5 REASONS TO HATE TIKI BARBER
Written Robert Littal
As I do every week on Thursday, I am reading my Sports Illustrated magazine (the one with Vince Young on the cover) and there is a featured article in the back about Tiki Barber. I used to like Tiki Barber— I told people all the time he was one of the most underrated RBs in the league, but every since his pending (and self-induced) retirement has become public, I have come to dislike him greatly. I am not one of those sportswriters who will tell you it is not a personal, because it is. I have no problem with him the player, but personally I think he is a self-centered arrogant jerk. I never met the man, if I met him maybe I would have a different opinion (probably not), but after reading this SI story (which was obviously slanted to put him in a positive light) it has only confirmed my original thoughts. My friends let me tell you why.
1-He obviously has an issue with being black.
Take this passage from the story where he is talking about his upbringing.
“Tiki Barber: nonthreatening, articulate, funny, intelligent, self aware and hugely confident without seeming like an ego-maniac. And then there is his diction, which is ethnically and geographically neutral, perfect for a news anchor.
“We grew up in a white middle-class community and had a mom who emphasized education and lived that neutrality”, Tiki says. “She didn’t speak that typical African-American diction”.
First off this SI Writer Karl Taro Greenfield should be suspended for writing this piece of garbage. Is he describing Tiki Barber or Jesus? Mr. Greenfield makes sure to go into great length to make sure everyone knows that Tiki doesn’t fit into any typical black stereotypes. While Tiki makes it clear that he grew in his white middle class community they emphasized education and not talking slang. I hate to break this to Tiki, but I grew up in a black low-class community and you know what my mom also emphasized education and being able to relate to all types of people regardless of race. Tiki also makes a huge point to make sure that everyone knows he doesn’t speak“That typical African-American diction”. One problem with our society is that we care too much about how someone speaks or looks as opposed to the person they are. Just because you speak like Dan Rather Tiki, doesn’t make you any better or worse than Chad Johnson. There is nothing worse than a person who is trying to run away from who he is. Tiki is black and no matter his diction, education or neutrality it is never going to make him white no matter how hard he tries.
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FOR REASONS 2-5 WHY YOU SHOULD HATE TIKI BARBER..CLICK HERE