ESPN, Sports Media Rush To Call Angel Reese Criticism Racist In Wake Of Caitlin Clark Taunt

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At the end of the Women's College Basketball National Championship game, LSU star Angel Reese aggressively taunted Iowa star Caitlin Clark.

Of course, many people -- including myself -- had a problem with this. Not only did Reese continue taunting for over 10 seconds, but she stalked Clark around the court. She also yelled at Clark, trying desperately to get her attention.

She wanted Clark to have to look at her taunting. Reese attempted to create confrontation. And she did it very aggrssively.

If you think Angel Reese went too far in taunting Caitlin Clark, ESPN wants you to know that's probably because you're a racist.

If you think Angel Reese went too far in taunting Caitlin Clark, ESPN wants you to know that's probably because you're a racist. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

There's trash talk in sports, and some of it we applaud and some of it we condemn. This falls in the latter category because of the points I just mentioned. It didn't happen in the heat of the moment or during an emotional exchange.

The game had been decided. Reese appeared to have planned this particular taunt.

Then she kept doing it after the game and put it on social media.

Those defending Reese like to point out that Clark does the same thing. Though, that's intellectually dishonest. Here is Clark performing the same face-waving gesture earlier in the tournament.

Pretty clear difference here. Clark, after hitting a big shot, performs the gesture aimed at her own bench.

But, if you think what Clark did is OK -- it is -- and you think what Reese did was wrong -- it is -- then you, like me, are a racist.

At least, that's what the media is saying.

ESPN goes all-in on racism angle between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark

Of course, if there's an opportunity to call people racist, ESPN is going to go all-out. And, they did just that.

RELATED: ESPN, A NETWORK THAT NEVER STOPS TALKING ABOUT RACISM, IGNORES BLATANT RACISM THAT DOESN’T FIT THEIR NARRATIVE

Some, like Jalen Rose and Ryan Clark, tried to be subtle about it. But make no mistake: they're calling any criticism of Reese racist.

Others, like Jay Williams, got more to the point.

So did Stephen A. Smith.

It's not just ESPN, though, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Shannon Sharpe also played the race card.

This just serves as a reminder of the current media landscape.

If you criticize a black person, you are a racist.

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.