When a 'Joke' Is Really Not Funny
USC linebacker Clay Matthews, the only All-Academic Pac-10 player on this year's Trojan football team, may have learned a real lesson in what's funny and what's not, and how perceptions of racism can be projected when an "inside joke'' goes public.
In an extensive story in Thursday's Daily Trojan, it was revealed that as a response to a black teammate's joking reference to a group of white USC linebackers as the "white nation,'' Matthews created a group called just that: "White Nation.''
Several other Trojans joined him in what was supposed to be an "inside joke.''
It was, until the group was posted on Facebook with over-the-top racist stereotypes and then an offensive stick-figure cartoon of a black child in handcuffs that was added, with the caption: "Arrest black babies before they become criminals.''
Needless to say, someone noticed, the Daily Trojan reported, saying USC freshman psychology major Stefanie Gopaul was appalled and started a competing Facebook group that attracted as many as 90 members called "Clay Matthews expresses anti-black sentiments.''
All this happened in mid-February before Matthews attempted to close it down and pulled out of the group, according to the Daily Trojan.
"We talked to him when we became aware of this,'' USC Sports Information Director Tim Tessalone said. "He told us that he immediately went online to explain it and apologize, and to say this is not indicative of his or the team's attitude. We talked to him about how something done without serious intent could be perceived in a negative light and he agreed, he felt badly for his poor judgement and he quickly moved to correct it."
Tessalone said there would be no penalties involved for Matthews or any other USC players involved.
Unless you count the embarrassment involved as the story, and the hundreds of comments posted on the Internet Thursday with the story as the "joke'' was on Matthews' USC group.
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