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Jai’den Smith
Variety Editor
The Bayou Barbie, otherwise known as Angel Reese, the forward for Louisiana State University women’s basketball team, is currently making headlines for their historic win in the NCAA’s Championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes and for calling out the double standard in NCAA basketball.
Unfortunately, the LSU Tigers did not get to celebrate their title for long before Reese was heavily criticized for her on the court trash talking, being called “classless” and “ghetto.” Many took offense to Reese gesturing towards her ring finger to Iowa’s point guard Caitlin Clark, insinuating that the LSU Tigers would win the championship and receive their rings.
Viewers were outraged, sports commentator Keith Olbermann even took to Twitter to call Reese “a f*cking idiot.” However, Clark did the infamous “you can’t see me” hand gesture twice in their game against Louisville, after defeating them and entering the Final Four. Why such selective outrage?
Clark’s enthusiasm for the game had little to no outrage, with many viewers complimenting Clark on her aggression and passion for the game. She was even complimented by John Cena himself, who retweeted the clip of her doing the gesture with the caption “Even if they could see you … they couldn’t guard you! Congrats on the historic performance and to Iowa’s women’s basketball for advancing to the Final Four.”
Reese is black. Clark is white. One can’t help but wonder why there was only outrage when Reese used the gesture vs when it was used twice by Clark. What’s so different when Reese does it? Is this an example of racial double standards?
During the post-game interview, Reese took time to address the hate she’d been receiving during her time playing with LSU.
“I don’t fit in the box that you all want me to be in. I’m too hood, I’m too ghetto. You told me that all year. But when other people do it, y’all don’t say nothing. So this is for the girls that look like me, that want to speak up on what they believe in. It’s unapologetically you. It was bigger than me tonight.”
Social media was in a frenzy after Reese’s comments. Her boldness, authority, and activism was inspirational and many took to social media to voice their support, such as quarterback Robert Lee Griffin III, former basketball player Shaquille O’ Neal, and sports journalist Holly Rowe.
Traditionally, winners of the NCAA’s Championship title are invited to the white house as an award for their hard work. Jill Biden, first lady and wife of president Joe Biden, was in attendance of LSU and Iowa’s game.
After LSUs Tigers defeated Iowa and won, first lady Jill Biden stated, “I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House, we always do. So, we hope LSU will come but, you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come too, because they played such a good game.”
Reese took to social media and responded to Biden’s invitation for both the winning and losing teams to visit the White House and said “A JOKE” and “WE NOT COMING. Period.”
Never has both the winning and losing team been invited to the White House and many felt this was disrespectful to LSU- not only as a team, but as a majority black team.
Vanessa Valdiva, press secretary of Jill Biden, wanted to address the uproar after Biden’s comments, saying, “We intended to applaud the historic game and all women’s athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.”
Clark declined the offer to go to the White House stating, “I don’t think runners-up usually go to the White House. I think LSU should enjoy that moment for them and congratulations, obviously, they deserve to go there. Maybe I could go to the white house on different terms though. That’s for LSU. That’s a pretty cool moment and they should enjoy every second of being a champion.”
Reese appeared on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast hosted by Brandon Marshall and Ashley Nicole Moss. The three had a discussion about LSU’s historic win and how Reese felt about First Lady Biden backtracking on her initial invitation of both teams to the white house.
“I don’t accept the apology because you said what you said. You can’t go back on certain things that you say,” said Reese. “They have that spotlight. We’ll go to the Obamas. Well go see Michelle. We’ll see Barack.”
The topic was even discussed on Skip & Shannons “UNDISPUTED” – a popular sports talk show hosted by Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless. Sharpe stated, “When have you ever invited losers to the White House Ms. Biden?!”
His co-host also weighed in.
“Jill Biden obviously meant well, and that’s the problem,” said Bayless. “To me, from my point of view, from this side of the table, this was a classic example of naive white racism. Unintentional, unwitting racism.”
It’s clear that the selective outrage towards Reese and lack thereof towards Clark, is a prime example of racism. Neither of these ladies should be attacked for showing aggression in the sport they love. Neither should be deemed “classless” or “ghetto” for being competitive, traits women often aren’t allowed to portray. And if the issue was truly against women showing aggression during games, Clark would be just as deserving of the backlash as Reese.
Reese and Clark are very accomplished athletes. Neither should be pitted against each other in the manner that they have, taking this basic portrayal of competitiveness between two passionate athletes and turning it into a race war.
This is not black vs. white issue and LSU’s win should not be expected to be shared with the defeated. They accomplished the very first NCAA’s Championship win for LSU’s women’s basketball team and Reese was named women’s NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Both accomplishments are being unfairly overshadowed by the controversy but the attention has brought record breaking views to women’s basketball, averaging 9.9 million views.
I hope in the future, black female athletes are able to display their love for their sports, without worrying about being labeled aggressive, ghetto, and classless.
Reese is a pioneer for young black female athletes. Not only is she a beast on the court, but she fights for what she believes in. She will continue to gain much support throughout her career and shine a light on what it means to be unapologetically you.
