Nolan Richardson said some stupid things the other day after his Razorbacks were defeated by the Kentucky Wildcats, 71-58.
In a post game tirade, the King Victim said, among other things:
*"I know for a fact that I do not play on the same level as the other coaches around this school play on. I know that. You know that. And people of my color know that. And that angers me." (This was an apparent reference to the fact that the "cracker" who coaches the Razorback football team, Houston Nutt, allegedly receives better treatment from that tough Arkansas local media than does Coach Richardson….)
*"I've earned the right to have the type of season I'm having." (That's the right attitude, Nolan….just because you have a winning career record, it's cool to take off a season here or there…great message you're sending to the kids you coach, big guy….)
*"I haven't hit anyone. I haven't thrown chairs." (Who said that Bobby Knight's behavior is any better than yours? This is about YOU, Nolan, not Knight.)
I know most of you out there think I am going to go off on Richardson because of those comments. Although I will discuss them briefly, there is something going on with the Arkansas men's basketball program that is much worse, and something that Nolan is not taking responsibility for -- something that is far more important than how the local Arkansas media treats him.
The way some people pull out the ol' reliable race card whenever it suits their needs is a vile practice that does NOTHING to further race relations. Instead, it is a divisive tool used by intellectually bankrupt people who offer nothing but excuses instead of taking responsibility for their actions.
Let's be honest here -- Richardson is a very good basketball coach who is having a bad season. Instead of cooling off before meeting the press after the Kentucky game, Richardson came right out and went on a tirade and made some incredibly stupid comments. It's expected that he would pull out the race card as he does it all the time. I am not surprised, or bothered by it any more. You see, as far as I'm concerned, we've thankfully moved past the self-empowering antics of buffoons like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Nolan Richardson. They are being exposed for the phonies that they are.
Now, let's get to the point of my column.
You would think since Nolan Richardson has time to complain about the way the media treats him and the way he is perceived because of the color of his skin, that things would be going well, at least off the court, with the University of Arkansas men's basketball team.
Well, guess what? There were 36 NCAA Division I schools that failed to graduate a single black male scholarship basketball player who entered school as a freshman between 1990 and 1994. One of those 36? That's right -- Arkansas. Per NCAA reporting guidelines, players in each of those recruiting classes had six years to graduate and count toward a school's graduation rate. Not ONE Arkansas black scholarship basketball player graduated from the school in that period. Not one. You would think that Coach Richardson would spend his time working on this problem. But no. Instead, he goes on a tirade against all of the perceived injustices he receives.
I have some advice for you, Coach. Get your own house in order before criticizing the supposed racist society in which you live. Accept some responsibility for the fact that not one black male basketball player who entered the University of Arkansas from 1990 to 1994 under your tutelage graduated. Look in the mirror. Do something for the young men of your community. You are their coach. You can have a huge impact on whether or not they graduate. Right now, you are doing a disservice not only to the University of Arkansas, but to your community.
What's more important? The "injustices" you perceive or the fact that none of your players are getting an education?
You can't blame this one on Big Bad Whitey, Coach. Do yourself, and your community, a big favor. Stop bitching about everybody being a racist and start worrying about your players' education...and their future.
See more of Shawn's columns at SportsTerminal.com,
and feel free to e-mail him at shawng@sportsterminal.com!
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