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In February for Black History Month, USA TODAY Sports is publishing the series “29 Black Stories in 29 Days.” We examine the issues, challenges and opportunities Black athletes and sports officials continue to face after the nation’s reckoning on race following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. This is the fourth installment of the series.
The Super Bowl officially kicks off this week with press conferences, cliched quotes and Taylor Swift watch. There’s one thing you won’t see: Former NFL Network reporter Jim Trotter asking Roger Goodell questions.
For years, Trotter was one of the few journalists who when attending Goodell’s Super Bowl press conferences asked the tough questions about the league and race. Trotter was always making good trouble as it’s never easy being the Black guy asking the questions about race. If you ask, you’re aLwySS taAlKinnG aBOuT rAce. If you don’t, in some ways, you become part of the problem.
Trotter always understood this, and the dangerous road it put him on, but Trotter didn’t care. He’d ask Goodell why the NFL Network’s mostly white management didn’t reflect a league that was majority-players of color. This was always immensely brave because Goodell was essentially his boss.
This week, besides no Trotter, something else will be different about Goodell’s Super Bowl press conference. He’s having it on Monday when normally it’s later in the week. It’s also invite-only.
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An NFL spokesman said in an email to USA TODAY Sports that starting the week on Monday with the commissioner rather than midweek, or at the end of the week, enables the media to focus on the players, the two teams and the events surrounding the Super Bowl.
That could be true but it doesn’t seem believable. It seems more likely that Goodell is limiting the number of journalists who can ask him tough questions. Part of this, I believe, is the Trotter Effect.
But this moment is less about Goodell and more about the heroism of Trotter. He eventually sued the NFL for discrimination and Trotter said in a text message that lawsuit is continuing.
What exactly is that fight? In many ways, it’s not just about the NFL, but the larger issue of diversifying the workforce, and allowing employees to express concerns about that diversification (or lack of it) without repercussions.
Last year, Trotter, as he’d done before, asked the commissioner about the absence of Black senior managers in the NFL Media newsroom and on the news desk.
“I’m not in charge of the newsroom,” Goodell said. “As you point out, this is the same question you asked last year.”
Goodell added that the NFL had reviewed many of its policies after Trotter had previously inquired about the same issue. Goodell said he was comfortable with the progress the NFL has made.
Trotter’s lawsuit says after publicly challenging Goodell, a direct supervisor of Trotter’s asked one of his colleagues: “Why does Jim keep bringing this up?”
The answer (spoiler alert) is because nothing changed.
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In March, the lawsuit also says, another executive asked Trotter if he was “in alignment” with the NFL. Trotter’s response, according to the complaint, is he was “not in alignment with a newsroom that does not have Black representation in decision-making positions.”
A few weeks later, his agent was told Trotter’s contract wasn’t being renewed.
The NFL has denied Trotter’s allegations saying in a statement: “We share Jim Trotter’s passion for quality journalism created in and supported by a diverse and inclusive environment. We take his concerns seriously but strongly dispute his specific allegations, particularly those made against his dedicated colleagues at NFL Media. Mr. Trotter’s departure from NFL Media was one of many difficult decisions − similar to decisions recently made by many other media organizations − to address a challenging economy and a changing media environment. Jim was one of many employees who were unfortunately affected by these business decisions.
“We appreciate Jim’s five years of service at NFL Media and wish him much success in his new role. The NFL has made significant strides in improving diversity and inclusion and, while we acknowledge there is always more work to be done, we are committed to continuing that progress.”
Sports is the leading edge in the fight against racism. Read 29 Black Stories in 29 Days.
Said Trotter in a recent interview: “People think I have animosity toward the NFL. I do not. I don’t at all. All I’m asking the NFL to do is to be what it says it is. And, as journalists, isn’t that our job? To hold the people in power accountable. To make sure that their actions reflect their words.
“So, for me, as I’ve said to Roger Goodell and others, diversity is good business, particularly in a league where your player population is 60 to 70 percent Black. It is also good business to have people who have shared these players as cultural backgrounds, their life experiences and whatnot at the table to help formulate a plan for how they are covered.”
How long will Trotter be able to keep fighting the NFL? The league likes to grind down its opponents and maybe that will happen to Trotter. Maybe his case will be dismissed. For now, for right now, the fight continues.
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