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February 15, 2005
Equality for end-zone celebrations
These past few months, viewers of sports have been treated to some pretty heinous antics on the part of incorrigible black people č or so the majority of the sports media would have you believe. For instance, did you hear about Randy Moss’ unconscionable simulation of what has been termed “shooting the moon”?
Or, worse, did you hear that Moss blithely flaunted his inordinate (and, to most good folks, undeserved) wealth by expressing his apathy concerning a hefty fine leveled at him by the pious czar of the NFL? My guess is that you have, since both stories received more airtime in this provincial town than the Iraq war in its beginning stages.
I don’t champion what Randy Moss did after scoring a touchdown against Green Bay. As a matter of fact, I am indifferent to the supposed scandal. If you were to ask anyone who isn’t subsumed in self-righteousness whether he or she was troubled by the feigned mooning, you would probably be treated to a dismissive smirk or a shrug. Those who austerely censure Moss’ unique method of celebration aim to assail an imperturbable aspect of sports: black people having fun.
It started, at least in the NFL, in the early ’80s. The league stated that end-zone celebrations were obscenely raucous. This was a reaction to the lauded end-zone dances of Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, a black man whose legendary dances were emulated by youths the country over. However, a few higher-ups - rich white team owners č denounced Billy White Shoes’ dances as flippant and contrary to the intended image of the NFL.
For a while, referees penalized players for the most nominal exhibitions of end-zone emotion. This stridency toward penalizing exuberance was mitigated by John Elway in 1986. In a harrowing effort, Elway eluded a multitude of defenders on his way to the end zone.
He was so overcome with euphoria that he hurled the football into the stands, a move that resulted in a
15-yard penalty. Later that same week, Elway protested the call, lamenting the discouragement of fun that was being exacted by the league’s referees. Having instilled an acute sense of trepidation in the hearts of the league’s owners and referees, Elway was appeased by a renewed sense of leniency on the part of the refs.
Soon thereafter, Billy White Shoes thought he was availing himself of the league’s relaxed stance on end-zone celebrations when, upon rendering his renowned strut, he was penalized for excessive celebration.
Sports commentators č taking the baton from hypocritical referees č routinely disparage players who don’t reflect the “spirit of the game,” asserting that displays of jubilance should be limited to a slap on the ass. This critique of alleged ostentation is prevalent in all sports that feature black athletes.
Celebration is an integral element in black culture. From jazz to Vince Carter’s posturing after having dunked in someone’s face, entertaining oneself has been a therapeutic expression of individuality in a society that sort of has a history of oppressing all semblances of enjoyment not regulated by white patronage. White commentators who extol Matt Birk, a Harvard graduate, for his unshakably calm demeanor on the field and reproach Randy Moss for his thug-like behavior would do well to step outside their own cultural values and norms so as to appreciate how beautiful a well-executed end-zone dance can be.
Posted by msveum at February 15, 2005 12:58 PM