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DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – When it was revealed that Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy smashed watermelons with a sledgehammer to inspire his troops the immediate reaction was laughter from the team and for most reporters.
Fox Sports 1 commentator Shannon Sharpe found nothing funny about it.
“Dear white America, any time you have black people in your presence, watermelon has a negative connotation,” he said.
The Cowboys players thought the coach’s channeling of prop comic Gallagher was hilarious but Sharpe wasn’t having it.
“Black players: If you need somebody, a white man smashing watermelons, to get you motivated, you’re in the wrong line of business. It’s not funny. It’s not cute.”
Sharpe’s rant continued for another minute or more during which he shouted and his co-host, Skip Bayless, injected notes of agreement.
Social media response has been strongly skeptical, calling Sharpe a race baiter and accusing him of perpetuating an old stereotype.
“The idea that watermelon is only for black people is silly,” according to one Tweeter. “Just because Sharpe says its racist don’t make it so.”
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the black Cowboys players took no evident offense and actually roared with laughter with each slam of McCarthy’s hammer. At one point Cowboys star defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, jumped up and grabbed the hammer himself to smash the melon bearing a picture of Vikings running back Dalvin Cook.
The next day the Cowboys played their hearts out and snapped Minnesota’s four game win streak.