is truth to what the players say, then it appears that the problem is with his coaches.Then there are the three players. I don't doubt that they felt discriminated against, but that doesn't mean that they were.
Misunderstandings, especially with a new coaching staff, are common as everybody tries to get comfortable under a new program. Winning cures all ails, so I can't help but wonder if these allegations would have surfaced if the team was winning. That's not to question the validity of the claims or to say that the coaching staff is to blame, just that troubles are endured and forgotten as long as teams are winning. This has been seen throughout the world of sports for decades. As long as things are going well, everyone is happy, but once the losing starts, suddenly things that weren't a problem become one.
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