A Bit Crazy

Richard Sherman, Vince McMahon in sports and markets.

We all heard and learned about Richard Sherman following this previous Sunday’s Seattle victory over the San Francisco 49er’s. And good riddance. Dad and I had been watching the game together and after the final play he went to turn the TV off. To this nearly tragic accident in the making I told him “Wait, Richard Sherman is the team’s spokesperson and I am excited to see what he has coming.” The cornerback did not disappoint.

Richard Sherman made fodder for this detractors, admirers, and the people who didn’t know anything about him or the Seahawks beforehand. Frankly the NFL should be sending Mr. Sherman a pay bonus or, at the very least, a letter of thanks. Immediate interest for the game between the unknown ‘hawks and Peyton Manning has skyrocketed.

“Look at this thug, said social media, and he is facing up against Peyton Manning; boy I sure hope Peyton carves them up. I don’t know what a cornerback is but I hear it’s not the offense.”

This has promotion written all over it.

The debate dominating the topic is whether it was emotion or folly on the part of Sherman. The substance is little and provides reading and listening material for the largest audience. This isn’t an argument for the defense or indictment of Sherman. Merely this is a statement of his genius.

ESPN is the great evil of the sports world. ESPN is the local 5 o’clock news featuring the marginalized and novice populations of your neighborhood. ESPN caters to the inexperienced and lazy observer. Unfortunately the ESPN influence is spreading the broadcasters of today too. However, the four letter network does have savvy analysts who cover real sociopolitical items on the networks “First Take” featuring Steven A. Smith and Skip Bayless. The show is good, if this type of dialogue makes you squeamish ease yourself into it. Steven A. Smith made a fantastic point regarding Sherman’s approach during the post game interview. If any press is good press give Sherman a big thumbs-up. Following the initial explosion of slurs and thug remarks the networks the radio shows and the publications all came to Sherman’s defense. Let’s count the things we learned about Sherman since Sunday.

1. He went to Stanford
2. He is a graduate student at Stanford
3. He grew up in Compton
4. His family is still together
5. He’s either crazy, a genius, but most likely both.

My goodness, look at that, he went to Stanford. That thug: grew up in Compton, his parents are together, went to Stanford, plays in the NFL, and grabbed the nation’s attention by performing like a stereotypical black-tattooed-skill position-athlete. And in it we all learned he is talented not only on the field but remarkable off the field too.

At first I felt the need to stand up for Richard Sherman the energized, engaged, and emotional defensive back. A player I wouldn’t mind having on my team. Now I reveal to you Richard Sherman the scholar-athlete. The player who illustrates a boy; poor and angry he may be, knowing he came from the ghetto, looking like a lost cause, can be the next great athlete or physicist. Richard Sherman, I think, in agreement with Steven A. Smith played the part to get us talking. I just hope people have listened.