Feed the Lamb and he will score, or is that racist because we didn't specify black sheep or white sheep? I am anti racist, but this seems to have little bearing on any racial intent, that is just in the minds of the ignorant, and the papers that love to make an issue out of a non event, stop buying them.
Its just sad. Already the stall has been set out to undermine Roy. He does not stand a chance......& I'm not talking about winning trophies.
It is a big story this one, but it's got bugger all to do with the joke or the implied racism. The story for me is that there's a mole in the dressing room who's clearly prepared to sell his team out and undermine confidence. He needs to be weeded out quick.
Wayne Rooneys pedicurist was probably in there trimming his toenails, Joe Harts hairdresser was probably shampooing his head! There was probably a Daily Mirror hack hiding in the laundry basket, could have been anyone, not likely to be a player, most have already dismissed it as rubbish.
Just gone back and 're read the front page Sun article dtlw posted I have to say after reading it and thinking long and hard about it and all the implications it could have I am disgusted by these comments. It must have been distressing for the person involved and the whole thing is just insane. I just can't comprehend why Corrie would want to kill Tina off. I'm never watching it again.
Thing is, if a player was offended it wouldn't be that surprising. You could easily mishear, or misunderstand the context. The report could easily have been picked up from a later conversation about the incident, where it's been overheard by a third party and they've then reported it chinese whispers style. The fact is, the incident is over as far as everyone is concerned, everyone has apologised and clarified what actually happened, but still there are a minority that want to make a witch hunt out of it and hang Hodgson out to dry. There are a lot of fights still to be won in order to kick racism out of football in the UK. But this is not one of them. If NASA had sent a dog into space instead of a monkey, he would have used that in his analogy. It just annoys me so much, because Hodgson seems like he's the nicest of blokes. He would be at the bottom of my "which manager do you think would racially abuse someone" list.
Apparently Hodgson assumed the story was so well known that he told a shortened, garbled version. A member of the coaching staff told him that younger players may not have been familiar with the story and taken offence. Then Hodgson apologised if he'd been misunderstood in the player's lounge after the match. People being people probably recounted the story and it got to the journalists' ears. Very sad that it has overshadowed qualification to the World Cup.
I didn't even know Andros Townsend was black - I still don't infact. I thought he was of Greek heritage?
It would be deeply offensive if I called a black person a monkey and meant it in an insulting way...as opposed to calling a child a cheeky monkey (which would be unfortunately phrased but not meant). The overly sensitive members of the 'professionally offended society' are the ones who seem to assume that if you use the word monkey you must be referring to a person's skin colour. I am horrified when I read some racist remarks posted on articles on the internet...quite frankly some are horrifying and unbelievable. Doesn't help the cause, however, to get your knickers in a twist about minor incidents which are not meant to be offensive. This may have the opposite effect to what is desired...most people are just saying 'For heaven's sake, get some perspective.' I don't even believe these people care...they just have a political agenda and want to raise their profile. Are they helping improve education and opportunities for their community...are they trying to keep young people out of jail and off drugs...no, because that wouldn't get them on the television.
Find it interesting that "Race for Sport" have been touting themselves around all the media having an outcry, writing a letter to the FA and demanding action. As far as I can tell, "Race for Sport" is one man, Peter Herbert, who you may have heard of before as he was often being quote around the time of the John Terry/Anton Ferdinand stuff. Looking at his website, he has organised an expensive seminar a year ago looking at Racism in football. So, clearly has done a lot and of course, isn't just using this "news" to get attention for himself.
The biggest problem with Roy (in the eyes of the gutter press) is that he is not Harry Redknapp and this comment could be the beginning of the end for him as Glenn Hoddle's "reincarnation" comment was for him. My own personal view is that he was extremely naive to tell that particular joke to a group that included black players, some of whom might very well have endured "monkey chants" directed at them. This does not make Hodgson a racist (nobody except people with an agenda would think that) but it does call into question his judgement in motivating a group of players.
