Griffin vs. Whitewater Column

After reading a column in the Griffin Daily News discussing a match-up between the Griffin Bears and Whitewater, I just had to write something.

The writer of the column frames the article with the image of Rocky Balboa against Apollo Creed. But in doing so he inadvertently points out [what he perceives] the socioeconomic differences between Griffin and Fayette. The result is it has parents and students from both teams upset and in an uproar.

The following line can perhaps shed some light on why both teams are so angry:

For many of the Griffin players, it’s their only out. They quench their thirst with blood, sweat, tears and water. Griffin works out hard for fear of losing the only thing it has. For Whitewater players, football isn’t an out — it’s a social supplement to their education, offseason lifting sessions at the spa in designer clothes with their trainer topped off with a fresh iced latte.

See here's the thing, the article is pretty much evoking negative strereotypes. I don't see it as racial by any means, but it does sound offensive in that it pigeon holes both teams into perceived socioeconomic groups.

For Griffin, the article states that football is the only thing these Griffin students have. For WhiteWater students, it says that football is only a supplement to their education and makes mention of them wearing designer clothes and drinking fresh iced lattes.

The problem is, is that the article attacks the teens it tries to praise. Young men who all are playing their hearts out and are passionate about their sport.

Sadly, from what I've heard this is site has tons of responses and has had more than 6,000 views. The good thing that comes out of this is that it has people talking, and perhaps in the future, the Griffin Daily News can be more sensitive in its approach to put together a compelling column.