Pittsburgh Columnist Calls Steeler a Thug, Teammate Asks, 'Is It Because He Is Black?'

On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published a column by Gene Collier in which he lambasted Steelers safety Anthony Smith. Collier noted that Smith celebrated after a hard hit on teammate Hines Ward in practice, and he referred to Smith's behavior as "thuggery."

Smith's teammates and coaches are not pleased with Collier's choice of words. Coach Mike Tomlin condemned Collier's column, and Steelers safety Ryan Clark was even more critical:

"Not to bring race into it, but is it because he is black that these acts are called thuggery?" Clark said. "Because a man has tattoos or may play a certain way, it doesn't make him a thug."

Clark felt the need to preface his comments with, "not to bring race into it," but I don't have any problem with him bringing race into it. Although the dictionary definition of thug is simply "a cutthroat or ruffian; a hoodlum," the term has taken on a racial connotation, especially in sports, that is distasteful.

I don't know Gene Collier, but I do know he's one of the most respected writers in Pittsburgh, and I have no reason to think he's racist. But I do think that was a poor choice of words. Just because Smith doesn't always play the game the way Collier thinks he should, that doesn't make Smith a thug.