I’m going to get this off my chest because enough has been said about Richard Sherman that now I’m bothered. Lets cover some facts:
-Yes, Richard Sherman was salutatorian of his high school class (4.2 g.p.a), from Compton, CA and attended Stanford University where he is currently completing his masters degree.
-Yes, Richard Sherman was a 5th-round pick out of Stanford University where he chose to play out his eligibility so he could pursue said masters.
-Yes, Richard Sherman likes to talk, a lot. Most of the time in a way that rubs many the wrong way.
I’m here to tell you, I have zero qualms with what Richard Sherman said after the Seahawks defeated the 49ers to move on to the Super Bowl. I don’t think I need to explain how disgusting the comments towards Sherman were after, but if you want some context here you go. Want I want to explain is that what Richard Sherman said is no different from what you hear in your Saturday morning church/rec. league. Or when you were growing up playing sports, how many times have you called an opponent “sorry” or “mediocre” to their face. I bet if you get out of your own way and think about it, you can remember countless times you’ve done it.
Oh, but Richard Sherman said it on television and is supposed to be a role model. Well, did I mention that he graduated second in his class in high school and went to Stanford (freaking) University? All of this despite coming from a place that graduates 57% of its high school students. If that isn’t enough, why don’t we focus on Blanket Coverage. Not what Sherman has exhibited throughout his career in the National Football League, but his charitable foundation that has helped hundreds of community members up and down the west coast with adequate every day needs and school supplies.
I guess that doesn’t fully explain him going full Mr. T on television though, huh? Well, I’m not going to follow the hard-line of “football is an emotional game and they caught him in the heat of that moment” (although if I wanted to I could with examples here, here, and I imagine here). I’m not going to explain anything for Richard Sherman because nothing needs to be explained. He said what he felt, and to date not many people have found anything to refute his point that Crabtree is mediocre. What we have here is an issue of mixing your morals with athletes. I’ve heard a lot of people quick to say “he should be gracious in victory” and “humble in defeat”. Well, I don’t know who wrote that book, but that isn’t a script everyone has to follow. Not everyone has to thank a higher power, be gracious in victory, We don’t have to like it, or agree with it.
In the last 48-hours I’ve heard Richard Sherman called much worse than what he said about Crabtree (which, ahem, still hasn’t been proven inaccurate). I completely understand if Richard Sherman isn’t your kind of player, or if you don’t like the Seahawks because, naturally, you’re a fan of the other team. To say you don’t like the person he is or what he stands for would be to say you don’t like Stanford educated young men who have overcome their socioeconomic adversity, who are successful in their profession and still make it a point to give back to their community. Now how does that sound?
