What has Sterling done to be labelled a bellend? What character traits has he shown that means everything he does is somehow negative? And that he has about 15 kids from 10 different mums? A pretty classic racial trope about the black man.
Raheem Sterling
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What has Sterling done to be labelled a bellend? What character traits has he shown that means everything he does is somehow negative? And that he has about 15 kids from 10 different mums? A pretty classic racial trope about the black man.
Why should someone like Raheem Sterling be seen as ‘fair game’?
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...racism?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard
Great article in the guardian about this and about racism in the print media. As villain (and myself and others) have pointed out quite a few times, again and again, racism is no longer a battle about being called paki, nigger or getting lynched in the streets. In a way I'd almost prefer that as its in the open and you can respond accordingly. Most racism now is discreet, often not meant and perpetrated by people who may well consciously think there is and should be no difference between races. The story about the Indian baby encapsulates it perfectly.
The media's treatment of sterling is, has been and will most likely continue to be a disgrace.
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...racism?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard
Great article in the guardian about this and about racism in the print media. As villain (and myself and others) have pointed out quite a few times, again and again, racism is no longer a battle about being called paki, nigger or getting lynched in the streets. In a way I'd almost prefer that as its in the open and you can respond accordingly. Most racism now is discreet, often not meant and perpetrated by people who may well consciously think there is and should be no difference between races. The story about the Indian baby encapsulates it perfectly.
The media's treatment of sterling is, has been and will most likely continue to be a disgrace.
As a Pakistani, who has lived a lot of years abroad in Canada, South Africa and Nigeria, I can say that the word is not racist by default, in my opinion. For me, it's all about context. I have people saying to me 'Hey, what's up Paki?' and I reply normally because I know there is no malice in those words, then I've had a friend called during an argument 'All you bloody Paki's are the same'. That was obviously racist because the context between the two is vastly different.
I think the same should be for all other words automatically deemed to be racist. Ofcourse, I can only speak from my own background, I'm sure black people would feel different regarding the n-word and they are free to.
For the case of Sterling, ofcourse it was racist what they said. But then again, if someone called Gerrard a 'scouse cnut', would that be racist? Because I'm sure people here have brought his background into posts. It's a very complicated issue, I personally don't know how to feel about football fans shouting during matches because the environment during a match is very different from everyday life.
Sterling's argument regarding newspapers is on-point though. Black people are definitely treated differently from white in some newspapers.
Aargh! So much leftism from Gary Neville on MNF, of all people! Anyone but Neville! Love Gary. Best *football* pundit by a mile. As is very often the case in such situations, I think Gary Neville's take is an admirable, compassionate one. But that doesn't mean it's right. Does Raheem Sterling get unfair criticism, possibly to a greater degree compared to other footballers? Absolutely. I think the stories about him have been pathetic and shameful at times. But that's a sign of a very different problem, and it's not necessarily the colour of his skin.
Football following has always been bridled with hero worship, but there's also always been a heavy dose of scapegoating. It revels in both. Football elevates its heroes to stratospheric levels, but also finds perverse pleasure in stomping over its scapegoats. How individuals fall on either side of the line is not just 'Quality' of course, and definitely not race, but something more simple. Likability.
Sterling gets treated differently to not just white footballers, but he gets treated differently even from Rashford! Rashford gets treated better than Martial during their struggles, and they play for the same club! Pogba gets treated differently from Kante (especially by Neville's logic of "The highs are never the same"), Jose Mourinho gets treated differently than Pep/Klopp. Fellaini who has arguable won more games for United than Mata, is vociferously booed and always picked on! Hell Ronaldo is treated differently to Messi! The list could go on ! Discrimination has always existed, but it's almost always over complex perceptions that form likability, and a far bigger factor than race.
On Neville's comparison with Becks, Rooney and Gazza and the 'highs not being as high'. Are you kidding me!? That's because Sterling's highs haven't been anywhere close to the highs of those three! And Ashley Cole isn't celebrated any more/less than Gary Neville is. Okay, maybe not quite. But you could write that down as the unfortunate lack of glamour of being a full back. In fact, Sterling has many parallels to Cole. Both committed the perceived footballing harakiri of dropping the club 'that made him' in favour of the money rich/ new force in town. "They sold their soul". Suddenly the lavish lifestyle and the 'gangsta' tattoos started to grate against supporters. That's human. Not racist.
Does Racism still exist in football? Of course. Does that form a part of this dislike for Sterling? It may very well be. But it's certainly not the only factor and far far from being the dominant one. Double standards have always existed in football. It just exists in the now very vile cesspool of social media, fueled by parasitic journalists that just want to build narratives for the next news cycle. Sorry, but I'm not buying their moral posturing and new found "education" now. Not for one second.
Football following has always been bridled with hero worship, but there's also always been a heavy dose of scapegoating. It revels in both. Football elevates its heroes to stratospheric levels, but also finds perverse pleasure in stomping over its scapegoats. How individuals fall on either side of the line is not just 'Quality' of course, and definitely not race, but something more simple. Likability.
Sterling gets treated differently to not just white footballers, but he gets treated differently even from Rashford! Rashford gets treated better than Martial during their struggles, and they play for the same club! Pogba gets treated differently from Kante (especially by Neville's logic of "The highs are never the same"), Jose Mourinho gets treated differently than Pep/Klopp. Fellaini who has arguable won more games for United than Mata, is vociferously booed and always picked on! Hell Ronaldo is treated differently to Messi! The list could go on ! Discrimination has always existed, but it's almost always over complex perceptions that form likability, and a far bigger factor than race.
On Neville's comparison with Becks, Rooney and Gazza and the 'highs not being as high'. Are you kidding me!? That's because Sterling's highs haven't been anywhere close to the highs of those three! And Ashley Cole isn't celebrated any more/less than Gary Neville is. Okay, maybe not quite. But you could write that down as the unfortunate lack of glamour of being a full back. In fact, Sterling has many parallels to Cole. Both committed the perceived footballing harakiri of dropping the club 'that made him' in favour of the money rich/ new force in town. "They sold their soul". Suddenly the lavish lifestyle and the 'gangsta' tattoos started to grate against supporters. That's human. Not racist.
Does Racism still exist in football? Of course. Does that form a part of this dislike for Sterling? It may very well be. But it's certainly not the only factor and far far from being the dominant one. Double standards have always existed in football. It just exists in the now very vile cesspool of social media, fueled by parasitic journalists that just want to build narratives for the next news cycle. Sorry, but I'm not buying their moral posturing and new found "education" now. Not for one second.
Problem here is I totally disagree with you and don't think it's linked to skin tone, I've made numerous posts on this and simply believe that the media dislike a certain personality type, regardless of race.
McGregor was widely considered a cock by most people in the UK. Where are you getting that he was considered 'confident' ? He actually does better in the US where that personality type is embraced more. In Britain we prefer the humble, down to earth kind of guy, the person who represents great sportsmanship, works incredibly hard etc etc .. again the Scott Parkers of this world are the golden boys in our media.
I'm not 'ignoring it' though, I just disagree with you. I know what you're trying to say exists and I am saying that whilst there might be an element of that, predominantly I don't think the media dislike flashy black players because they want black people in their place or whatever, but simply because these kind of characters grate on the British media. This is true regardless of being white or black, there's been a number of examples used in this thread of cocky white players being attacked in the press.
The media love the likes of Kante and Joshua not because they're 'quiet and submissive' black dudes, but because they're the kind of personalities which the media adore.
This guy. Yeah, the most important issue is why the media criticises one englishman and not another. He is pretty popular in the UK, isn't he?
An agent who is also black, you mean?
I don't understand why Sterling supposedly has a bad character /is an idiot? Do people actually have a basis for this or is it another assumption? He doesn't come across as arrogant/dickish on the pitch at least.
Didn’t it start with Rodgers giving him a bollocking in the Being Liverpool series? That was pretty much his introduction to the football following public.
If popular means a turd that just won't flush, then sure.
Morgan's a cnut, most hate him.
Piers Morgan criticising him. That'll really turn the public against Sterling.
I keep seeing this but no one really articulates it.
What is "bling culture"?
The idealisation of ostentatious materialism.
That's all well and good but I keep seeing some footballers being accused of it when it's nothing like what you describe.
How is Sterling guilty of bling culture?
How do you smoke laughing gas? Have mercy..
I honestly don't think he is, but I also think he got marked down as a money hungry mercenary after he moved to City and the media were desperate to make that narrative stick.
Didn’t you know that only black people can be accused of bling culture? I don’t see Beckham associated with being a pioneer or icon of bling culture.
Not excellent. Flawed. Why does he mention muslim grooming gangs? Is he accusing all white people of identifying all muslims as rapists? You all scared of calling him out on his logic? Barnes's strategy is to pull everything he can think of into association with some middle age numpties yelling at a footballer. He can comfortably do that. But if black girls constituted the overwhelming number of victims of muslim grooming gangs, he would not be mentioning the issue in this context.
This is my point. I only see black players associated with the term.
I was just defining bling culture for you.
Although one of the things that the press really went after him for was when he returned from England duty after being knocked out of a major tournament, he posted a video on social media whilst still in his England gear showing off his house. The diamond encrusted bathroom sink was the thing that the press really picked up on.
I don’t think he’s been accused of it? I was responding to a photo of Aubameyang posing on the roof of an incredibly expensive car.
And it’s clearly not just a black issue. Conor McGregor is one of the most obvious recent exponents. Desperate to tell everyone how expensive his suit is.
I really don't think there is in this case. Lots of people will want to push that angle for their own ends but Sterling is disliked because of the second part of your post.
All footballers who make questionable choices are criticised. Look at the abuse Jamie Vardy gets. He literally gets stick because he looks a bit feral. Look at what Rooney had to put up with. Remember Stephen Ireland and his pink car? Until an effigy of Sterling is being strung from a lamppost none of it comes close to the abuse Beckham got.
Sterling was supposed to be the star that connected the dots of the greatest footballing story since SAF and brought the mighty Liverpool back to prominence. Instead he moved to the rival city and the rival club for more money and they've never forgiven him. Coming across as a bit of an uneducated idiot who won the jackpot doesn't help him either, in the UK people are generally envious of other people's success and love to knock them down a peg, and footballers are a prime target.
With lots of practice. Only true druggies like Sterling can roll up gas.
Ever heard of a place called Essex? Or Stephen Ireland?
If you only sit up and take notice when its used to describe black people then you will think its only black people being described by the term. It did also originate in hip hop which was originally an African American thing.
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Can anyone give a brief about what Sterling said!
I don't get it either. He comes across as a nice lad actually and a good son and father. So you get criticised for that now do you?
I don't understand why Sterling supposedly has a bad character /is an idiot? Do people actually have a basis for this or is it another assumption? He doesn't come across as arrogant/dickish on the pitch at least.
This thread has descended into a cesspool, and a lot of people are showing themselves up quite nicely too.
It's the way he runs.
You mean it includes a variety of viewpoints? Use quotes to demonstrate how it resembles a cesspool.
Stephen Ireland has a town named after himself?
There's a place called Tosser?
A country actually.
Standard. Express a different opinion in a civilised manner and you're showing yourself up.
Ireland may have been mocked for his over the top decor, but there's a pretty common trope around black athletes that they're especially hedonistic and spend all their money on jewelry, cars etc. It's not the criticism of their lifestyle that's necessarily the issue, it just seems like there's a different tone depending on the players. When Gary Neville shapes the hedges in front of his house into the letters MUFC or Ireland splashes pink all over his Range Rover, they're just eccentric. When Sterling buys a mansion for his mum, or Balotelli and Aubameyang drive expensive cars they're nouveau riche with more money than sense.Because only black footballers get criticised for being ostentatious...
Not that I disagree with Sterling's point about the two Mail articles (or with the premise that the newspaper is a racist rag) but I don't think it's unreasonable to criticise ostentatious footballers, when they behave in an ostentatious manner. Irrespective of the colour of their skin.
Anybody who tattoos a large assault rifle on their body is of questionable intelligence.
Well the only viewpoints you have are black players such as Sterling, Wright & Barnes pointing out how subtle racism steeps into institutions like the media, and the media influences society to associate certain gangs with certain traits.
You then have white critics & players who suggest that there is no racism involved, at all. Despite them not being the target of such attacks.
There's no need for a variety of viewpoints on that topic.
It descends into a cesspool where you have posters who insist that Sterling and other black players should succumb to respectability politics - how dare they buy expensive things, and show them off? And on top of that, the way the stories are portrayed when a black player buys something, vs when a white player does the exact same thing - which Sterling highlighted.
The very basic history of racism will tell you that since emancipation from slavery and colonialism, black people have expected to be docile and quiet, seen but not heard.
Other recent examples of this include Lebron and 'shut up and dribble', Colin Kaepernick kneeling for the national anthem, Pogba dabbing & getting hair cuts etc.
People like their athletes to be like Kante, quiet and docile, which is exactly why he's been used as a counter-argument so many times in this thread, as if it negates all the underlying and historic racism that got us here in the first place.
If the shoe fits, wear it.
The amount of attention and hate Sterling gets from the press it feels like he should be a United player.
So because a few black footballers have come out and expressed an opinion, this automatically shuts down all intelligent debate and the assumption automatically must be that they're correct? That doesn't seem like an intelligent way to go about debating a topic, but ok.
Nobody is saying Sterling should 'succumb to respectability politics', people are merely pointing out that plenty of players (black and white) are disliked and criticised in the press for having a certain type of personality. People like McGregor, Ireland, Fury, Beckham, Rooney in the past all have been criticised by the media for being overly brash and for showing their wealth off in public. It's part of British culture to be more restrained in how you display your wealth, we're a country that idolise the plucky, everyday humble, hard working underdog. We generally don't like the arrogant showman as much, that's just a cultural thing regardless of race.
That doesn't mean Sterling has to change, I personally don't care what he buys or what he wears and think the media coverage of pretty much all 'celebrities' in this country is a cancer, but I just don't agree that this coverage is predominantly racially motivated. I don't think Sterling would have received far less abuse if he was white but had moved to City, tattooed a gun on his leg etc ... these are actions the media would have picked up on regardless of his ethnicity.
People like Kante because he's humble, works incredibly hard and is down to earth. They don't like him because he's a docile black man. In general, his type of personality is going to grate on people less. Some people don't like Pogba because he's a confident, good looking, wealthy athlete, it's mainly down to jealousy and people from a different generation finding dabbing/constant haircuts etc distasteful. It's just a clash of culture/values.