Keeping Up Appearances

 Not too long ago, I was stepping out of my comfort zone and lauding the Las Vegas Raiders for doing the right thing. Carl Nassib, a defensive end for the team, chose to come out in the middle of Pride Month. This was quite a stretch for the Silver and Black, a stronghold of all that is manly in the manly world of professional football. It let some air into the corners of the locker room that don't often feel so fresh. It was good news. 

So I'm going to go ahead and say that the dismissal of Raiders head coach this past Monday was good news as well. The official announcement had Jon Gruden resigning, but make no mistake: he did not jump, he was pushed. Coach Gruden was let go when a series of homophobic, racist and misogynistic emails were brought to light. I am sure that there will be those who argue that back in 2011, when most of these emails were written, Gruden was not even in the employ of the National Football League. He was knee-deep in his career as a broadcaster. Of the National Football League. 

The National Football League is a business. A great big business. A great big business in the middle of coming to terms with its treatment of women, race, and hate. They have been painting slogans like "end racism," and "it takes all of us." The NFL knows it has an image problem, and they are working to subvert it. Just how hard they are working on it while Colin Kaepernick sits out yet another season, waiting for some team to "take a chance on him." Letting go of a dinosaur like Jon Gruden sends a message that the NFL is not going to be embarrassed by its employees. Even if that means cutting loose a guy with a ten year contract. Even if it costs the Las Vegas Raiders a hundred million dollars. 

Annoyance fee to a business that is projected by its commissioner, Roger Goodell, to rake in twenty-seven billion dollars annually by 2027. If that means the boys who are used to being in charge have to evolve, so be it. Not that this would have anything to do with the fact that one of the emails in question targeted the commissioner with some unflattering expletives. Let's just say it fit in neatly with all the other offensive rants he was making. 

None of this will necessarily bring me to the belief that this was done for anything more than money. It was a financial decision, with a little spin of conscience. The Raiders' competing mottos, "commitment to excellence" and "just win, baby" are still on display for everyone to see. You can buy t-shirts and hats to reinforce that Raider Image. 

Whatever that is. As the door was closing solidly behind him, Jon Gruden offered up this weak sauce at the end of his resignation: "I never meant to hurt anyone." 

Just leave, baby.