On Keyshawn Johnson Comments, Bloggers Gave MJD a Pass

During the NFL draft, Yahoo Sports blogger Matthew J. Darnell, better known as MJD, wrote this about ESPN analyst Keyshawn Johnson's wardrobe:

". . . This is what happens when you hand Michael Irvin a giant blunt that had been soaked in embalming fluid for about a month, and then you say to him, "Mike, I want you to take an hour, smoke that, and then pick what I'm going to wear for the draft tomorrow. And if you could make the area from my neck to my chest look like a cracked-open watermelon, I'd really appreciate it. . . "

The bosses at Yahoo felt that those comments crossed the line, and they were taken down.

But on the day after the draft, David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch wrote some harsh words about MJD, and suggested that Yahoo should do more than just take the comments down:

This is exactly the type of careless, moronic meandering that bloggers like the former incarnation of MJD (Matthew J. Darnell) would get all over National Media Types for. Now that MJD is that very type of National Media personality, it would make sense for him to also feel the wrath of the offended and affected public. It would make further sense for Yahoo! to have a talking-to with the mouthy jock driveler. Or better yet, a full Timeout.

Although I like MJD and don't particularly want him to feel any wrath, Scott raises two points that ought to be addressed:

1. MJD is a national media personality
2. If those words about Johnson and Irvin had been written by, say, a newspaper beat writer, a lot of bloggers would have criticized them.

Point 1 is undeniable; Yahoo Sports is by some measures the most popular sports web site, and MJD is prominently featured there. MJD's boss at Yahoo, Jamie Mottram (who was previously MJD's boss at FanHouse and my boss at FanHouse), once referred to MJD as "the most talented writer among sports bloggers." MJD was once a big part of Deadspin, was once a big part of FanHouse and is now a big part of Yahoo Sports. He is, like Ron Burgundy, kind of a big deal.

And Point 2 is interesting because even tough those words were written almost two weeks ago, and even though I spend a lot of time perusing sports web sites, I hadn't heard anything about this until The Big Lead mentioned it yesterday. A Google search reveals that Boston Sports Media Watch is still the only site that has quoted what MJD wrote.

Here's The Big Lead's take:

If someone at ESPN or SI had written this, would most of the blogosphere been all over it? Probably. But does MJD get a free ride because he links to bloggers from the Yahoo platform? Is this something we should have written about, considering Yahoo is part of the dreaded mainstream media?

That's part of it, but another, equally important, part of it is that MJD, from his writing at Deadspin to FanHouse to his own site, has a good track record of being edgy in his humor without crossing the line. MJD has no history of making racist jokes, at least not that I'm aware of, and I've read tens of thousands or maybe hundreds of thousands of words he's written.

MJD isn't Don Imus because "nappy-headed hos" was just the last straw in a long line of offensive comments from Imus. I've never met MJD in person (we tried to meet up at the Super Bowl and kept missing each other), but I've known him through e-mail as a fellow blogger and colleague for two years, and I'm as confident that he's not racist as you can possibly be when you're talking about someone you know that well. At FanHouse, MJD wrote levelheaded posts about topics where race and sports intersect, such as the Imus story and the Genarlow Wilson case.

And while Scott wrote that he received an e-mail from MJD "where he tried to deflect criticism back on me for daring to criticize him ... a strong indication that the guy just doesn't get it," I had an e-mail exchange with MJD in preparation for writing this that was perfectly pleasant. I think MJD does get it.

But if collegiality with MJD makes me want to give him the benefit of the doubt, then it would be fair to criticize me for not giving the same benefit of the doubt to people like CBS golf commentator Bobby Clampett, when I criticize him for using a slur on the air. As we examine the relationships between sports blogs and the mainstream media, the trickiest relationships of all are those involving the people who straddle the line.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-09-2008 @ 2:58PM

Jeremy said...

Wait, what? You lost me. How is that comment racist?

Inappropriate, sure. But racist? Huh?

5-09-2008 @ 2:49PM

Chris Mottram said...

If someone at ESPN or SI wrote what MJD did, I think most bloggers would applaud them for being totally freaking hilarious, followed by asking why that writer doesn't have a blog.

And all TBL did was ask three questions. How is that a "take" on the topic?

5-09-2008 @ 3:00PM

Trogdor said...

That looks to me like one of the big challenges facing bloggers going forward. As with many areas, y'all have developed a bit of a kinship, and it can be easy to let the 'insiders' slide (especially the prominent, well-liked, and well-respected ones) while being critical of those outside the group. Especially with such an us versus them dynamic working already (blogs have been severely harsh on MSM; MSM has been dismissive or contemptful towards blogs), it can be real tempting to overlook faults on your own side.

So good luck being fair all-around, applying the same standards to prominent bloggers that you/we do to traditional media types. It's the right thing to do, but as is often the case it's also the harder way. Stay gold, Ponyboy.

5-09-2008 @ 3:06PM

alumnigonzo said...

That's the first time I've actually followed all the links to get to the "offensive comments." Wow. So if something looks like a watermelon, you can't say that it looks like a watermelon. Remind me never to mention when anything looks like anything else. What a joke.

5-09-2008 @ 4:18PM

Justin said...

Is it supposed to be racist because he referred to watermelon? Look at what he's wearing! Because he talked about a black person smoking pot? It's Michael Irvin. He has a history with drugs, including marijuana. Not everything is racist. But the fact that you would even associate these comments with racism shows how ingrained these stereotypes are in our society.

5-09-2008 @ 3:54PM

Vinny Fattapost said...

Why is it that Editorial Cartoonists have such a broad "license" to attack and humilate public officials by publishing grotesque caricatures of them. But, everyone else has to be poltically correct, cautious or even polite or they get destroyed in the media or by certain groups. How did they get such power and why do they seem to be untouchable??? I say that any Disk Jockey, commedian etc. should have the very same latitude that Editorial Cartoonists have..

5-09-2008 @ 4:00PM

johnnyt471 said...

There is absolutely no way that was racist and anyone who thinks it was is a complete moron. If you think any instance in which the word "watermelon" is used is racist than you need to take a step back and ask yourself what the hell you are talking about.

5-09-2008 @ 4:23PM

August West said...

Out of context maybe it sounds bad, but when you're talking about a well-known drug user, and a tie that UNDENIABLY LOOKS LIKE A WATERMELON, I don't see anything offensive at all, IMO.

5-09-2008 @ 4:33PM

nickstoli said...

Personally, the sound of his voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

5-09-2008 @ 4:35PM

ace said...

And I'm sorry, but how exactly does that look like a watermelon?

In the immortal words of Jason Whitlock, "Lips off of asses."

5-09-2008 @ 4:59PM

WATERMELON

See, nothing happened a...

Wait a minute; Jesse Jackson is at my door!

5-09-2008 @ 5:22PM

carl said...

The PC chickens coming home to roost..excellllllllent.....Well at least he didnt pull out...gasp...blow up dolls!!!

1. If someone at ESPN or SI wrote what MJD did, I think most bloggers would applaud them for being totally freaking hilarious, followed by asking why that writer doesn't have a blog.

Any one who believes this then i have Hillary in 08 stock to sell ya

5-09-2008 @ 6:20PM

Matt W. said...

I don't think it's racist at all, but if it were, I'd blame the lack of reaction on the fact that it was taken down so quickly and no one saw it. That, and the secret conspiracy among bloggers to protect their own. But mostly the first part.

5-09-2008 @ 6:40PM

RudyKelly said...

Isn't MJD black?

6-03-2008 @ 8:55PM

canwetalk said...

Racists and inappropriate comments can be made by any race including one's own race. You cannot cure the problem if you are in denial.

Canwetalk

5-31-2008 @ 3:10PM

Herules said...

Looking back at the photograph of Keyshawn Johnson with the awful looking wardrobe, I see nothing that resembles a "watermelon". No red. No green. No seeds.

Based on this fact alone, one who assert that the comments are racist. Unless there is something that I am missing, if the comment was made and there was nothing resembling a watermelon except in the viewer's mind he could only picture negative thoughts and "watermelon" when yet none these images were portrayed, it is safe to say, the comments were racist.

Even though we do not always want to admit the truth, it is what it is...if you are unable to see things for what they really are, perhaps counseling can help you face reality.

6-01-2008 @ 8:21PM

16. Looking back at the photograph of Keyshawn Johnson with that awful looking wardrobe, I see nothing that resembles a "watermelon". No red. No green. No seeds.

Based on this fact alone, one would assert that the comments are racist. Unless there is something that I am missing, the comments did not warrant an attack on Michael Irvin and surely not the Black community with the "watermelon" remark.

Again, I see nothing physically resembling a watermelon except in the viewer's mind. He appears to picture only negative thoughts and associates "watermelon" with people of color when yet none of these images are being portrayed. In my opinion, it is safe to say, the comments are racist.

Even though we do not always want to admit the truth, it is what it is...if you are unable to see things for what they really are, perhaps counseling can help you face reality.

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