Talking Sports: The talk and the walk

I confess I’d never heard of Richard Sherman before last Sunday.

I wasn’t able to watch a lot of NFL football this season and what I did see was mostly confined to the NFL Red Zone Channel. But last weekend I was excited to watch the Broncos play the Patriots and the Seahawks do battle with the 49ers. My football Sunday was made extra enjoyable when the two teams I wanted to win came through.

Despite my New York upbringing and New England roots, I don’t like the Patriots but I appreciate Peyton Manning - and Archie and Eli too. I rooted for the Seahawks because I am a fan of their head coach, Pete Carroll. I’ve been a follower of USC football since I was a kid - but admittedly a fair weather fan. The weather was always fair when Carroll led the Trojans. It’s rained a lot since he left.

The weekend ended with the somewhat infamous rant by Sherman in an interview with FOX’s Erin Andrews. He made his comments after making a great play to preserve the Seahawks win. When I saw it live I reacted to it like I always do when I see a big mouthed NFL player go on about himself. “What a dope. Shut your big, egomaniacal, conceited mouth.” Though Sherman is a defensive back, I call it “wide-receiver disease.”

I haven’t seen a whole lot of the publicity surrounding Sherman and what’s been said since his interview. I’ve just caught little pieces here and there. But I’ve mellowed a little bit. What I have seen of Sherman since then is an intellegent, well spoken man who was somewhat contrite about his post-game behavior. But again, I’ve just seen snipets.

I’ve also heard that he grew up in the Compton, Calif. and managed to get As in high school. His report card, and of course his exceptional athletic ability, helped him get into one of America’s finest institutions of higher learning. He earned a Communications degree from Stanford. In my book that’s worthy of respect.

He blew it on Sunday. With the emotions of a closely contested game and perhaps a history of bad blood between Sherman and 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree fresh in his mind, he mouthed off and embarrased himself. But football is a tough game. I would imagine you’d have to be pretty much on the edge to play at that level. I’ve blown it, too--and in tamer environments. Thank God there were no television cameras around.

This morning while watching Mike & Mike on ESPN2 the hosts were discussing the vile and racist reactions many have expressed towards Sherman through social media. There is no need to get too deeply involved in that discussion. Such idiots aren’t worth the time it takes to spit on the sidewalk.

During Mike (Greenburg) and Mike’s (Golic) conversation they brought it up that Sherman has referred to the word “thug” as a racist term. Not true. I’ve used the word often in my life. To me it means some ruffian with no respect for others right to a peacful existence.

Thugs come in all shapes, sizes, colors and races. For me “thug” can never be co-opted into the lingo of racism. Sherman certainly sounded somewhat thuggish in his comments, but he’s no thug. He’s a highly skilled football player with a Stanford education. As far as I know he treats women, children and animals with respect. Mouthing off about an opposing football player after a violent game does not make him a thug.

Despite discovering a deeper side to Michael Sherman I still hope Manning schools him on Super Bowl Sunday--not because I have any animosity towards Sherman. I just want the Broncos to win. I want people to stop yapping about how Manning can’t win the big one - even though he already has.

And I must admit when somebody goes on and on about how great they are I don’t mind them getting a little humble pie.

Confidence is a good thing. A necessary thing. But I don’t want to hear how wonderful somebody is from their own mouth. I’m capable of observing it.

I can’t ever recall Peyton Manning going on about how great he is. But I’ve noticed