Nobody likes being accused of issues. However, no person despises it like white males — particularly the wealthy ones. Nearly 5 years after then-Supreme Courtroom nominee Brett Kavanaugh threw a mood tantrum when he testified earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee — as a consequence of being publicly accused of sexual misconduct in highschool and faculty by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez, and Julie Swetnick (Kavanaugh denied all of the allegations) — Arizona Cardinals proprietor Michael Bidwill seems to be following in his buddy’s footsteps as a former workforce government has dropped a bevy of allegations towards him.
It’s a hilarious coincidence that the allegations towards Bidwill got here out the identical week that one other white, “rich,” and privileged white man was indicted on 34 felony counts who, like Bidwill and Kavanaugh, denies all the things. There’s a sample right here.
In line with former Cardinals government Terry McDonough, Bidwill will not be a pleasant man. However earlier than we get to the allegations, it’s necessary to convey up the truth that like Bidwill, McDonough is white. That’s crucial to notice as a result of white males at this stage hardly ever inform on one another.
However, again to the accusations, which the team denies on the owner’s behalf.
Allegations of dishonest and harassment
McDonough is accusing Bidwill of gross misconduct, together with dishonest, discrimination, and harassment. There are allegations of breaking the principles to make use of burner telephones to speak with a suspended entrance workplace member (former GM Steve Keim), interfering with McDonough’s profession development, and mistreatment of Black workers and pregnant ladies.
“We’re reluctantly obliged to offer a public response together with broader context for some disappointing and irresponsible actions by Terry McDonough,” exterior public relations adviser to the Cardinals Jim McCarthy said in a statement. “Claims he has made in an arbitration submitting are wildly false, reckless, and an opportunistic ploy for monetary acquire.
“That’s why we’re saddened to see that Terry is now lashing out at our group with disparagements and threats which can be absurdly at odds with the information. This pointless and vindictive motion by Terry was supposed to malign his co-workers, our proprietor Michael Bidwill, and our workforce with outlandish accusations.”
The allegations are eyebrow-raising, particularly in the event you’re conscious of Bidwill’s previous. Let’s have a look.
In 2018, Bidwill publicly supported Kavanaugh, as the main story on the Cardinals website was once titled, “Michael Bidwill Backs Classmate For Supreme Courtroom.” There was additionally an official tweet from the workforce’s Twitter account declaring assist. Thoughts you, this was when Trump kept sticking his nose in the NFL’s business, gamers have been kneeling, the nation was having a debate concerning the function of politics in athletics because the “stick to sports” mantra was created, and Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid were suing the league for collusion.
2018 was additionally the 12 months during which the man who’s now being accused of office misconduct, was named to the NFL’s Workplace Diversity Committee. Days later, Bidwill would hearth Steve Wilks, his Black head coach, after just one season on the job. Wilks is a part of Brian Flores’ class-action lawsuit that’s suing the league for racist hiring practices.
And simply final month, a report from the NFLPA that evaluated workforce working situations ranked Bidwill’s franchise second to final, because the graded classes included; therapy of households (F), diet (F-), weight room (F-), power workers (A-), coaching room (F-), coaching workers (B+) and locker room (F).
Kavanaugh, who’s now a Supreme Courtroom Justice, has but to make a public declare backing Bidwill. Nonetheless, Michael Bidwill lives in a state during which Robert Sarver made billions for promoting the Phoenix Suns after it was found that he additionally was horrible to his workers, and is in a league that’s commissioned by Roger Goodell. One other wealthy white dude is about to “allegedly” get away with it — once more.
