Gary Sheffield, Jr
Videos by OutKick
North Carolina football unveiled their jerseys this morning against Notre Dame with the phrase “Protect Black Lives” and “Equality” on the back. Just when we thought virtue signaling in sports was on its way out the door–it’s back with a vengeance.
Using their platform to inspire 🗣️#GoHeels x #BeTheOne pic.twitter.com/TxVXf5uPhf
— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) November 27, 2020
We imagine the athletic director would tell us that the players just want “to start a conversation,” but that’s not what these type of gimmicks do. So far, patches and logos have done nothing but separate the “sides” even further, making actual dialogue all but impossible. Patches and ribbons are a great way to show support for minorities around the world without having to actually do anything of substance.
It would be better if North Carolina’s football program threw a fundraiser for our minority communities. You know, actually do something to change the situation of these communities. However, it’s likely that change isn’t the end goal here. As in most cases of virtue signaling, Carolina is worried only about looking good, not doing good.
The pandering may never stop.
I usually disagree with you on the articles you write on the Astros and having amnesia on the Red Sox and Yankees mishaps, but I agree with you 100% on this article. Slogans and gestures does nothing to help minorities and it causes further tension between the fans and the athletes.
Why are there no hockey articles? I love football. Not so much college football. What is this site about anymore? Sports? Or just politics? Yeah I know we get the Tom Brady commentary, he is showing his age and he has always been kind of a big whiner. All NFL fans know that about him. I signed up for some sports not mostly politics, which is what this has become. Give me some hockey articles. There are some great black players in the NHL also!
If you want hockey, go to NHL.COM or MS-ESPN. No one give a rats ass about hockey on this site.
Wow. Thanks Shannon. I have realized that already. Just racial articles and negativity. Didn’t expect to get attacked by another paying member of Outkick. Go Astros.
Explain to me what people want on this site. I thought it’s about sports. Isn’t hockey a sport? When I paid for my membership no one told me that hockey wasn’t a sport.
Sorry dude, hockey bores me to tears. This site centers around college football with a healthy dose of right leaning politics. That’s TBE from a Nashville based company.
UNC had long been the world leader in virtue signaling, they tout the sainthood of Dean Smith meanwhile they’ve been steering black athletes towards a fake degree program (AFAM) for decades. Butch Davis said it best while coaching at UNC “if you want an education you shoulda gone to Harvard”.
So Shannon, project your feelings on everyone much?
I have no interest in hockey
I signed up when it was us against the coronabros. Then Whitlock joined and I love his commentary. But I want sports commentary not social media type reporting! That is all this site seems to be about anymore. Heck, it may have been that way too before I joined, but, I get it. My opinion doesn’t matter just like everyone else’s. Thought I joined to be part of something bigger than race and politics.
Bye.
I still have time on my vip so talk to you soon
Nobody twisted you arm to join, don’t expect anyone to beg you to stay.
And the politicization of sports is one of the key themes from Clay going back years. Maybe you should read the book that you got when you signed up and you’d understand…or maybe not, it doesn’t have pictures.
Holy smokes. We’re on the same team guys. Why the hostility? I don’t give any of my time towards the NBA. I was just wondering why there aren’t NHL articles. ‘I don’t read to well’ 🙃But, I have a pretty good job and listened to the radio show through most of this ‘pandemic’. So please do not treat me like an uneducated idiot.
That is very insulting. I’m using my real name Dave, if that is your real name
And one last comment to you Dave. You must not be part of Clay’s business strategy because turning away anyone willing to pay for a membership is bad business. I read the book
I wouldn’t mind seeing a little NHL coverage.
Agreed, dj. Would like a few more puck articles. I’ve yet to understand why anyone watches the first three quarters of an NBA game.
So much for ‘everybody rooting against ND.’ People will root against UNC out of spite. The racist white liberals think they can hide behind slogans.
I’m pretty sure Outkick wasn’t responsible for politicizing sports. Thank the sports leagues for that. This site would be illegitimate if it didn’t cover these issues. Nice to know what North Carolina did. Kept me from watching their nationally televised game today. If the school is serious, they should replace their coaches of all their major sports with blacks. And those faculty administrators? Respectfully resign and allow a black person to fill your position. Now, how you explain this to Native Americans, Mexican Americans, etc? Not sure. But good luck. As for hockey articles….what exactly would you like to see, Matt? I like hockey. But is there something going on in the world of hockey that is being ignored by this site?
No Brock. There is nothing news worthy in hockey. I want to just enjoy watching sports without all of the negativity surrounding it. I am disappointed that I got attacked for just having an opinion.
Brock, I agree, I wish some of these white liberals would resign and let a black person fill their position. And like you said, good luck explaining it to Native Americans, Mexican Americans, etc…. White liberals in Universities are the scum of the earth as far as I’m concerned.
Free speech. I like boobs. I also like to relax and enjoy some games without drama.
Glad they lost. And I rarely root for ND. UNC is a leftist sewer.
Apparently there is no fun anymore in sports. There is always an underlying issue in every sport, every game, every player/coach/staff. Young or old under the microscope. No matter what race, under the microscope. I understand Outkick is not responsible for the media microscope. I felt safe here sharing my comments
https://www.outkick.com/ravens-steelers-moving-to-tuesday-sets-off-more-nfl-dominos/
Where are all you commentors for that article? It’s covid not social justice
These are the types of articles that separate Outkick from the others. I would like some hockey to replace the basketball once the season starts, but that’s just me.
Regarding this piece, placing Protect Black Lives on the back of uniforms is patronizing garbage, red-lighted by guilt-ridden Triangle liberals who see blacks as their special needs little children who they must protect. That whole area is a cesspool of left-wing lunacy…spearheaded by the university administrators. It is also a kick in the nuts to most police officers who must deal with violent offenders in the community in order to protect the innocent, such as Jacob Blake’s girlfriend (who had a restraining order on him). Or the pregnant woman whom George Floyd felt the need to hold a gun to her belly while his buddies robbed her house. It seems UNC has decided who they side with. All NC law enforcement agencies should refuse to provide security to the circus which UNC athletics games have become (I’m assuming UNC basketball will get in on the political posturing once the season starts).
Paul, good post. …..Gary, good column. I agree with you Gary that patches and ribbons do nothing. It would be nice if athletes had a fundraiser or actually did something of substance. It seems all of athletics at every level is following the lead of the ridiculous NBA and fools like Lebron and Popovich. Since Lebron and Popovich don’t do shit except stir animosity, all of the other sheep don’t do shit either.
Also, I loathe “Academia” more and more each day.
Not to mention the fact UNC created a fake curriculum to keep barely Literate athletes eligible rather than try and educate them. They epitomize the exploitation of black athletes in America with their actions while winking at you with “black lives matter” on the back of their jersey.
If you listen to Clay’s radio show he makes no apologizes for being football centric. If you want to talk hockey you are most likely on the wrong site. Jr. is right as well. If athletes and athletic departments want to make a statement put their money where their mouth is. They have the financial resources to do some real good.
When I saw the Tar Hole jerseys, I started pulling against them. The South Carolina women’s basketball team sat on their fat asses during the National Anthem this week. This divisive crap needs to end.
I wonder how much of this is the wokey wokes from China backed Nike promoting this. Seems like this is often their thing.
Well, Matt, you’re more than welcome to comment on the covid NFL schedule change article. Personally, I wanted to comment on this article. However, if you’re looking for a bite, I’ll take the bait. I think Covid is a poor man’s pneumonia. I think these leagues are about as hypocritical as the Democrats who order businesses closed but believe protests and riots are essential. Now, Matt, I certainly hope you’re not some leftist, college journalist major, who is going Fletch, to try to get other members to shame you, so you can than try to suggest Outkick and its members are a bunch of right wing extremists who use cancel culture for those with opposing views. I’m getting that feeling. But I was wrong one time about 10 years ago, so it’s possible i could be wrong again. It”s just that you’ve made quite the splash here. Kind of like the new kid in school from “out of state” that wants to know on his first day where to buy the weed and where the big party will be this weekend. Anyways, how are those Canucks looking?
Well done
UNC wearing SJW jerseys after having used the African American Studies department to commit academic fraud for decades……white guilt anyone?
I quickly tuned out.
The kids are being conned. They’re just pawns. But that being said, they are in college and could use a little free will to understand the bigger picture and form their own opinions, fairly and objectively. And then there are the parents…
I used to love UNC when I went to a small liberal arts college in North Carolina many years ago. Have never liked ND but when I turned on that game yesterday and saw the slogans on the jerseys, I became a Irish fan for the day. Another example of cowardly, white liberal jerkoff administrators. Ever notice that Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, and any other minority in this country don’t play the victim every chance they get? I wonder why it’s only blacks that always feel victimized.
I wish North Carolina had spent more time on tackling and not taking stupid penalties and less on virtue signaling
Meanwhile in Chicago, there have been 721 murders for the year as of 11/23. Of these victims, 78% are African-Amercan males. This was reported by ABC 7 in Chicago.
Perhaps the courageous slogan makers from Chapel Hill should set up shop in Chicago.
Good point Jim. Did Senator Obama (from Illinois) or President Obama even attempt to help fix the disastrous problem in Chicago? We all know the answer. UNC will place slogans on their jerseys, but won’t touch addressing problems in cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore.
Good column Gary. It created an interesting comment chain (to say the least).