A couple notes about the Larry Johnson story from over the weekend: Johnson’s agent, Peter Schafer, told TMZ that he had no idea the word “faggot” bothered some people. “I’m learning that there’s a segment of our society that finds it offensive.”
Johnson apparently reached an agreement with the Chiefs that essentially cuts his suspension in half, meaning he gets back almost $300,000. All in a day’s work.
The Kansas City Star wrote a good overview of some of the issues surrounding gays in the NFL and the repercussions of Johnson’s comment. USA Today said it perfectly: It reflects how gays are treated in the NFL.
on Nov 2nd, 2009 at 7:18 am
Hopefully that “segment” Johnson refers to includes people who have “cred” with him in the real world of his life, rather than just those who can influence his material future. Money enslaves.
If some of his “home” folk are the ones telling him that what he’s practicing is not cool it will stick with him longer, modify his attitude and make things better for him where it counts: inside.
If it is just money talking, it will be forgotten as soon as he’s free.
on Nov 2nd, 2009 at 7:32 am
Who cares what he said. Whoever this offended needs to suck it up. He said what he said what is an apology or suspension going to do. Nothing… It needs to start with the person being offended. Let these slurs go they are the ones who are being ignorant not you.
on Nov 2nd, 2009 at 9:39 am
He gets back $300,000….not $300 million. Once again…LJ is a jerk, but his agent did his job. I’m really over this story. People are getting upset over the small things and not focusing their energy on those that are important. And when sites like this one and Towelrod show white gays using racially inflammatory language and the “n” word” to respond (like many did with Prop 8)…thats not a good way to get straight blacks on our side and certainly not the way to get an already less than trusting black gay community to be more united with the gay community as a whole. Did anyone from a gay organization try and meet with LJ or did they just want to have him suspended?
on Nov 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 am
Thanks for the catch. I made the $300k switch.
on Nov 2nd, 2009 at 11:16 am
Jemini, I used to agree with your sentiment. A word’s a word. But I’m so tired of these asshole athletes using that word that I’ve reached the boiling point, and I’m not going to let them use it anymore without answering in the court of public opinion.
on Nov 2nd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
LJ insulted a fan with a gay slur, can any other employee do that to their clients or customers and not face any ramifications? let it go? f*ck that!
on Nov 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I used to live in Chicago, and would go down to the South Side to use my architectural expertise to help folks rehab their buildings, most of which are falling apart. I wasn’t in it for the money, since this was something I did for free to give back to the community.
But, invariably, the very people I was there there to help would call me “whitey,” ask me if I was a cop, and/or threaten my life… even AFTER they knew me and saw what I was doing to help. If had responded, aired my anger by calling ONE person “nigger,” I would have been DEAD long ago.
ENOUGH OF THE DOUBLE STANDARD! I know what it’s like to be a persecuted minority, and blacks, of all people, should have a clue what it is like to live without real equality. I’m NOT gonna keep my mouth shut any longer in the interests of being “politically correct”…. and I’m about as non-bigoted as they come.
UNTIL WE ALL HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS, NONE OF US WILL!