Madden: Transcending Racial Barriers?

There is nothing more exciting than a game between to marquee Madden Ballers, going at it in a tournament setting, with both ballers crews standing just behind them, rooting them on to victory. The ambiance and the environment in the room can be electric. There is an exuberance of League pride that fills the room. Crews are representing their home turf....and if they are not representing the home turf, they are representing their regional turf. What is beautiful about this is, it's about the game.....the competition. And in the midst of the hooping and hollering, the one thing I noticed is that, there were no color lines.

In today's society we are constantly force fed all types of data and statistics subliminally to make us think that there is are differences between blacks, whites, and other minorities. Whether it is polls, or the news media reporting stories of discrimination, or the school system reporting test scores, we have been brainwashed to believe that we are all different because of a difference in skin pigmentation. And this difference has lead to ridiculous stereo types and inferiority/superiority complexes that have cause years of emotional scars and hatred amongst the human race.

The fact is, if you look at a persons insides, there is nothing different about any of us. We are all built the same, with the same muscles, and the same brain. I mean, if I were white, and I got a tan that darkened my skin, and it was a tan where I could almost pass for a black person, does that change who I am inside? Does that change what I am capable of doing or not doing, just cause my skin pigmentation is a couple of shades darker?

Racism is the stupidest concept that man has ever fallen for in my opinion. Because judging someone by the color of their skin, rather than by the content of their character doesn't make common sense.

If there is anything that makes us different, it is our culture. And culture has more to do with the environment that surrounds us rather than the color of our skin. For example, a white person living in or near Harlem may tend to share the same cultural background with a black person from Atlanta. And the brother from Atlanta would have more in common with his white brother from Harlem than a black person living in Ireland. And despite both being black, the brother from Harlem and the brother from Ireland will act different, think different and may have a different appreciation for things. In this case, in my mind, the white brother and African American brother would share more in common than the brother from Ireland would with either of them. Yet, if we put both of the black men side by side, without either of them speaking many of us will generate stereotypical assumptions about both men. Simply because their skin color is similar. Silly isn't it?

We should not have to clarify as people that there are some blacks that are intelligent, and articulate. And that all white people are not racist. Instead we should say that people are people. And there are good people and there are bad people. And in every race there will be good people and bad people. But we should never think that some things are excluded to particular races.

How many of us were surprised to find out that the Washington DC sniper was an African American? I know I was. Because I am guilty of listening to the constant media stereotyping that shapes our opinions and minds, whether we know it or not. I learned from that experience that while I am not prejudice in the least bit, I too can sometimes prejudge people or situations....even when I'm not trying to.

That's why the Mega Bowl weekend was so refreshing. And it started at the top with Mario and Fathertime. When you look at the Ballers Club, you see Jessie Jackson's rainbow coalition in effect. You see whites, blacks, Hispanics working together for each other and for the good of the cause. You saw the wives of the ballers working together as well. It was a beautiful thing. And that spirit carried over into the room.

There once was a growing sentiment that mostly blacks played Madden and the game was dominated by black players. Well how silly is that assumption, especially when you look at the success of ballers such as Untouchable, Sandman, Candyman, The Realist, John B, Big Puddin, Upsetter, and so many others. Oh yes, people of all shades can play this game and play it well. Maybe some of them are just being recognized....and maybe some or just starting to come out to compete. But the message should always be, if you can ball, you can ball...no matter what your hue may be.

To me it was refreshing to see the majority African American GT Philly rooting for the Sandman or Untouchable....they were not rooting for the white guy....they were pulling for their crew. Cuz in their crew...they didn't see color. Or Candyman pulling for Wayne Walton or MO Wash, two African American brothers from KOTC. Where else can you go and find a brother like Death Dealer hanging with a brother like Big Curly Top....and they backing each other to the hilt, screaming KILL KILL KILL. Its a beautiful thing.

The sad thing is, sometimes we live in the world of Madden which in most cases have no color barriers, then we step into the real world, and we begin to resort back to our old ways of thinking. Its like the scene in the movie Remember The Titans, where the team became a team, with love and respect for each other while they were away by themselves in training camp. But when they returned to society, the reality of it all came back to them. And just like the Titans, we must learn to respect and love each other for who we are and what we represent....not our shade of skin, or the straightness or kinkyness of our hair....(for those who still have some)

We can learn a lot from this game of Madden. So think about it....if we can be that way amongst each other.....we can make strides towards being that way outside the arenas of the MWS. Because when you learn that good people are good people regardless of skin pigmentation, then you may find yourself willing to make a difference in someone's life, regardless of how you feel about their race. And we when we start to do that one by one, one day at a time....the whole world becomes a better place.

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