Broncos Wideout Denied Chance To Honor Obama
Although President-Elect Barack Obama is a Chicago Bears fan, I’m sure he can appreciate this.
After scoring a late touchdown against the Cleveland Browns last Thursday putting his Denver Broncos ahead 34-30, wide receiver Brandon Marshall proceeded to reach into his pants and pull out a black and white glove to honor president-elect Barack Obama. Teammate Brandon Stokely immediately pushed Marshall to the back of the end zone and persuaded him not to don the glove because the team could not afford the 15-yard penalty.
Marshall had planned to raise his fists in a Black Power salute as Tommie Smith and John Carlos had during the 1968 Olympic Games. After the game Marshall read from a written statement:
“Barack Obama’s election as the 44th president of the United States is a tremendous symbol of unity,” Marshall said. “I want to create that symbol of unity because Obama inspires me (and) a multicultural society, and I know at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised that black glove and fist in a silent gesture of black power and liberation.
“Forty years later, I wanted to make my own statement and gesture to represent the progress we made,” Marshall said. “I might get some criticism, but social landmarks are bigger than fines to me, especially two days out of an historic election.”
Marshall wasn’t disappointed about not getting to honor Obama, he felt like he had made his point. “I still got to say what I wanted to say. This is a historical moment, not just for black people but for the United States.”
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November 10th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Mr. Marshall just went up a little in my estimation.
November 10th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I would’ve put that glove on regardless. AND not paid the fine!
November 11th, 2008 at 2:52 am
Matthew — you’re right. You wouldn’t have paid the fine - but it would have been ASSESSED and your check would be light.
Render unto Roger that which belongs to Roger.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:08 am
I can understand where Stokely was coming from when he talked to Marshall but I knew as soon as I heard about that the MSM and blogosphere would twist it like the cool, cerebral vet reigning in the naturally-talented but mentally-deficient youngster. The game was close and needed for playoff positioning but Marshall would have been better just playing the whole game with the gloves and when he scored his TD just pausing in the endzone with his fist in the air. It would have seemed spontaneous enough to the officials not to merit a flag and he could have still given his statement after the game.
All that though, kudos to Marshall for being engaged enough in current events to let the people who seem him at best as number on patch of dirt that there is a functioning brain inside that helmet.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Thanks for posting this Ron.
I applaud Brandon Marshall for recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Mexico City protest.
I’m tied into that era because of my interview with Spencer Haywood who wrecked shop during those same Olympics.
Very proud of Brandon Marshall for stepping up and being a man.
Like others have said, it’s crazy so many mainstream pundits have chosen to comment on Stokely (the irony of the name huh?) and his “intelligence” in the moment.
Continuing the conversation here could propagate a much needed discussion on what ‘68 means and should mean to all of us.
I’m at work. Having problems with my network, so that’s the reason I didn’t comment on the site today. I hope to get it fixed later on tonight when I get home. If so, I’ll have a Sixers piece on SLAM and also an interview regarding the unreleased Jimi Hendrix material with the Aleem brothers of Ghetto Fighters fame. Damn computers…
November 11th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I applaud BM for his sense of history and his appreciation of it. I’m with HD in terms of just taking the field with the gloves already on and raising his fist after the score.
But then I can see Marshall explaining why he raised his fist in a postgame interview, Goodell getting wind of it and THEN levying the fine.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Brandon Marshall has a little Etan Thomas in him, no?
November 11th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
How do you all feel about the level and amount of praise that Brandon Stockley is getting for stopping him?
A friend of mine was very put off by how much he was recieving….
November 12th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Are you surprised, Cev?
November 12th, 2008 at 4:18 am
In a sad sort of way…yes and no.
Instead of praising B. Marshall on being socially active and aware of whats going on around him, more so than just sports. He was clowned in my eyes….
B. Stokley though got a little bit too much credit….
I shouldnt have been shocked at all
November 12th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
AFTER the RACE (on the victory stand), during the Games; not during their race at the expense of the race.
“You play to WIN the games.” - Former NY Jets coach, Herman Edwards.
Frankly, cheerleading belongs on the sidelines and is BEST done by scantilly clad enthusiasts earnestly working their way through college. Further, enthusiasm about Obama’s victory is also being welcomed on Wall Street by men like Henry Paulson, Paul Volcker, and others who’ve spent their lives destabilizing the economies of otherwise productive peoples. Enthusiasm for this campaign is so widespread that it reveals more of our collective disaffection that our particular politics.
I know as little of young Mr. Marshall now as I did when he was suspended at the beginning of the season. I didn’t hate him then, I’m not loving him now. Even keel. Even keel.
November 16th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Obama is on 60 minutes tonight.