'Rev. Al Sharpton Slams Post,' For 'Racist' Column About Plaxico Burress!!!!!!!

by **J The Kidd** Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:01 pm

'To make such a blatant racist statement about an African-American football player with a neck injury is completely unacceptable,' Sharpton says about column in the Post.

An outraged Rev. Al Sharpton is calling for the New York Post to take immediate action to address an Oct. 27 column that he calls "blatant racism" and a "media lynching."

Post columnist Steve Serby led his column Monday morning with "Good for Tom Coughlin. Good for Coughlin for tightening the noose around Plaxico Burress."

Burress has been fined and benched many times by the Giants this season for infractions including tardiness and missing multiple practices.

The wide receiver skipped a treatment on Saturday for his ailing neck, and was benched during the first quarter of the Giants win in Pittsburgh Sunday.

In criticizing Burress, Serby used a racially loaded and offensive term, Sharpton tells us. "To make such a blatant racist statement about an African-American football player with a neck injury is completely unacceptable," Sharpton says. "Clearly, the racial connotation is very disturbing ... This is the verbal reflection of a hanging noose."

Sharpton said that if the Post does not acknowledge that the column was offensive, he will further highlight the issue - but he did not specify what steps he would take. "They have to act swiftly," Sharpton says. "If we don't see action, I will lay out exactly what that is (he will do) ... we would like to talk to someone there about whether it was the writer or editor who let this in."

Sharpton says that he is willing to consider that Serby did not intend to make a racially loaded statement. But the impact of the columnist's words troubles Sharpton regardless of the intent. "Intent certainly makes a difference," Sharpton says. "As long as they understand the effect."

Sharpton says that he has received numerous calls and emails from people who are angry about Serby's column. He is hoping that the Post will explain their thinking behind the loaded lead.

"I'm asking for them to take action and explain this," he says. "A lot of people are offended, and a lot of people were outraged by it. The ball is in their court now."

Calls to Burress' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, were not immediately returned, nor were calls to Serby.