Rob Parker Has To Go.

Robert Parker is someone who I occasionally see on ESPN and he always seems to be below ESPN standards. After all, this is the same guy that reported that then Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins had gotten into a fight with fellow MSU athletes, even though Cousins was at home with his parents the whole night.

Cousins is now the backup QB for the Washington Redskins. Well, Mr. Parker went on ESPN's FIRST TAKE on Wednesday and went after the Redskins' starting QB Robert Griffin III. Mr. Parker question Mr. Griffin's blackness because of the race of his fiancé and a rumored political allegiance. You can watch his stupidity here:



I went to his Twitter timeline to see if he would back away or apologize for his comments. He did not. If anything. He went on to defend himself and posture towards those attacking him.

Mr. Parker was wrong by the way. He was not on First Take the next day. He ended up being indefinitely suspended by ESPN. I was so disgusted by not only his unbelievable inappropriate, prejudiced and thoughtless commentary but also his arrogance that I wrote the following to ESPN.

After thoughtful consideration I am writing to support the firing of Rob Parker. Mr. Parker's comments were thoughtless and hurtful. To question someone's identity and connection to their cultural or racial heritage by who they date, their political affiliation, speech or wear their hear is beneath the journalism I have come to expect from ESPN and other ABC properties. Even Stephen A Smith recognized this during the segment. Mr. Parker's defensiveness on Twitter further cemented my view.

I've come to realize that if you want to see change you have to do something about it. You have to be willing to call people out or ask that they be held accountable. It's not enough to stew and complain to like-minded people around you. Whether it's writing an email to ESPN, voting, volunteering, working on a campaign or anything else. Action begets action and that is the way towards change.