Check out this new B-Hop interview from ESPN

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/7320452/boxing-wbc-champ-bernard-hopkins-jail-stint-perception-black-athletes One person who isn't afraid to be politically incorrect is Floyd Mayweather. How do you think his image impacts how black athletes are perceived? I have a problem with it. What do you have a problem with? The perception and the stereotype of how they view and judge us as athletes is a blueprint and a script from what Mayweather shows them all the time. You don't see Steve Jobs -- God rest his soul -- talking with a stack of money on the phone. He never showed his wealth because his wealth was who he was, not what he had. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but it sounds like you're calling Floyd Mayweather a modern-day minstrel. No. I'm calling him a guy who's not conscious of the image he portrays to promote fights and the image he portrays to show who he is. But he happens to be the guy people are looking at in boxing as the man, other than Pacquiao. He has the power like Jim Brown had in his era. He has the power like the great Ray Leonard had. He has the power like Ali had, when he said, "Ain't no Vietcong ever called me n--." Everybody doesn't get this opportunity. I don't think Mayweather is a bad person, but his message is misleading.

Comments (20)

_original_

Aside from the legal issues, money burning, money flaunting, you guys have to remember that a lot of black people (casual boxing fans not true boxing fans) started to dislike Floyd when he called a his dad a faggot and a nobody. After that the hate towards Floyd kind of multiplied a bit. I remember on this board that some of Pacquiao fans rode that bandwagon for a bit. lol how did you come up with these assumptions? I mean what kind of research did you do to figure stuff like this out? You're a good poster (alt?) Heisenberg, but this post was just pure comedy.

14y ago

Pocket_Dogs

I believe some white people use big celebrity names (who happen to black) to tactically vent out their closet-racism; refer to your Kanye Wests, Lebron James, Floyd Mayweathers of the world.I could understand Kanye West and Floyd getting some hate from the white community but LeBron's was different. His was all about betrayal while West's and Floyd's were all about ego and their flashy lifestyles. Look at Pujols yesterday, he's almost getting the same stamp that LeBron did.

14y ago

tredh

Deon Sanders had a fabulous career and was liked for the most part and still is doing well today. Of course, when he did things like have MC Hammer on the sidelines during games and stuff like that it irritated people. But it's the huge ego thing though, I just think a lot of people are turned off by it in general. You never heard anyone hate Walter Payton or some guy like that, who was perceived to be a "good guy" who everyone seemed to love. Sticking with the bears, lots of people absolutely hated Jim McMahon because of his ego. You right about that with Jim McMahon. Think about it though Walter Payton never publicly rocked the boat or spoke out about any issues. I just can't get mad at a grown man for the opinion he has of HIMSELF. I can for sure disagree with it but I can't be mad at him for it.

14y ago

IMDAZED

That goes for black people too No one said it didn't. But that's another conversation.

14y ago

Pocket_Dogs

14y ago

_original_

Always a great read when it's an interview with Hopkins, one of the most articulate guys in boxing today. I'm curious to see who he's fighting on March, and why did he not mention Dawson as a possible opponent. I think they have unfinished business, although I know many would not be so interested. Now regarding the Floyd comments, talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I think B-Hop is a little bitter that Floyd plays the villainous role better than himself and was able to maximize his profit by an image in ways Hopkins was never able to do. Floyd is as big as he is because he plays the bad guy and does these controversial things, it's a smart recipe for millions. He's been doing it since the Gatti fight and he saw how much playing the villain and appealing to the hip hop culture makes him a bigger attraction, he wouldn't have half the money he has had he not done this. However, I do believe race plays a part in all of this, let's not act blind like racism doesn't exist anymore. I believe some white people use big celebrity names (who happen to black) to tactically vent out their closet-racism; refer to your Kanye Wests, Lebron James, Floyd Mayweathers of the world.

14y ago

Forza

You'd be surprised to know that not everyone is color-blind. You mentioned the passionate hate people have for Floyd on these boards. I'm assuming you ignored the countless racists comments that accompanied it? That goes for black people too

14y ago

IMDAZED

I'm well aware this country still has a lot of ignorant racists, but I don't think that is the majority or why the media slams him, etc. If it was the majority other black athletes who are loved by america wouldn't be loved obviously. Some of what you're saying is true though, I don't disagree with that entirely, I just personally think the persona he creates is the main factor of why people hate him. Again, when did the media ever not crucify him? When was he ever liked? That's been the one constant, regardless of how he's behaved. It really doesn't matter.

14y ago

tredh

All rich and wealthy people flash they money. Its just some people flash they money and tell you about at the sametime. There is no difference in Bill Gates driving a Bentley and PBF driving one. The cost is the same its just Bill Gates is not gonna tell you what he paid for it. I just can't dislike a man for flashing what he got and saying nan nanny boo boo look what I got that you don't. All I think if its something I want is that I need to get my weight up!

14y ago

IronDanHamza

Mayweather is nearly as bad as Ray Robinson was. I wish he'd trash talk more, not less. His last 3 build-ups have been boring compared to the Hatton and Oscar build ups.

14y ago

tredh

Of course there are racists and subconscious racists out there, but it's not nearly the same as it was in the Jim Brown era. TO is not a good example at all, everyone talked about how he was a bad teammate, he was an emotionally unstable guy and a diva. Well Deion Sanders is a better example and nobody ever said he was a bad teammate.

14y ago

IMDAZED

No it's because he's black! ::reports you for racism:: You'd be surprised to know that not everyone is color-blind. You mentioned the passionate hate people have for Floyd on these boards. I'm assuming you ignored the countless racists comments that accompanied it?

14y ago

IMDAZED

14y ago

hitmanhatton

Ey Bernard quit yappin

14y ago

tredh

oh come on. So throwing money everywhere, burning $100 bills, talking like a fool at times in interviews, flaunting his money 24/7, his personality, his insanely huge ego, none of that has to do with why people don't like him, seriously? That is a reason why some people hate him but some hate him because he is black and does that. Tommy Morrison even though he was never as big as PBF is now was brash, a trash talker and flamboyant yet he was never hated IMO. T.O. didn't flash his money but talked all the sh!t in the world and has a ego and he is hated. So its more to it than just money and ego.

14y ago

THE_REED

14y ago

Forza

oh come on. So throwing money everywhere, burning $100 bills, talking like a fool at times in interviews, flaunting his money 24/7, his personality, his insanely huge ego, none of that has to do with why people don't like him, seriously? It's a persona, floyd "money" mayweather. if people can't see that then that's their fault for being retarded

14y ago

Forza

floyd is a better role model than bhop

14y ago

IMDAZED

The idea that Mayweather is hated because of the way he behaves is very, very narrow. Floyd Mayweather was hated long before that--his behavior is just the excuse that's used now. He's been hated ever since he called a long-term offer from HBO a "slave contract." From that point on, he's had a huge target on his back. And what had he done so bad up to that point to deserve that? Trash talk his opponents? The media said he went too low when he openly mentioned Corrales (RIP) beating his wife while giving the guy who committed the act a pass. How twisted is that? It's no wonder he kept calling out the media for constantly bringing up his personal life while ignoring Arturo Gatti's (RIP). The dislike for Mayweather stems from the same sort of dislike that's dished out to any Black athlete who doesn't keep his lips sealed and play his position. That's just what it is and I agree with Hops that, with that said, Floyd should use his stature positively to speak to the audience that relates to him. The majority of the rest aren't going to like him any way.

14y ago

tredh

I disagree I think brown was despised for his social consciousness whereas floyd is despised for his ego, money, lifestyle, etc. Jim Brown was socially conscious and everything you named about PBF. Did you ever see that Jim Brown special I think HBO did? It was a former football player that was friends with Jim Brown and he said they would always go out and party and that if a dude walked in there with his girl, the chick left with either him or Jim Brown. It also talked about him fvcking all the big white actresses at the time. The kicker was there was this model chick at Jim Brown house and the rumor was that when the police came and knocked on the door Jim Brown threw the model off his balcony cause he didn't want the racist cops to catch him with her. Jim Brown says he didn't throw her off the balcony she jumped cause she didn't want him to get in trouble. On that special the model chick says everything that would lead you to believe that he threw her off the balcony except she never says directly that he threw her off the balcony. No matter what people say white america hates a socially conscious, wealthy, strong, flamboyant black man.

14y ago