John Terry: Racist slur?

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

You sound racist.

I'm not racist sir. I'm one of the guys who actually try to stop racism.

I wasn't being mean to any black person. I'm just saying why when a black guy makes fun of a white guy no body cares??

[Chelseapony 76]

Michael Jordan, called one of his younger teammates a "faggot" when he was a player with the Wizards.

Was that wrong? Yes. But would it have been neccessary to label Jordan a homophobic and say he's disgraced his legacy and have the police file charges, and have this whole media storm, and raise this whole issue of homophobia in the NBA and professional sports? NO. It was reported, there was some controversy but it faded quickly.

The player he called a "faggot" wasn't actually gay but I'm sure his feelings were hurt (I think it was reported he cried) so that doesn't make it any less heinous than calling Anton Ferdinand (who was saying some nasty things of his own) whatever Terry was accused of.

Also if it sounds like I'm willing to go to extreme lengths to defend John Terry, it's because I am. I don't mind being a shameless apologist for John Terry.

I'm a Portland Trail Blazers fan, I've had to go through a lot more embarassing player incidents than this for a team that's won far far less. I've had my team sign a player that was recently convicted of forcing his nanny to perform oral sex on him, in other words sexual assault. Blazers players insulting the fans and saying they don't matter, drunk driving, smoking marijuana, dog fighting, one player sucker punching another in practice, a (black) player calling his (black) coach a n*****, and one player throwing a towel at a teammate in front of a national tv audience.

So if you'll excuse me if I think Ashley Cole calling the FA twats on his Twitter or the John Terry Anton Ferdinand incident is small potatoes. Maybe I'm just a terrible person, but my tolerance of athletes misbehavior is very high. It'll take a lot more than this for me to turn on John Terry.

John Terry's a disgrace? Please. Maybe it is a god idea for London to have a NFL team, then the english media can see what REAL controversy looks like.

[Fulham Broadway 17,311]

Michael Jordan, called one of his younger teammates a "faggot" when he was a player with the Wizards.

Was that wrong? Yes. But would it have been neccessary to label Jordan a homophobic and say he's disgraced his legacy and have the police file charges, and have this whole media storm, and raise this whole issue of homophobia in the NBA and professional sports? NO. It was reported, there was some controversy but it faded quickly.

The player he called a "faggot" wasn't actually gay but I'm sure his feelings were hurt (I think it was reported he cried) so that doesn't make it any less heinous than calling Anton Ferdinand (who was saying some nasty things of his own) whatever Terry was accused of.

Also if it sounds like I'm willing to go to extreme lengths to defend John Terry, it's because I am. I don't mind being a shameless apologist for John Terry.

I'm a Portland Trail Blazers fan, I've had to go through a lot more embarassing player incidents than this for a team that's won far far less. I've had my team sign a player that was recently convicted of forcing his nanny to perform oral sex on him, in other words sexual assault. Blazers players insulting the fans and saying they don't matter, drunk driving, smoking marijuana, dog fighting, one player sucker punching another in practice, a (black) player calling his (black) coach a n*****, and one player throwing a towel at a teammate in front of a national tv audience.

So if you'll excuse me if I think Ashley Cole calling the FA twats on his Twitter or the John Terry Anton Ferdinand incident is small potatoes. Maybe I'm just a terrible person, but my tolerance of athletes misbehavior is very high. It'll take a lot more than this for me to turn on John Terry.

John Terry's a disgrace? Please. Maybe it is a god idea for London to have a NFL team, then the english media can see what REAL controversy looks like.

Good post and I think David James summed all this recent controversy up when he said along the lines of theres a lot of peoples jobs and salaries invested in creating these non-events

[dave30 728]

You sound racist.

You sound like someone either to unintelligent to present a coherent contrary argument or someone who is trying to silence another with whom's point you disagree. Poor form either way.

[Kieran. 6,317]

You sound like someone either to unintelligent to present a coherent contrary argument or someone who is trying to silence another with whom's point you disagree. Poor form either way.

[zolayes 14,489]

not very intelligent either

[Kieran. 6,317]

not very intelligent either

Tell me more.

[zolayes 14,489]

Tell me more.

no point you wouldn't listen

[Rmpr 8,977]

@Hybrid Angel, you have a point. It does happen, black abuse are treated more carefully and with a lot more protection. Also, due to historic sequelaes, african descendants feel a natural tendency for anything to be racist. White people usually dont. However, if you have proves and go to court, a white race abuse have to be dealed with the same laws as a black one. It all falls under "racism".

The issue is that the more common ends up being the one media picks on (black racism, homophobia, arab prejudice, etc)...

[Hutcho 8,443]

I look forward to the day where on the field issues dominate the news and not off the field issues... TBH its all playground stuff... HOWEVER, i am not saying it is right to call someone a "black cnut" or anything like that, but is there really the need for the amount of coverage these things get. They should recognise it and then hand out their ban or fine. If it happens again the punishment goes up.. But for it to be in the news for a year is soooo extreme. And now the clattenburg thing etc. No one also seems to care that the words that were used... I.e. The Cnut part. Now that happens but what i am saying is that i find it extremely strange that no one cares about the abusive language that occurs all the time in football, yet as soon as someone puts a word such as "black" the whole thing gets extremely out of control. (Again not saying that it is ok to say it but there comes a point where you have to move on). I do agree with Hybrid angel that there does appear to be a difference there at times, though we shouldn't be condoning any of it. But the extent to which some has gone... I.e. Getting the police involved was absurd. My mates call me worse than that and we just joke it off, but surely there is a better use of police time and taxpayer money. In the heat of the moment things get said, i.e you are a describe the person here, whether it be a nationality, race or attribute, i.e. you are a spainish/white/fat/other various name calling etc.......... Most people have said something like that in the heat of the moment... And there gets a point where someone has to apologise and move on.

HOWEVER!!!!!!

Things like monkey gestures/chants are of a different nature and should be dealt with much more seriously.