Protect Ya Neck: Discussing Juwan Howard vs The Wisconsin Coaching Staff
Sports Editor Will Lyons provides commentary on the controversial Juwan Howard and his confrontation with Wisconsin.
The first thing I want to highlight is that I do not believe Juwan Howard was wrong. Yes the media will show him to be an “enraged Nigger” that should know his place but let’s be honest we’ve all been Juwan in various situations.
We may not have reacted as he did or had millions of dollars hanging in the balance but we have felt what he felt. Also the media needs to learn what a punch is because Coach Howard did not punch anyone.
The critical thing that is on display until things go left is that you are a person before whatever your job title states. Respect is essential and your personal space is just as relevant. When you review the footage the head coach puts his hands on Juwan first restricting his movement and invading his space.
Mistake number one.
Next you see an assistant coach insert himself in the conflict as Juwan tells the head coach not to touch him.
Now I can say from personal experience for two reasons if someone says don’t touch them you should definitely listen. Reason one — it is their right as a human to restrict who has access to their person. Reason two — we have seen plenty people get knocked the F out *Smokey voice* for putting themselves in a position where they think things are sweet.
There is a large chunk of the white population that feels entitled to put their hands on Black people and no matter what the intent is, this needs to stop. Touching Black women’s hair, trying to touch your child that they can’t believe is so cute in the store — These are all micro-aggressions that turn some of us into vilified negroes when we react. We have seen this play out too many times.
The next thing I want to address is that any job that will treat you as the bad guy for defending your space is flat out wrong. Juwan grew up in Southside Chicago and has seen lives be snatched in situations that seemed less heated than that.
There is no way he cares about the consequence in the moment and there is no way he allows anyone on the opposing staff to get the drop on him.
This leads to why I believe anyone that feels he should be fired is probably white and if not I question your logic on a much deeper level. We don’t know what the assistant coach said for one and two he should’ve stayed out of grown folks business.
As a longtime NBA player I doubt Juwan is worried about a check. And the reality is that the University of Michigan needs him. One of their greatest players on their most popular teams will not get fired like some random guy off the street. Factor in the rejuvenation Juwan has given the Wolverines on the recruiting trail and all we will see is a suspension that ends before March Madness kicks off.
