What I don't get about Riley Cooper...

[AnnapolisEagle]

...and it may have already been mentioned, is how an athlete like him ends up throwing out that word.

This guy has played with a lot of black teammates, some that he obviously considers close friends (and, apparently, vice versa). Even if you grew up in a racist household and didn't know any better, the meritocracy that is sports should be a pretty effective way to push those ideas out of your head. I played high school sports in the sticks with some real rednecks and a bunch of black guys. And I always respected the ability of sports to break down barriers in a way that wouldn't happen elsewhere.

Maybe the booze helped him break through some cognitive dissonance he's able to maintain while sober, compartmentalizing "teammates" and "everybody else." Or maybe he was just trying to come up with the most hurtful thing he could think of.

Either way, I find it surprising.

-AE

[Ellsworth]

once again, cyndi says it best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPn0KFlbqX8

[3rd & Inches]

I have a good friend thats white. We served in the military together, went to war together...one day we are driving in his car, a black dude cuts him off, and he yells "fuckin nigger!". I was shocked, he was embarrassed. It was an awkward car ride back to my house.

He apologized and I went inside. The only thing I can think of is that he considers most blacks as niggers. But the blacks that he got to know and had positive experiences with are regular people who are not niggers. I'm pretty sure thats how Riley feels about his black teammates.

[FuriousXGeorge]

The booze probably played a role. We all know it can weaken or knock down the, "Don't do that, you know it's wrong." filters in our heads.

[Melchior]

I thought this thread was going to be about the jorts.

[3rd & Inches]

I thought this thread was going to be about the jorts.

And his ugly taste in chicks.

[jrachiever]

Standard disclaimers about his behavior not being acceptable in any way, but here's an angle:

Being around mostly black locker rooms for so many years, he hears the 'N' word a ton. He's probably been given plenty of shit for being a white wide receiver over the years. He's quite possibly had the type of relationship with some teammates in his lifetime where they could throw back and forth white/black racial slurs without offense. Overall his experiences may give him much less of a filter with the 'N' word than the average person, even if it doesn't reflect the way he feels.

I don't think I've heard that word spoken out loud in years. It's not on the tip of my tongue. It could never accidentally come out. But I moved back to the US after several years abroad when I was in HS and was shocked at how common gay slurs were. At first I thought it was really offensive, as offensive as racism even. But I gradually started using the same slurs as everyone else. Almost 20 years later I still can't believe the things I sometimes let fly. They don't reflect any of my feelings or beliefs but they just flow right out. My daughter's maternal grandmother is a big outspoken anti-gay rights person. I get infuriated and want to tell her how ashamed my daughter will be of her some day, the same way my Mom shakes her head when she talks about her grandmother's overtly racist beliefs. But yet in the wrong situation I could say something that sounds very hateful that would leave me very embarrassed. Hopefully it's a similar case with Riley Cooper. Of course he may just be filled with a lot of pent up hate too.

[Whoneedsaring]

Would Cooper been better off

If he said " moon crickets " instead?

[AnnapolisEagle]

I have a good friend thats white. We served in the military together, went to war together...one day we are driving in his car, a black dude cuts him off, and he yells "fuckin nigger!". I was shocked, he was embarrassed. It was an awkward car ride back to my house.

He apologized and I went inside. The only thing I can think of is that he considers most blacks as niggers. But the blacks that he got to know and had positive experiences with are regular people who are not niggers. I'm pretty sure thats how Riley feels about his black teammates.

See, this is interesting to me. That sounds like he's elevated the world to an us vs. them situation so that other aspects of that person disappear. Maybe we're able to look past someone's traits -- skin color, economic background, anything you might view as alien or even an otherwise unforgivable fault -- if you remove them from the general population and into your own group. I guess it doesn't have to be an elite fraternity like pro sports or the military, either. How many of us have that asshole friend who cheats on his wife but you still help him move his shit when he gets kicked out?

I wonder what it means for Cooper's black teammates who have said they've forgiven him. Does the same compartmentalization apply? Are they more apt to brush it off because they know "the real Riley" isn't racist? (There is also the issue of players protecting the team's interests...maybe you're more inclined to look the other way when you know you're already down one WR so far this season.)

-AE

[Drama Queen]

Maybe Cooper couldn't handle his liquor and got blasted. I'm surprised nobody mention the video of him out of control outside the concert with other white dudes.

IMO, Cooper was trashed and wanted a "wow factor" by challenging the security guy with the N word.... The previous video outside the concert and this video shows that; A. he's blasted, B. he's full of himself and wants to be noticed, and C. he has some sense of entitlement because he's Riley Cooper.

This public humiliation is worse than a fine or any other form of punishment.

[3rd & Inches]

Maybe Cooper couldn't handle his liquor and got blasted. I'm surprised nobody mention the video of him out of control outside the concert with other white dudes.

IMO, Cooper was trashed and wanted a "wow factor" by challenging the security guy with the N word.... The previous video outside the concert and this video shows that; A. he's blasted, B. he's full of himself and wants to be noticed, and C. he has some sense of entitlement because he's Riley Cooper.

This public humiliation is worse than a fine or any other form of punishment.

Answer me this: Was Charles Kelly there? I thought he was on stage too.

[3rd & Inches]

See, this is interesting to me. That sounds like he's elevated the world to an us vs. them situation so that other aspects of that person disappear. Maybe we're able to look past someone's traits -- skin color, economic background, anything you might view as alien or even an otherwise unforgivable fault -- if you remove them from the general population and into your own group. I guess it doesn't have to be an elite fraternity like pro sports or the military, either. How many of us have that asshole friend who cheats on his wife but you still help him move his shit when he gets kicked out?

I wonder what it means for Cooper's black teammates who have said they've forgiven him. Does the same compartmentalization apply? Are they more apt to brush it off because they know "the real Riley" isn't racist? (There is also the issue of players protecting the team's interests...maybe you're more inclined to look the other way when you know you're already down one WR so far this season.)

-AE

I've been told by white coworkers that "You aren't like regular black people".

People have stereotypes, when their stereotype doesn't apply to an individual, they make exceptions.

[slag]

Could it be

maybe he was just pissed and, without being a racist, simply lacked the self control to use a more generic insult?

You've likely seen this Chris Rock bit:



Well, I think all he's saying, in effect, is that there are situations when a black guy has done something that permits a white guy to use the term (well, Rock says only one).

Cutting off in traffic (or getting snubbed by a security guard) is not enough according to Rock, but the concept is the same.

I guess the question for black people is whether an apology is sufficient if the degree of perceived transgression isn't up to snuff.

[3rd & Inches]

maybe he was just pissed and, without being a racist, simply lacked the self control to use a more generic insult?

You've likely seen this Chris Rock bit:



Well, I think all he's saying, in effect, is that there are situations when a black guy has done something that permits a white guy to use the term (well, Rock says only one).

Cutting off in traffic (or getting snubbed by a security guard) is not enough according to Rock, but the concept is the same.

I guess the question for black people is whether an apology is sufficient if the degree of perceived transgression isn't up to snuff.

Yeah I loved that bit. In my not worth a shit opinion, it all comes down to context.

[PackWest]

In my not worth a shit opinion, it all comes down to context.

Context is certainly key...( but not in Cooper's case)

My Dad grew up in the 40's in WI. and it wasn't uncommon for people to name their dog with the N-word back then. And that's what my Dad's family named their black lab

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger_%28dog%29

When he told us kids about it later in life, our jaws hit the floor as we were experiencing race riots and curfews in Milwaukee at the time.

Now days people have a much better understanding of the incredible negative connotations of that word ( as noted by Eagle in Ohio and others) and we can see by all the threads on this site just what kind of response it illicits.

Maybe this episode will help a few more people understand that concept and learn not to use the word going forward
.