Brandon Stokley Stops Brandon Marshall From Performing an Obama-Themed TD Celebration

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After Brandon Marshall scored the winning touchdown in Cleveland last night, he had a celebration planned that would have garnered a lot of attention. Two days after Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States, Marshall planned to pull a glove out of his pants after scoring a touchdown (see right).

Marshall said he wanted to provide a counterpoint to John Carlos and Tommie Smith's protest at the 1968 Olympics by raising a half-white, half-black glove into the air as a salute to racial harmony. It sounds more like a tribute to Jerry Seinfeld's feelings of how to achieve that state, though. Look to the Cookie!

Either way, teammate Brandon Stokley stopped him before he could follow through with it. It's not that Stokley is a depressed John McCain supporter, I've no idea of his political leanings, but because he didn't want the Broncos to suffer for Marshall's efforts. A pre-planned celebration means a penalty, and, with 75 seconds to play, a 15-yard boost to the Browns would not have been in Denver's favor. Given the NFL's penchant for fining anyone who smiles or otherwise shows emotion during games, Stokley likely saved Marshall a few bucks as well.

After the jump, Marshall talks about the plan after the game.

(H/T Shutdown Corner)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

11-07-2008 @ 9:24AM

Steve said...

It's too bad that the No Fun League works this way, but Stokley was absolutely right in stopping Marshall from getting what would have undoubtedly been a 15 yard penalty at a key point in the game. Roger Goodell needs to relax and let the players have a little bit of fun, and in this case make a nice statement that would have made for good television.

11-07-2008 @ 6:46PM

george said...

i would like to thank brandon marshall for voting for obama iam disabled. I know you probably make over 250,000 per year so you are going to give obama 57% of that for taxes to give to the poor like me so thank you very much you are going to spread the wealth.

11-07-2008 @ 9:29AM

Kevin said...

Brandon Stokely gotta(hands down) be the Team MVP if Denver makes the playoffs. Pretty Boy Quinn would had won that game if had Black Panther Marshall did his wannabe ocho cinco antic.

11-07-2008 @ 10:18AM

Ryan said...

I don't think it could of been further from an Ocho Cinco antic....

11-07-2008 @ 10:41AM

Brody said...

Black Panther Marshall? Ocho Cinco antic? I can understand it might have been difficult to read the post through your white hood, but what Marshall had planned was an attempt to bring attention to racial harmony. The original fist pump by Carlos and Smith was to bring some pride to black people - something that was sorely needed during the 60's. Marshall, however, was going to raise a fist with a half black, half white glove - signifying the great strides made in harmony between whites and blacks, and encouraging everyone to continue to do so.

It wasn't even close to a selfish or race-bating act. This is one of the few pre-planned celebrations that I can really get behind. Kudos to Marshall, but kudos to Stokley as well for considering the situation in the game.

11-07-2008 @ 11:06AM

Frank said...

Let's leave the subject of politics off the playing field and put it where it belongs in the trash. It doesn't matter what Marshall would have done to celebrate Obama's victory, the fact is, it was going to be a political statement albeit a good one. I'm not against athletes or anyone else speaking their minds or showing their political support, HOWEVER I don't want to see it during a game. Sports is sports and is not a political arena. I watch sports to enjoy the athletes do what they do best. If I want to watch political statements I'll tune into MSNBC or talk radio.

11-07-2008 @ 11:28AM

Hey Brody..so if Marshall went ahead and did his antics..would it be worth the 15 yard penalty and let ahead the Browns win?

11-07-2008 @ 12:18PM

Matt Snyder said...

Brody said "kudos to Stokley for considering the situation of the game." I think he made a great and objective post.

Also, +1000 to Alper for the phenomenal black and white cookie Seinfeld reference. Love that episode.

11-07-2008 @ 11:55AM

jc said...

Lets not be revisionist in our history. The black panthers were a racist group with ties to the communist party. But what an idiot Marshall was for willingly attempting to receive a 15 yard penalty when the game was still in reach. Good thing Stokely was there, too bad he wasn't there when Marshall broke the League's substance policy.

11-07-2008 @ 12:19PM

bm said...

JC please read a bit more and expand your mind. The black panthers were not a racist organization. They were a militant organization attempting to fend off the white racist policies that prevailed in the country. Anyone who fights for the rights of the indigent is labled a communist or a socialist. Go to the U.C. Santa Cruz secured document library and read Huey P. Newtons thesis. It is not racist.

11-07-2008 @ 12:37PM

ivanatlas said...

Brandon Stokely did the right thing when he stopped Brandon Marshall from making his ridiculous and inappropriate tribute to B. Hussein Obama. Republicans are sports fans also and Barack the Black Bolshevik is a radical, polarizing black racist. Obama has his useful idiots who will defend him, no matter what. Obama's victory was predominantly fueled by white guilt and black racism.

Obama is not qualified to be the president and it is a joke that he won the election. As a result of his election, we the American people will all suffer, including the useful idiots who supported him.

11-07-2008 @ 12:38PM

RON-E IN CAROLINA said...

marshall is one dumb ace.if obama were white would he celebrate a damn thing?,''NO HE WOULD NOT'' this whole presidental race was just that ''race''.before
it is over God forbid theres going to be so much hate in this once upon a time nation,oh well Jesus will fix this entire problem soon.so until then i am calling the superbowl right now ,
REDSKINS over the DOLPHINS 31-13

11-13-2008 @ 4:24PM

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) said...

did you even read the article? it wouldn't have been relevant if Obama were white. he simply wanted to express his excitement about the strides this country has made to live more in harmony with one another. sure the football field and that moment on said football field were certainly not the right place or time to express said excitement but he was simply attempting to use his available resources to express his feelings to the world.

the victory here is not that the US elected a black man as president, the victory is that the US elected a president who happens to be black. they picked the better candidate regardless of the color of his skin. people need to wake up, take off their hate glasses, and realize the magnitude of what just happened in this election.

11-07-2008 @ 1:08PM

FightTWP said...

Stokley for President 2012!!!Its all about me!Individuality!How many yards I got, How many catches I got,How many TD's I got.The stunt the other night with Marshall is what a good number of Af-American feel.It doesn't matter how many black managers,CEO's,Entrepreneur's,Governer's or THE PRESIDENT's
There are many that will continue to hate Whitey! You ask a little white boy who is his sports idle is you will here Kobe,Jeter,McNabb,Roy jr.Ask a black boy you will NEVER here Nowitski,Schilling,Manning,Klichko...There are more "White" girls dating players and i can go on.White Geration X'rs have learned right from wrong and treat people with respect and contempt.I just pray that some of the blacks get the chip of ther back and realize White people came a very long way..maybee took longer than it shood have.But some blacks have so far to go,i hope they have it in them.I am calling it exactly how i see it!!! a spade a spade(Whatch that will be taking out of context) no punn intented!!! This is the time to come together but my gutt tells me its pay back Whitey!!!

11-07-2008 @ 1:19PM

Odie said...

Being as this is a sports blog, politics and racism aside, I don't get these No Fun League comments.

Since when do we need, as Joe puts it, to see players express themselves. I thought it was supposed to be a football game we were watching. If Marshall wants to spew out his opinions on politics, racial equality and anything else that no one asked his thoughts on, he should start a blog.

For my concerns on racial equality, I too, will look to the cookie thank you.

11-07-2008 @ 1:29PM

Its funny to hear someone defend a racist orginization like the Black Panthers and not addres their communist ties. And then use the phrase " white policies". Jesus is coming back will you be serving Him or Osama, I mean Obama?

11-07-2008 @ 2:01PM

RICK said...

I too,am happy to see the results of this historical election,but I'm not gonna go to work with a half and half glove and wave it in everyones' face.Though I think this would have been a "nice" gesture, at least the Obama part,I have no idea what the symbolism of the raised fist incident is,they lost their medals remember,has to do with the election results,or a damn football game.Stokely without a doubt,saved the game for the Broncos.Fine aside,I think Marshall can afford it,the 15 yard penalty which "would" have been levied against the Broncos,in such a close game,could in fact have caused them to lose. Something the Broncos can not afford to do too much of at this stage of the season.Give Stokely a raise!!!!!

11-07-2008 @ 2:06PM

Charles(Im 16) said...

This No Fun League crap has been prolonged so much, that it has taken away excitement. You cannot jump without being fined 25k, and you cant walk the wrong way in the endzone without being suspended. Truth is, i loved watching T.O's "infamous" sharpie stunt and pom-pom dances, it got me off my feet! And how about Chad Johnson's Ocho Cinco jersey and HOF Jacket? That didnt make you laugh? Besides, this is for a certain cause, to demonstrate that blacks and whites can live amongst eachother in complete equality. All those oppossed to Obama are ignorant, fot thinking you know what is best for this country. Why dont you run for president? Obama has got a lot of courage to run in a election heavily dominated by whites. SO yeah, let Marshall do it