It's Just a Game: NFL fans condemned after racial slurs towards Alexander Mattison
This is game. No matter how much you love it and how much of your identity goes into it, this is just a game. Unfortunately some just can't handle that and it leads to disgraceful instances of racism and just vile hatred from fans to players. That happened to Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison […]
This is game. No matter how much you love it and how much of your identity goes into it, this is just a game. Unfortunately some just can't handle that and it leads to disgraceful instances of racism and just vile hatred from fans to players.
That happened to Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison on Thursday after the Vikings second straight loss. Mattison has been with the Vikings for a while now, but he's just now getting his opportunity to be a starter. He had a tough game that saw him run for 28 yards and lose a fumble at a crucial period in the game.
Look, I get it. I'm a football fan too. It sucks when your team loses or when a player has a bad game. It's important to have some empathy and realize that this person is a human being just like you. I'm sure Mattison felt upset about his game and I'm sure he wants to make sure he does better next time.
He deserves criticism for his play. He'll probably agree with that. What he doesn't deserve is fans going into his inbox on his social media pages and throwing some of the most disgusting language his way. Nobody deserves this
I just can't fathom the thought process here form these fans. You're upset about your team losing? you'll see a lot of football games in your life. This wasn't the most important one. You're upset about fantasy team? You'll play again next week. You lost nothing of any actual value here and your response was to go hurt someone that you don't even know? And not just hurt them, hurt them deeply with racism and telling them commit suicide? What the hell are we doing here?
I know that there's this dumb idea that NFL players make millions of dollars, so they therefor should be exempt from feelings, mental health and your common decency towards them. But that just could not be farther from the truth. You can make all the money in the world and it doesn't change the fact that you're a human being and you feel the same pain that anyone else can feel.
Have some empathy people. What if it were you? What if it were your son or daughter out there? What if it was any family member or friend? Try your hardest to just sit and think about how that would make you feel. Not how you portray your feelings in front of everyone else. I'm talking about how it would make you feel when you're alone and you have nothing to do but feel your feelings.
Now take that and imagine you transferring that pain and that sorrow onto someone you don't even know because they dropped a football in one of the thousand football games you'll watch in your life. Does it feel worth it? It's not. Nothing is.
the NFL and Vikings have put out statements on this and I sincerely hope they'll never have to again. Sadly I know that probably won't come true.
Featured image by Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
