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Oliver Deas
Professor Alicia Bolton
English 101
July 30, 2014
The N Word In Sports
For as long as I can remember, vulgar language has always been associated with sports.
The heat of the moment, the thrill of competition, and just pure excitement can all lead you into
having some choice words that probably arent suitable for kids. Case and point, the use of the
N word. Racism is never okay and for it to be used in sports is downright degrading. As an
African American myself, I am ashamed and embarrassed for my race when the N word is
used and abused in professional sports because it is a misrepresentation of character and is
disrespectful to our ancestors. It can also be a sparkplug for a big racial explosion among players,
fans, and coaches everywhere. With that being said, the use of the N word should be
prohibited in sports because it is racial and has no place in sports.
The use of the N word in sports should be prohibited because it is a form of racism.
Most teams have players of just about all ethnicities. The use of the N word could cause team
morale to fall and create personal rifts between the players. This could also result in players not
playing as hard and the locker room could be separated by race. All of those things can cause
coaches to lose control of their teams and begin to get fed up with the players which could
potentially lead to them resigning from the team. Many oppose the term because it makes them
feel uncomfortable. Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat, believes that the N word is downright
disrespectful and should not be tolerated as well as other vulgar words. According to Charles K.
Ross Race and Sports: The Struggle for Equality On and Off the Field, African Americans
were showcased as key figures making football, baseball, basketball, and boxing internationally
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popular, though inequalities still exist today. Ross also makes reference to African Americans
being oppressed until WW2. In my personal opinion, I honestly believe that the N word could
cause a brawl among athletes. Regardless of your upbringing, the N word should not be used
in sports as well as in everyday life. Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver, Riley Cooper, a
Caucasian male, was recorded dropping the N bomb which rattled the National Football
League. Most of his teammates were African American and some were not so happy with him
using the term. With Riley being a white guy and his explicit use of the N word, it is clear to
see why people all over where upset. My thing is this, why get mad at Riley Cooper for using the
term when we as African Americans use it damn near every day. I must admit that I fall guilty of
using the term simultaneously but I know for a fact that it is wrong. As I read A Complete
History of the Negro Leagues, words such as negro and porch monkey just gave me a certain
uneasiness knowing the racial path that the world has traveled. With that being said, I strongly
believe that the use of the N word is a form of racism that should not be used in sports as well
as everyday life.
Another reason that the N word should not be tolerated in sports is because it has no
place in the wonderful world of athletes. Sports are a form of entertainment that brings people
together but the use of the N word creates separation. Until April 15, 1947, when Jackie
Robinson was the first African American to part take in Major League Baseball, African
Americans were just the laughing stock of white America as explained in A Complete History of
the Negro Leagues. Things have changed tremendously since then. Black athletes have emerged
as heroes instead of villains but the use of the N word has still remained. The National Football
League are trying to crack down on the use of the N word by giving the offending team a 15
yard penalty. The only problem I see with that is if both teams are using the term excessively and
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the referees cant determine how to access the situation or the outcome of the referees giving the
wrong team the penalty, especially if it is a playoff game. I personally feel that harsher penalties
should be handed down when a player has abused the use of the N word. Fines should be
handed out as well as suspensions. I think that once those incidents occur, players will begin to
realize the effects of using such a derogative word. As stated earlier, the N word can bring a
team down. The most recent incident is that of the Los Angeles Clippers former owner, Donald
Sterling. Although, Mr. Sterling did not use the N word but made it very clear with his
displeasure of his girlfriend hanging with African Americans. I would assume this was not the
first time that Mr. Sterling has spoken about blacks to his girlfriend for her to record their
conversation. The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the NBAs premier teams and only have 2 or
3 Caucasian players with about 12 African American players. The Clippers also have a black
coaching staff. After the recordings were broadcasted, the commissioner of the National
Basketball Association relieved Donald Sterling of his ownership of the Clippers for his
unprofessionalism and lack of respect for African Americans. Mr. Sterling is currently in an
ongoing court case against the NBA, the commissioner: Adam Silva, his wife, and the Clippers
organization. Mr. Sterlings actions has created a big diversion amongst his former team. Head
Coach, Doc Rivers, says that if Donald Sterling still has anything to do with the Clippers after
the court case read its final verdict, then he will resign as head coach. Different players from
different teams say they will boycott if Mr. Sterling still has anything to do with the NBA.
Players from the Clippers have even stated that they do not and will not play if Donald Sterling
regains ownership of the team. Mr. Sterlings remarks have affected the sports world negatively.
Now, every black player could be thinking to themselves, what if my owner or head coach feels
the same way that Donald Sterling does. The movie, Remember the Titans, is also another
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prime example of racism not belonging in sports. Denzel Washington became head coach of a
high school football team at a time where blacks and whites just did not blend. Denzel used the
game of football to teach the players that they can work together despite of what their ethnicity
was. The N word derived from a slave term. Hip hop culture has persuaded its listeners that the
N word is not all bad and that is primarily used as a way that young black America addresses
each other in a friendly way. On most occasions, sporting events typically play the latest and
most crowd demanding songs which usually have the N word in its original lyrics. Although
the song may be edited, fans and athletes still sing the original words. Unfortunately, kids
makeup a great deal of the audience at sporting events and are at the midst of the mayhem. They
look at professional athletes as heroes and want to repeat their every move. So if a kid is at a
basketball game and hears Lebron James or Kobe Bryant using the N word, theyre going to
assume that it is okay for them to do likewise. It also leads them to believe that that they can use
the term regardless of their race. Most people who use the N word have the slightest idea on
the effect it has on people. Sports entertainment should absolutely be one of the last places that
the N word should be used and I know for a fact should not be tolerated.
However, many players feel that the use of the N word is not as big of a deal as it is
being made to be. They simply feel that the N word is a way of life and that it isnt a racial
slur. As reported by Peter King of SI.com, Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks believes
that the N word can be used but its all about how you use it. He believes if you say it with the
er at the end then you are saying it racially, but if you use the term with an a at the end then
it is not racial. Sherman also states that he hears the N word being thrown around on almost
every series let alone every play Many players feel the same as Sherman. A lot of African
Americans use the term as slang to say my friend or my brother but that gives no justification for
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its use. Most African Americans grow up in neighborhoods where the N word is used every
hour of everyday which makes them believe that it is morally right to use the N word. Even the
sports world has collided with the music world which ultimately contributes to the use of the N
word. In those cases, the N word is not seen as a form of racism but as just a regular word that
makes the music great and makes the gaming experience that more exciting. Freedom of speech
also comes into play. Sports such as football and hockey are more violent than basketball or golf
so I can understand a little bit of extremities with the wordplay. Therefore, the use of the N
word in sports is not always seen as racial but just another way of saying friend and its
sometimes just seen as just another lyric to a great song.
In conclusion, the use of the N word should be eliminated from sports because it is
extremely racial and it simply doesnt belong in the wonderful world of sports. No matter the
sport, almost every team has players of multiple ethnic backgrounds which can create big
problems for teammates, coaches, and the front offices when the N word comes into play.
Although the N word is not always used as a racial slur, it does not escape the magnitude of
the word and the history behind it. So to keep a long story short, lets just eliminate the N word
not only from sports but from our everyday lives because I know for a fact that I would not be
able to handle someone of another race walking up to me and saying whats up my N word.






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Works Cited
Ribowsky, Mark. A Complete History of the Negro Leagues 1884 to 1955. Carol Publishing
Group. Print.
King Peter. Monday Morning Quarterback. Sports Illustrated.com Internet Website Charles
Ross K. Charles. Race and Sports: The Struggle For Equality On and Off The Field. E book.
Print.