Black Athletes Elated Over Obama Victory
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When it comes to discussing any social or political issue, Tiger Woods usually doesn’t allow a single syllable to drip out of his mouth. He’s harder to crack than a bank safe. But after the election of Barack Obama, the world’s number one golfer gushed with elation with the first non-white person to occupy the Oval Office.
“I think it’s absolutely incredible,” Woods told CNBC. “He represents America. He’s multiracial. I was hoping it would happen in my lifetime. My father was hoping it would happen in his lifetime, but he didn’t get to see it. I’m lucky enough to have seen a person of color in the White House.”
When asked by the cable news outlet how his father Earl would have reacted to Obama’s election as the 44th President of the United States, Woods didn’t hesitate. “He would have cried. Absolutely. No doubt about it.”
Venus and Serena Williams are barely one generation removed from the sweltering heat of a segregated South where their father, Richard, could not use certain bathrooms or patronize lunch counters. Obama’s election makes it even more astounding.
“It’s interesting because.my dad grew up in Louisiana, a place where he was called ‘boy’ and shown no respect, where he couldn’t say anything,” says Venus. “I’m very close to what things were like in the past . I think it’s amazing that America has the opportunity to have someone who is a minority or mixed race or whatever you want to call it. Hopefully, it will just give more people opportunities, and more people will work hard and say, ‘yeah, I can be my best, too, no matter what my background is.'”
Serena concurs. “It’s just a great time to be black right now in the United States,” she says. “I got choked up. I was just thinking about everything- Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and all the pioneers . Althea Gibson, why I’m playing tennis today. All of these people. Arthur Ashe, who led the way for us . it’s amazing. Everyone’s proud.”
Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, hoped Obama’s victory would have far-reaching effects. “My wife was talking to my 7-year-old daughter, and she was asking a lot of questions about what electoral votes are and how they work and that sort of thing. I think it could bring a lot of African-Americans into the process that maybe weren’t in it before.”
Donovan McNabb, the 31-year-old quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, admitted this is the first time he even bothered to vote, much less get involved in a political campaign. “Anything is possible. Anything is possible,” McNabb said proudly. “We’ve made big strides. Here’s an individual who is intelligent, smart and has a game plan (for) change. I’m truly excited for him. I had a chance to meet him in 2005, and we had a chance to talk … (he’s) just a wonderful individual. I’m excited for him, the city of Chicago and just the world. I think everyone will be excited about what he expects to do and what he’s going to get done.” ” –terry shropshire
