It’s 2021. In a time of absolute warriors like Simone Biles and Vice President Kamala Harris, we still have this. To my point, sports journalists like Maria Taylor are doing great, amazing, pioneer like things. Ever hear Doris Burke call & analyze a basketball game on ESPN? Ever see Erin Andrews on Fox. I would say their analysis and reporting is right on par and better than their make contemporaries.

These are the types of great things women associated with sports should be known for. They should be proud, so proud to be advancing in what was once such an ‘old boys club’ culture.

But, in the events of the last 72 hours, we have taken a step back, again.

For those that don’t know, over the weekend in a report by the Wall Street Journal, Las Vegas Raider Head Coach, Jon Gruden, it was discovered back in 2011 had written in emails racial slurs describing the head of The NFL Players Union, DeMaurice Smith. Gruden, it was further discovered in additional emails Gruden made Homophobic and other inappropriate comments about NFL Commissioner, Roger Goddell. Gruden went further again, and received topless photos of women of the Washington Football Team’s cheerleading squad with former team executive, Bruce Allen, who forced the women to do a topless photo shoot.

Forced, in the 21st Century, in an age of social media, where everything is available, these women were forced to do something so degrading out of fear of losing their jobs because, ‘he told me to.’

What the hell is wrong with these entitled, often white men? How could these guys making literally millions, think this was okay? Their moral sensors didn’t go off, and they took the extra steps of using those words and sending the photos? This wasn’t some stupid college fiasco gone wrong, these are instances of two middle aged men engaging in awful behavior on more than one occasion, doing so willingly, and then denying any culpability. Wow.

Now, Gruden, for his part has looked awful in this, as he should. He at first denied being racist, and said he didn’t remember the email. Sure, John.

I’m just going to say this, Gruden for his part, should be banned from the league, but he won’t be. He’ll go into hiding, resurface years from now, and be back, calling games or coaching.

A leader of anything, any entity,, a person with a moral compass, people in general should not do these things, ever, period.

When are people going to realize, this is not okay? Until they do, society, the NFL has a huge problem, that can’t and shouldn’t be swept under the rug. It’s sad and unfortunate that in these times we are still living in this lethargic reality, where everyone wants to do good and has the best of intentions, but nothing of substance is ever done

One half step forward and 5 steps back it would seem, what an awful indictment on sports and culture this is, yet again.

It begs the question, will this ever change, really change for the better? Up till now, I’ve seen change but not a lot for the better.