NFL Running Back: ‘Every Team’ Made Fun of Me for Being White
- Posted on January 21, 2011 at 8:18pm by
Meredith Jessup
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Peyton Hillis
Peyton Hillis, running back for the Cleveland Browns, was recently asked about being a white running back in the NFL. On Tuesday, Hillis told Sports Illustrated‘s Dan Patrick that he’s often taunted during games for his race. The Huffington Post reports:
“Every team did it,” Hillis said. “They’ll say, ‘You white boy, you ain’t gonna run on us today. This is ridiculous. Why are you giving offensive linemen the ball?’
He went on to give examples of the nicknames he heard throughout the season. Patrick said his favorite was “The Avalanche.”
“I heard that one,” Hillis replied. “I heard ‘White Rhino.’ I heard … Chuck Norris.’”
NBC Sports‘ Josiah Schlatter shrugged off Hillis’ comments, claiming it was probably nothing more than a little game play:
Is this an example of the mysterious ‘reverse racism’ everybody’s saying exists now? Not to my knowledge. Most defensive players like to try and get inside a star player’s head to feast on their insecurities as a human so when they receive a hand-off and hit a running lane they have the idea that they’re a slow nobody with a stupid facemask who can barely tie his own shoelaces bouncing around their skull.
Because Hillis is white, he noticed these comments a little bit more, and when Patrick asked him a touchy question, he went at it with the same bullheadedness he uses to perfection on the football field. There haven’t been many great white running back hopes in recent memory, and defensive players are put on their heels a little bit because they have no idea how to insult Hillis without bringing race into the equation.
Whether the remarks aimed at Hillis are racially charged or not, the running back says he converts the underhanded criticism into motivation:
“I know a lot of people don’t have a lot faith in me,” he said, “and even if you have a good year or a bad year they’re still going to criticize you and say you’re not good enough. It just gives me the motivation to go out there and do better.”
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Comments (169)
rufrknkidnme
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:04pmI don’t get it. There have been and are lots of big, strong white guys playing Fullback in the NFL, College and High School……………
Report Post »WaterH2O
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:52pmFullbacks are usually used to block ahead for the running back to run. hints, “running” back. So he is like the only starting white running back in the NFL right now. most of the other white backs are fullback in the NFL.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:04pmReverse racism?
Report Post »Agentuntomyself
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:58pmThis is just trash talk. Get over it. The thing to pay attention to in this article is the question about reverse racism. This is not reverse racism, it’s just a bunch of athletes trying to psyche out the other guy any way they can, and whoever covered the story knows it. But when they point this out as an example of “reverse racism” it makes the whole issue seem silly and further confirms that it doesn’t really exist – reinforcing the idea that only whites can be racist. Clever.
Report Post »allenr74
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:53pmWhite Shadow….
Report Post »Woman
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:47pmWay to stay decent, Payton.
Report Post »Docroxall
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:46pmHillis is a BEAST and MOST a dem “black boys” got run over by his whitey ******* buttocks this year…so…right, who care, but this IS an example where racism has been made an exclusively “white man” malady…black men, in this case, get away with racist commments.
Report Post »Helldogger
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:35pmDuh?! This is exactly wh yI will not allow pro sports in my house on my TV, radio etc. This has been going on for yrs.
Report Post »Jfifthwheel
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:33pmYou may have something there Randyrocker
Report Post »subdoc
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:29pmI wonder what Al Sharlotan, or Jesse Jackson has to say about this “travisty of injustice”?
Report Post »WeveAlreadyWon
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:29pmhmmm Daryl Johnston and Mike Alstott come to mind.. Where is Al Sharpton on this???
Report Post »APEXIdaho
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:03pmMerril Hoge
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:28pmJust play that funky music white boy!
Report Post »Gunonesis
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:26pmThe heck with pro sports. These over paid athletes ain’t gettin none of my hard earned cash so they can live high off the hog.
Report Post »Randyrocker
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:26pmSince 97% of the blacks voted in Obama, they’ve got this feeling they control everything and the NFL should be composed of 97% blacks and rap on about n-ers as they righteously explain to Oprah they are doing it for all the right reasons, like healing themselves for having to live in America instead of Africa.
Report Post »Agentuntomyself
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:53pmWow, you speak for all black people? Or are you just a mind reader….?
Report Post »Randyrocker
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:08pmAGENTUNTOMYSELF
Report Post »More of a Mystic.
Miser
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:26pmGOOD FOR HIM. Whether coming from a white, black, Hispanic, oriental, or Arabic individual, that kind of talk is meant to inflame, or single a person out. Don’t let it get to you. Words only hurt if you let them. Unethical, maybe immoral , but still only talk. It can be turned into motivation, humor, or ignored. Just words.
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:31pmWhite men feel comfortable enough in their own skin that it usually doesn’t bother them. Don’t know what this guys hangup is, but he is right when he says they are just trying to get in his head.
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:25pmBlack or white makes no difference. GET OVER IT. Gosh I wish people were not so darned sensitive. I lived in a mostly black neighborhood when I was a kid maybe I should cry about all the names I was called. Wah, wah, blacky’s keeping me down, WAH. Grow up.
Report Post »joesample
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:25pmThis is racist pure and simple. The article asks if this is a case of “reverse racism”. The idea of “reverse racism” is in and of itself a racist idea; implying that only white people can be racist. The reality is that anyone of any race can be have prejudices against people of another race. Racism is not unique to white people.
Report Post »what4
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:37pmHere’s your proof……NAACP yep racists!
Report Post »Proud American in Buffalo
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:50pmRacism is racism to me. It is absurd that people put labels on others just to advace their agenda. Hate is Hate, Racism is Racism, and once we eliminte the thought police from the equation maybe, just maybe we can all learn to live with each other without all the extra drama.
I can at least hope can’t I ???
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 4:00am“Reverse racism” is an oxymoron. Racism is what it is.
Report Post »WHIZ
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 2:57amJOESAMPLE:
Excellent point! The next time I hear someone say its ‘reverse racism’ or ‘reverse discrimination’ I will reply, “What are you trying to say, only whites are capable of racism or discrimination,” I hope you don’t mind me using that one, I’ve let it slip right by me. I think you found another ***** in the marxist mind control programing. This is one for the playbook, thanks!
Report Post »stephenb.net
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:25pmOdd that “white boy” is acceptable yet “black boy” would get him fined and suspended from the league for racist remarks.
Report Post »Chicago Ray
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:24pm“NBC Sports‘ Josiah Schlatter shrugged off Hillis’ comments, claiming it was probably nothing more than a little game play”
Oh, OK…… so then I suppose there‘s no problem with the white players yelling across the line for instance ’ we got you now black boy. You ain’t stealing no touchdowns from us….”
Yea right. One instance of that and the League would step in and the ‘offending’ white player would be lucky to be fined enough to cover Cleveland ‘s welfare checks for a month.
Report Post »WAR PIGS CRAWLING
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:35pmWho is Schlatter, and when was he crowned the arbiter of everything football?
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:21pmAthletes and Actors. Who cares?
Report Post »Don‘t watch sports and don’t go to movies.
Screw them, no matter what their opinion is.
Stick to your profession and stop trying to justify your one-dimensional existence with your pseudo-intellectual analysis.
francesp44
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:20pmNo comments, that’s great. If the reverse happened we should have no comment as well. Let’ all grow up. Race is here to stay and we should lighten up like these football players. I can’t believe that anything horrible is intended or taken from these exchanges. After all, black and white players live together, travel together , eat together and, yes tease each other every day. Good for them
Report Post »spirited
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 11:16pmyep!
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 11:36pmYes that should be the case. But if it happened the other way around it wouldn’t be accepted. There have been scores of white players fined and/or suspended for allegedly using racial slurs during games with nothing to support the claims except the people that made them.
There is a huge double standard. If it happens one way they error on the side of PC and take action. If it happens the other way it’s laughed off as trash talk. It should all be treated the same way, and my opinion is it should be the latter.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 1:29amFRANCESP44, Ditto.
Report Post »corchem
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 3:27pmFrancesp44,
I agree with you, except the double standard is so hard and ridiculous, white folk such as my self are held to a standard that others are not. It is the hypocrisy of the pc left that causes such firestorms.
Report Post »casey m cummings
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:20pmHillis is a beast. Cleveland is lucky to have this guy. And believe me this white boy can get it.
Report Post »TennesseeConservative
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 6:55amYour Right, I wish the Titans had him. He is good.
Report Post »912828Buckeye
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:43amAs a Cincinnati fan I hate to agree but you are correct, Hillis is an animal. One tough man
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:20pmGood for Hillis! My husband used to tell his teams, “Talk is cheap, let your play on the field do the talking for you”.
Report Post »CYCLONE
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:39pm… yep…..”a good team makes it’s own breaks”….
Report Post »CYCLONE
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:18pm… maybe Jimmy The Greek could attach an extra muscle in this dude’s butt… LMFAO !!!
Report Post »what4
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:19pmOr Howard Cosell could call him an albino monkey!! hehe
Report Post »spirited
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:17pm“You white boy,”
>Yes, you black boy? ;8^>
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:23pmOh come on, no big deal, don’t you remeber that movie “Black Men Can’t Swim”?
Report Post »spirited
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 11:12pmThere is nothing wrong with being called “white boy” or “black boy”
>it’s =
Report Post »Ranubis
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 2:51amRemember the Bo Jackson Nike commercials… Bo dose baseball, Bo dose basketball, Bo Football, then Wayne Gretzky appears and he shakes his head and says “No”. LMAO!!!
Report Post »RicCrouch
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:07amHere’s the “Bo don’t know diddly” commercial–hilarious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GPxkpjCvWI
Report Post »CYCLONE
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:16pmWhite Men Can’t Run…(*who knew*) ?!?!?!?!?!?
Kurty C Wipe
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:22pmObermann is gone, post it
Report Post »exdem
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:32pmChris Matthews feels the same way about him.
Report Post »solaveritas
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:35pmNBC Sports J. Schlatter says ” …. defensive players are put on their heels a little bit because they have no idea how to insult Hillis without bringing race into the equation.”
Really? How about USING EQUALITY and insulting the white player with the same insults you use on the black player!! That sportscaster’s idiocy is big enough to play on the offensive line!
They guys better be careful or all those money-paying white fans will decide they don’t want to watch a sport anymore that is 80% black! The guys better show some respect or this and basketball will be giving away tickets to get fans in the seats.
CYCLONE
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 9:38pm…..can we please schtick to the subject girls ?????
Report Post »Sondergard
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:06pmAnother thing the N word, is that not discrimination to say “I can say it because im black but you can not because your white” what do you think black people would say if we told them “there is a word we can say but you can not say it because you are black”?
Report Post »CYCLONE
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:23pm… ******* ? …. hhhmmmm…. “slow” ******* … :-)
Sondergard
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:43pmare you trying to say black people cant/dont say ******* unless they are racist? i hear them say it all the time and they dont get in trouble at all
Report Post »davecoolworld
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 12:30amI was the only white guy running short track when I was in High School. My school was 2/3 black and I heard all the same crap. People are gonna say things…racism is ********, get over it.
Report Post »Crewbot
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 1:05amDon’t forget that according to Jesse Jackson, the Democrat party, the NAACP, etc., etc., etc., it‘s impossible for blacks to be racist in any possible way since they don’t have the power to enact thier bigotry.
Report Post »…oh but wait. I’m sorry. We now have a black president at the top that now gives them the power to enact thier racist bigotry.
…I apologize again. He’s only half black.
I guess that makes me a full racist and blacks only half racists.
But wait, that’s impossible too. I can’t be a racist since I only oppose his white half.
I’m so darned confused.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 2:37amI curse Mc Daniels everytime Moreno trips over his shoelaces. Dumbest move Mc D ever made.
Report Post »Jackers
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:35amAgain, there is no such thing as “reverse racism.” Either you’re a racist, or you’re not… Period.
Report Post »LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:00amHow terrible … they called him WHITE !!!!
Report Post »revinco
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 8:46amDarmok, Every time I hear Peytons’ name I think of dumb and dumber Mc D. I agree with You, Mc D. couldn’t coach himself into a BM let alone an NFL team. Go Peyton give um hell, White Boy!
Report Post »Joey8
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 9:43amAnyone remember Luke Staley? BYU running back won the Doak Walker Award. That white boy could run.
Report Post »usmc6570
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 10:45amHow about John Riggins? White Hall of Famer, he punished a lot of defensive players. Set plenty of records. GO WHITE BOY
Report Post »1proudAmerican
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 11:12amIf white players used race to taunt black players, would it be brushed off as “getting inside a player’s head”? No way – they’d be fined and maybe suspended for being racist. Racism works both ways, but they don’t see it that way.
Hillis is the best thing that’s happened to Cleveland since LeBron left. I hope the Browns can have a great season for a change.
Report Post »3MTA3
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 2:10pmThe NFL commissioner, Sports Illustrated, as well as the silent media needs to be called out on this. Can anyone imagine if Clay Mathews screamed out “Hey Black Boys can’t throw” before Donovan McNabb took the snap!!! Clay would be out the door and every news agency would destroy him. This is really getting out of hand! White people really need to wake up and stop being afraid or guilty. I’m in no way trying to start an US VS. THEM thing here but it is time to think about self-preservation. What is going to happen to us if we become the minority…very scary. This is no joke, and i am not over-reacting…everything has to start somewhere. Oh, and someone shld ask The Prez how he feels about this such he is such a big sports fan.
Report Post »billydee
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 2:16pmHe needs to file a grievance with the WAACP. (White american and ******* prejudice)
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on January 22, 2011 at 7:28pm3MTA3….you’re exactly right. This may seem meaningless, but if it were reversed it would be blown up in the media.
Report Post »It’s a big time double standard. If they (blacks) want equality, they need to start acting like it.
MattyFos
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 10:14amI am a white Browns fan and I, too, mocked his whiteness
Report Post »mikelivi
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 11:27amWait a second…. “mysterious reverse racism”???!! Nothing mysterious about it! it excists people!
Report Post »hud
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 4:46pmWhite prejudice against white players has been around since the 70′s.I saw it in soccer leagues yrs ago. One of the reasons I watch less and read more as I get older.
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