Found July 29, 2008 on InGameNow: Yardbarker Blogger Network
TEAMS: Cincinnati Reds
PLAYERS: Ken Griffey
As Ken Griffey causes a throat-slashing raucous with Reds announcer Jeff Brantley... very little media conversation has occurred around the appropriateness of this (or rather, clearly inappropriateness). Is this because Junior Griffey is a media darling and/or the media is behaving in a racist manner?!

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Comments (23)
  • Ronniewoowoo
    Junior is a good guy. Media should still light him up over this
    • da5407
      Junior is a good guy. At a game a few months back in Atlanta I witnessed Jr. High fiving over 50 little leaguers who were allowed on the field before the game. He did not have to do that. I also witnessed in the same game, Jr. handing his bat to a young braves fan after a ground out.The guy is CLASS. As a Reds fan I am sick and tired of Brantley being so critical. Joe Nuxhall was CLASS. I personally think Brantley needs to go back to Mississippi and eat plently of butter beans with mayonaise and fried tators. thank you Ken Griffey Jr. We appreciate you. Steve Stewart may have not known as much baseball as Brantley but I bet he is still available.There is nothing racist about this. If you get pushed enough you will react.
      sincerely,
      dm
  • airraid81
    This guy is an idiotic race-baiter. He says the media should get into a tizzy over Griffey making an innocent throat-slashing gesture. It's a joke, okay? But this white guy thinks it's racist that no one has gotten racist and attacked Griffey.
  • Ronniewoowoo
    100% disagree. White and black people should be held to the same standards. If a white guy would get crushed for the throat slash sign, so to should a black guy.
    • airraid81
      Ya, but a white guy wouldn't get crushed for that! That's the problem.
  • phillyfannaz
    calm down people this has nothing to do with racism it was simply Griffey's way of telling Brantley to shut up. Was it inapproiate yes should he suffer any suspensions or fines no. Fine Jose Reyes for how he acts after he hits a home run that is far worse than what Griffey did.
    • Ronniewoowoo
      Phillyfannaz-would your answer be the same if Greg Maddux had done this to joe morgan?
  • phillyfannaz
    yeah honestly i dont care who does it too who i wouldnt care if roger clemens did it to Petite or if rolens did it too the phillies. it is inapproiate but not that big of a deal to me. Now if they continue to do such things then i say by all means fine or suspend them but this is just the case of Griffey's emotions getting the best of him
  • phillyfannaz
    i do see what your saying though ronnie as the simple fact i think the media would have a sh** fit if Maddux did do that and thats just the way it is but i didnt see this as being racist and has nothing to do with race as far as im concerned
  • Ronniewoowoo
    Our country won't be free of racism until people of all races are held to the same standards. it is 100% ok for a black guy to drop an "n-bomb" but a white guy could never say it, under any circumstances. I do enjoy readying your points, though, phillyfannaz
    • airraid81
      The n-word is in no way comparable to throat-slashing.
      • PonderMan
        Our country won't be totally free of racism until justice has been served. Everybody's yalking about peace, but nobody's talking about justice. Black people don't own professional sports franchises, skyscraypers, airplanes, cargo ships, military compounds, or nothing for that matter of intrinsic value in this country. Black people are not allowed to own anything of such. We can make milllions singing, dancing and playing ball, and that's it . You really need to find out what the clear definition of racism is before you starting accusing people like Ken Griffey anything, but being fed up and underappreciated after a marvelous but injury-plagued career.

        Racism is oppression and nothing more. Then rest is (justified,but sometimes unjustified) retaliation. Ken Griffey is probably angry. The only question that should be posed is whether his anger is justified ?

        My question is how mediocre (white atheletes) like Jeff Brantley always wind up behind the mike or managing after they retire ? Jeff Brantley couldn't wear Junior's dirtiest jock strap on his best day, yet he and jerks like Joe Buck are given the green light on attacking Black athletes. If Joe Buck went after Randy Moss, why didn't he follow in pursuit of Tony Dungy, after Dungy defended Moss ? Because he's an unqualified coward, who is no match for Dungy.

        • mitressehc
          Placard_complete_small
          You act like white people are the only ones who are racist. True, we have been the oppressors since our dawn of time. But for sure as of now i think everybody has their own prejudices and racist tendencies. We get to listen to you tell us on everyother blog how much more superior black athletes are to white. Thanks for bringing up the obvious, we see that on a day to day basis. No one is arguing that fact. But it seems to me that if a white guy was on here pointing out how much better we are then you, it would be a huge deal and he would be labeled a racist. That is hypocritical as hell. You are right Ponderman, this country will not be free of racism until WE ALL can get past this color of our skin sh$t,(white, black, brown , and yellow), that is everybody. Racism is not a one sided issue. It is not like if white people start kissing everybody of colors asses then racism will go away. I live in a town that is majority black and I experience racism everyday, from black people. Now if I do not have racist ways, and try to treat every man and woman the same and yet it is not recipricated, then how is that my fault? And in this case with Griffey I do not see where race should be an issue because there was an disagreement between a black player and a white announcer. It sounds like any time something happens with a white and black guy it is going to be touted a racist incident, by black and white people alike.
        • Ronniewoowoo
          PonderMan, if I learned anything from Entorage, it was that black people who sing and dance do own airplanes. Kanye took Vince and his crew to Canes for the film festival on his private jet.

          I bet Russel Simmons would take huge offense to your statement. He built an empire for himself. (Oprah did too) This stuff can be done
  • Brantley loves the Game and the Cincinnati Reds. His comments are an extension of those passions. He sees a player like Griffey with all that talent doing what he does( or doesn't do) day in and day out and it hacks him off. Race is not an issue. Was it an issue when Fisk told Deion the Game was bigger than he? Hey Ken, the Game is bigger than you. PowerBuck58
  • phillyfannaz
    i agree the n word is not anyway comparable but i also agree with ronnie on the fact that if a white person was to say the n word all the african americans and white ppl would be all over them. I hate the n word my wifes sister is married to a black guy and they have three kids n none of them say it because they were taught the right way that it is a disrespectful term not a form of a greeting or a compliment you dont see jews going around calling each other the k word all day now do you??
    • Ronniewoowoo
      Glad to hear your inlaws are classy people
    • PonderMan
      Are you trying to say that Brantley has more passion for the game than Griffey does ? You don't last 20 years without passion.
      Carlton Fisk had no business attacking Deion, ( who if you remember, was on the other team). He was jealous.
      The game is bigger than Jeff Brantley too. Who remembers the carrer of Jeff Brantley ? What did he do with all of that passoon ?
      Try being consistent in your comments.
      The game doesn't belong to you.
      • What? Are you a member of the Democrat Party? You accuse me of being inconsistent? Words have meaning and the events speak for themselves and are not subject to revisionism. Read the comment again, without emotion. Obviously, you have not suffered as a Reds fan since the arrival of (the now-departed) #3!
  • cincysportsart
    I think in this circumstance, there's not necessarily a person that's more "in the wrong". Brantley over-exaggerated a bit involving race into the picture, and at the same time, Griffey's gesture wasn't something that should be condoned, no matter his track record, either.
  • jalba23
    I think Griff is having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that his career is about over and I believe he was hoping to be traded back to Seattle, but they are terrible this year so they have no reason besides sentimental ones to get him, so he is obviously frustrated because not only is his team not in contention, but none of the contenders seem to want him. His gesture was unnecessary and frankly, a little childish but Brantley clearly overreacted.
  • Ronniewoowoo
    I would say 99% of the reason why Griffey was traded was due to the throat slash
  • I have had the pleasure of meeting junior and what people have never realized it what this guy did behind the scenes for charity and people in general, for Idiots like Bill cunningham from 700wlw to call him a racist felon is beyond control and his family are by far the most normal family you could wish to meet, for them to suffer the profanity of cunningham while their kids are in school is absolutley disgraceful. Someone please take this guy out
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