Tattoo "controversy" much ado about nothing - Anderson Independent Mail
When I was a kid, I thought tattoos were merely those things retired Navy men had on their arms — faded blue renderings of anchors or curvy cartoon females.
Now it seems like more people than not sport tats, especially in the sports world.
And ink can be a powerful thing.
It was tattoos that ultimately got a program (Ohio State) in trouble with the NCAA and ousted a coach (Jim Tressel). Now body art has become a controversy in our neck of the NFL woods.
During a recent interview with Charlie Rose, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson described his pre-NFL Draft meeting with quarterback Cam Newton.
"He was dressed perfectly," Richardson told Rose. "I said, 'Do you have any tattoos.' He said, 'No sir, I don't have any.' I said, 'Do you have any piercings?' He said, 'No sir.' I said, 'We want to keep it that way.'"
The belated, knee-jerk reaction by some pundits has been to paint Richardson as, at best, out of touch and, at worst, having a plantation owner mentality. And considering Richardson has a history of saying some things that make you shake your head, it's no surprise that this tempest in a teapot is gaining traction.
Here's the deal. Richardson is out of touch, but the Carolina Panthers are a company, Richardson runs the company and many companies have dress codes and rules concerning personal appearance.
If I wore a mankini to work on Monday, I'm pretty sure HR and corporate would have a rule in place by Tuesday saying that I cannot wear mankinis to work anymore. It wouldn't be just a suggestion, but grounds for dismissal.
In the case of Richardson, he's an old school guy. Back in his playing days athletes were square-jawed and short-haired.
He saw that Newton was clean cut and realized the kid has broad marketing appeal just as he is.
But don't think for a minute Richardson would fire Newton if the QB showed up to practice with a tattoo of Brainy Smurf on his arm.
Richardson has never shied away from employing tattooed players before.
Steve Smith is inked up pretty good. And Jeremy Shockey looks like Ray Bradbury's "Illustrated Man." I don't recall Richardson shunning either player.
And let's not forget that Cam Newton is making more than $22 million over four years. That's money's guaranteed, whether Newton takes Richardson's advice to remain tattoo-free or not.
Richardson is 75 years old. He's seen it all and done it all, and I doubt he spends an inordinate amount of time worrying about tattoos. He just doesn't like them and hopes his rookie quarterback decides against getting any.
That seems fair to me, just like a ban on mankinis is fair at my shop.
Disappointing, but fair.
27 Aug, 2011--
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