Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who is currently an analyst for Fox Sports, has responded to some pointed words from ESPN analyst Ryan Clark about Griffin’s marriage.
Clark mentioned Griffin’s marriage after Griffin shared some thoughts on an on-court altercation between WNBA stars Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.
“When RG3 jumps onto the hate train or the angry train, it now follows what we saw from Keith Olbermann, what we saw from Dave Portnoy, as they poured onto Angel Reese to make her the villain, and Caitlin Clark heroic or hero story,” Clark said, according to Awful Announcing.
“The one thing we know about RG3 is he’s not having conversations at his home about what Black women have to endure in this country. About what young Black women and athletes like Angel Reese have had to deal with being on the opposite side of Caitlin Clark’s rise and ascension into stardom.
“If you’re RG3, when is the last time within your household you’ve had a conversation about what [Angel Reese is] dealing with?” Clark continued. “You haven’t been able to do that because in both of your marriages, you’ve been married to white women.”
Griffin III responded in a big way on Monday.
“There’s a line you don’t cross in life and Ryan Clark sprinted past it. Ryan Clark didn’t like my take on Angel Reese hating Caitlin Clark. That’s fine. Disagreement is part of the game. But instead of debating my point, he personally attacked me and my family. That shows how low of person he is.
“I gave a sports opinion: I said Angel Reese hates Caitlin Clark, based on repeated, visible actions on the court and in press conferences. I backed it up with five separate examples from the game of basketball because that’s what I do. I analyze sports. I stay in the arena. Just because Angel Reese is Black doesn’t mean that her game and actions can not be critiqued.
“A Black man or woman is not restricted from giving a sports opinion on another Black man or woman just because you don’t like it. Everyone can give their opinion on everyone no matter what color they are.
“We’ve got to be better in this space. Debate the game. Don’t play with people’s families. Because if you need to cross that line and attack the person and their family instead of the point just to win an argument, then you already lost.
“Ryan Clark said I don’t understand the struggles of Black women because I’m married to a white woman. That’s wrong and way out of bounds. He suggested I don’t value my wife as the woman I love, protect and raise a family with but only value her because of the color of her skin. That’s wrong and way out of bounds. He implied that he, a man who has never sat at our dinner table, values my wife and knows my marriage better than I do. That’s wrong and way out of bounds.
“He dismissed my Blackness because I have a different opinion about Angel Reese than he does. That’s wrong and way out of bounds. He claimed that I’m not having conversations about the struggles of Black women in my own home because my wife is white. That’s wrong and way out of bounds. We also raise Black daughters together and don’t teach them to hate people or disqualify their opinions based on the color of their skin.
“He claimed that I want to appeal to a certain audience. The only audience I’m focused on is the audience of one, God. I support all people, not some people “My support is not based on the color of someone’s skin, but the content of their character. My sports opinions are not based on the color of someone’s skin, but from what I see and my experience as a player and analyst.
“Let me be clear. It is wildly inappropriate, wrong and extremely low to weaponize and attack a person’s wife, marriage and their family because you disagree with a sports take. I didn’t make it personal with Angel Reese. I didn’t drag her family. I didn’t question her soul. I spoke about basketball.
“But Ryan? You crossed the line. You made it personal and some. There should be no space in Sports Media for personal attacks and wives and children are alway [sic] off limits. You attacked me and my family in a public forum on a level that shows how low of a person you are. Disagree with me all you want. Challenge my take. But keep my family and wife out of it. That’s a boundary that should always be respected. Ryan Clark personally attacking me and my family personally over a sports opinion is cowardly, spineless, and weak. Ryan Clark personally attacking me and my family personally over a sports opinion is a bad look for ESPN and for him as a man.”
Naturally, Clark fired back.
“Bruh you know what it is with me and you! I saved you the entire season on MNF. I urged people to let you be you. No matter how corny, how bad a teammate you were I had your back. What did you do? Invite someone on your show you know I don’t fool with to ask questions about me, and then hit me weeks later to tell me you’re gonna challenge one of my takes! You’re a phony bro. One of the worst teammates I ever had both on the field and in TV. You gotta do what you gotta do.
“I didn’t attack your wife. I spoke on what you do on social media and Tv. Like I said. I met your wife and she seemed like a lovely lady that was worth more than the color of her skin! You be good bruh.”
It seems like there’s still a lot to this story.
