"Racist?" Ron Atkinson Recordings.
Is Ron Atkinson racist?
Listen to the Ron Atkinson Tapes and decide for yourselves. (the recordings are hazy but certainly audible)
Quote : "in some schools Desailly would be called a lazy fucking nigger" (thats what I am pretty sure I heard)
Gamblog View : Big Ron is from the old school, a bygone generation where blacks were perceived as a threat, thick, lazy and a lower form of humanity by many sections of the white population.
Actually Atkinson clearly bumped that mentality and signed black players to play for him when many many football managers would not.
I heard Carlton Palmer (a black player signed by Ron) vehemently defend Rob Atkinson stating Ron was "not an inherrant racist" and also mentioned "friends poking fun at each other using racist wording was commonplace when he were a player." Problem was this was in public and was broadcasted, even if he had removed his microphone.
I do not think Big Ron thinks whites are superior to blacks due to their skin colour but he is definately a dinosaur who needs to brush up on his vocabulary. That said black people in general have heard it all before and will not forgive him. Some may but in general he will always be viewed as a racist from now on by the majority.
A sad affair all round.
Source of the recordings Fair Casinos
