Blacks Finally Coming Around on Matty Ice

The NY Times ran a thrilling piece on Monday about the relationship between Atlanta Falcon's QB Matt Ryan and the largely black Falcon fanbase. There is plenty to read and if you are a Ryan or BC fan perhaps you'll want to dedicate the time. You can find it all here. Other wise, enjoy these choice cuts:

“We miss Vick,” said Timothy Chambers, a tailgater before the Nov. 16 home game against the Denver Broncos, shouting over the sounds of the Atlanta hip-hop group Goodie Mob blasting from parking-lot speakers.

“It’s not the same as it was.” Chambers said his circle of season-ticket holder friends contracted from about 30 to 18 last season, partly explaining their diminished enthusiasm on Vick’s absence. “There’s more white people in the crowd now. When Vick was in there, it was almost totally black,”

Yes, it's not the same as it was. You now have a quarterback with skill. A quarterback that can read defenses and can deliver the ball on target more than 15% of the time. Black, white, green or yellow what difference does it make. I get the sense of identity thing but how can skin color take precedence over talent. Maybe it's a bit ironic for me to be saying anything given New England's embrace for white athletes but I sure as shit would much rather have a leader who can win games in there over some guy that shares my ethnicity.

I'm pretty sure all the blacks in Cleveland aren't losing sleep over the chance of Romeo Crenel being replaced. No, I bet they are happy as cows in shit over the possibility that Bill Cowher could come save the day.

And all this completely ignores the fact that everything good Ronny Mexico did, professionally or personally, was lost when the dog cruelty came to light. Showing up a year and a half later wearing #7 jerseys is akin to Bills fans wearing OJ Simpson jerseys, Carolina fans wearing Rae Carruth gear or Ravens fans wearing Ray Lewis....never mind. You get the point.

I guess it is nice to know a sure fire rookie of the year performance has turned some of the Atlanta fan base. Maybe hope is not lost yet.

After an impressive play by Ryan at a recent game , an African-American fan seated near her belted out the highest form of praise: “Go, Vanilla Vick!”

Or maybe it is.

(h/t: Deadspin)