Seahawks Blew The Superball Over 'Image': Wanted an 'All-American' Type To Win MVP — Not the 'Rebel'

The Seahawks and the NFL hierarchy would have preferred quaterback Russell Wilson win the game and get the MVP, so the theory goes.  They preferred a nice-guy-pretty-boy like Wilson over a rebel like Marshawn Lynch, who ignores the media, says things like "Shout out to all the real Africans" during press conferences, and has a nickname like "Beastmode." The Seahawks were willing to risk a Superbowl win for good public relations. They gambled and lost.

The "nice guy" Russell Wilson (left) and the "rebel" Marshawn Lynch.

 

The Conspiracy Theory Surrounding The Seahawks’ Last Play

By Dave Zirin
...In the stunning aftermath, after that unfathomable decision, conspiracy theories sprouted like Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors. I’m not talking about Twitter-theories from deep-thinking eggs, or any cris de coeur from devastated Seahawks fans. I’m talking about people inside Seattle’s own locker room. I’m talking about texts I received from mainstream writers who don’t want to deal with the backlash that would come with writing it up.

The theory goes something like this. Russell Wilson is your young clean-cut God-fearing media-perfect quarterback. If one was creating a superstar face to market for the twenty-first century, chances are they would look, sound and basically be Russell Wilson. He’s Derek Jeter with a Bible, someone who comes across like he has never spoken out of turn in his entire life.* Marshawn Lynch is… Marshawn Lynch, and if you haven’t figured out what that means after the past two weeks, then you haven’t been paying attention.

The theory goes that there were major financial, public relations and football reasons for Russell Wilson and not Lynch to be the one who ends the game in glory. If he throws that touchdown for the victory, Wilson is almost certainly the Super Bowl MVP. He gets the commercial. He gets to stand with the commissioner. And oh, by the way, he also gets his new contract, one that will fasten his prime, at only 26 years old, to the Seattle franchise. Marshawn Lynch is also due a new contract. Marshawn Lynch, had he punched that ball over the goal line, would probably get to be the one handed the MVP trophy. Marshawn Lynch also maybe gets on the mic to say Lord knows what.

[...]

I contacted someone inside that locker room and they said to me as if on repeat: “Can’t believe it. We all saw it. They wanted it to be Russ. They didn’t want Marshawn to be the hero.”

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America's Neo-Nazi Policing - Pt 18: Where's the Outrage Over Oklahoma Cop's Alleged Assault on Black Women?

Is one punch by a black NFL player named Ray Rice more important than eight rapes by a white police officer named Daniel Holtclaw? The key factors seems to be the race and notoriety of the perpetrator.

Ray Rice (left) and Daniel Holtclaw: Rice was fired and suspended from the NFL indefinitely after a video surfaced of him assaulting his then fiance; Holtclaw was sent home to relax with his family after a judge lowered his bond to allow him to do so. Rice's incident caused mass outrage among pundits and massive media coverage, Holtclaw's did not.

By Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Ken Holtzclaw has been hit with a 16 count indictment on charges of first degree rape, sexual battery, indecent exposure, stalking, forcible oral sodomy and burglary. These are charges would virtually insure that any other man so charged would be buried so deep in a prison cell that he'd be lucky to ever see the light of day in his lifetime. But Holtclaw will do more than see the light of day. He's free on bail. He walked out of court for a fraction of his initial $5 million dollar bail. His only stipulation is that he remain at home and wear a GPS device pending his upcoming trial. In the weeks after his August arrest on the charges, dozens rallied to his defense and donated thousands of dollars for his defense. Oh, and he's being paid while awaiting trial. To add to the outrage, his attorney has screamed conspiracy in the charges.

Despite the mind boggling charges, and subsequent kid glove treatment of Holtzclaw, there's been no indignant spate of articles and features in the national press on this injustice, no rallies, demonstrations, and marches from women's groups, and most tellingly, not a word of protest from civil rights groups. This is more than puzzling; it's a double outrage -- the fact that someone facing these types of off-the-charts-serious sexual violence charges was released on bail, and the virtual silence about it. I believe there is a terrifying reason for the mute silence. Holtzclaw is white, a police officer, and his family is well connected in law enforcement circles. But most importantly, even tragically, his rape victims were all black and female.

During the past decade, black women have been hammered by racial and gender stereotypes, criminal violence, and toss-away-the-key punitive laws.

Their grotesque treatment has had horrific consequences.

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_______________________________________________
America's Neo-Nazi Policing

Part 1          Part 2         Part 3          Part 4          Part 5

Part 6          Part 7         Part 8          Part 9          Part 10

Part 11        Part 12       Part 13        Part 14        Part 15

Part 16        Part 17       Part 18        Part 19        Part 20

Part 21        Part 22       Part 23        Part 24

Washington Redskins Trademark Revoked: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Calls Name ‘Disparaging’

Washington Redskins helmet: Imagine if the team was called "The Jews" and the
helmet featured a caricature of a man wearing a yamaka. (Photo by Keith Allison)

The move by the Patent Office was largely symbolic, since the 'Redskins' can - and surely will - appeal the decision, as it did in 1992, which will extend its trademark protection.

By Bernie Augustine
Daniel Snyder remains resolute in his position to not change the name of his football team.

A ruling by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office may cause Washington’s owner to change his mind.

RELATED STORY: Man who gave the Redskins team its name "was one of the most despicable racists in the American sporting arena of the entire 20th century."

Six federal trademark registrations for the name Washington Redskins have been canceled by the agency, calling the name “disparaging to Native Americans” in its decision.

RELATED STORY: Spinning Racism — Redskins Paying Team Of Republican Advisers For Advice On Name Controversy

“We decide, based on the evidence properly before us, that these registrations must be cancelled because they were disparaging to Native Americans at the respective times they were registered,” the decision reads.

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