I was in a bar last Thursday night watching the birth of Brady Quinn’s legend, or something like that, when Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall tried to put a black and white glove on his hand after he scored a touchdown. The glove was to be a symbol of racial unity as a result of America electing Barack Obama, and it was to pay homage to the 1968 Olympics, when Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in the air, now an iconic image of racial struggle. It was a beautiful moment.

But thank God for Brandon Stokley. He sprinted towards Marhsall and tucked the glove back into his pants in order to prevent a 15 yard, excessive celebration penalty—a penalty that would have put Denver in danger of losing a tight one against the Browns.

Everybody seems to be rationalizing Stokley’s decision as fundamental to the Broncos winning the game. That seems fair. But I’ve also met many who’ve prophesized doomsday scenarios had Marhsall completed his symbolic gesture. They go something like this:

“Listen, he puts on the glove, he gets a penalty, the Broncos lose the game because he gets a penalty and now the NFL is in the middle of a race war.”

Beyond the obvious, which is the inherent lunacy of excessive celebration penalties, this speaks volumes to our disgusting love of football. Don’t worry; I’m pointing the finger at myself as well.

“Yes, it would have been cool, but the Broncos could have lost!”

Let’s say he puts on the glove and doesn’t receive a penalty, and the whole thing goes over swimmingly by all accounts; with most middle-aged American males watching, would this not be a powerful message? Or would it be another African-American wide receiver using a prop for a little fun post-touchdown? It seems like most have placed Marshall in the latter category. Had Brett Favre pulled an American Flag from his jock to support American troops, and Stokley not been there to deter him, I wonder what our reaction would be. I wonder if a flag is thrown.

I think Marshall had a right to wear his glove and do whatever the hell he wanted—I’m not alone in thinking the events of last Tuesday makes such an action the exception to the rule. The timing was inconvenient, but that’s sort of how these things work.