End Craven Cowardice

Trump will be attending the Super Bowl.

In a totally "unrelated story," the NFL said it would not have "End racism" in the end zone logo for the first time since the 2021 Super Bowl. Instead, the phrases "Choose love" and "It takes all of us" will be in the end zone.

Oh, for God's sake, Roger Goodell.

Think about that for a few seconds.   (The limit before your head might otherwise explode.)  The NFL commissioner and the league are afraid to say “End racism” – which they’ve had in the Super Bowl for the past four years -- because (and it is “because” since no other explanation is believable) it might offend Trump.

I mean, seriously, as offended as the NFL and Roger Goodell might think that Trump might be – a) does the commissioner think that even Trump himself would ever say publicly, “How dare they?!  No, no, keep racism going!!”  And b) does he not think that the very best time -- ever -- to say “End racism” is when a person (let alone THE person) who needs convincing to end racism is there to see it??!!!  It doesn't do nearly as much good saying “End racism” if everyone hearing it already agrees in full!

I have a hard time even fathoming the thinking (or lack thereof) that went into this decision.  I can see the NFL deciding to prohibit putting commercial messages on their uniforms to promote products.  I can even see the league and commissioner saying that no player should kneel during the playing of the National Anthem, whether or not one disagrees with such a ruling.  But…but…but -- honestly – how craven do you have to be to cave to how offended anyone (anyone) would be because you pained “End racism” in the end zone… continuing a tradition you’ve done for the past several years.  After all, if someone – anyone – even the president or king of the universe would be offended by seeing “End racism” painted on the grass of the field, I believe that the proper response is “Screw ‘em.”

And then you’d add, “I’m sorry that you’re offended by having to read ‘End racism’ on the field, but the reason I’m sorry is not because we painted in the end zone which offended you, but because I’m sorry you’re so virulently racist that the mere concept of ending racism hurts your dark sensibilities.  We’ve done this for the past four years, and though it therefore wasn’t directed at you, perhaps it should be.  And we will continue to say, “End racism,” as long as there are virulent racists around, like yourself.

But there's another perspective to this, as well.  While I feel perfectly comfortable saying that Trump is a racist and enables white supremacists, I don’t know for a fact that, as self-deluded as he is, and with early dementia, Trump necessarily thinks he’s a racist.  After all, he’s ludicrously said he’s the least racist person in the world.  So, for all we know, he might have no problem reading “End racism” and might even like being able to show the world how non-racist he’s convinced his deeply-racist mind he is.

Which leads to the main issue here:  not that Trump is a racist, we know that, his actions and words for decades show that.  But that Roger Goodell and the NFL – after years of promoting an “End racism” message and allowing players to put such messages on their shoes -- cravenly caved into Trump’s racism, and blocked the message, which enables the very thing they’ve presented themselves as being against.  What kind of message does Mr. Goodell think it sends to Trump when he sees the mega-powerful NFL backing down in fear from him by not doing something as simple as, once again, painting "End racism" on the grass??  Most especially in a league that is made up of 53% black players.  Quite the message the commissioner sent the them.

It is my hope – though not my expectation, since this is the Super Bowl and players will likely be deeply focused on the game – that players stage some sort of response in turn.  Perhaps using their shoes to this time send the message, “End racism” written on them.