Let me say this about any responses that come across as racist.
I really don't feel Sherman is being held down by anybody here. He is a showboater, and some people don't like that. Regardless, he's in a pretty good position if he doesn't squander it.
But just as Sherman's statement in the moment says something about him, anything anyone says about the matter, with plenty of time to consider their thoughts, is more a reflection of themselves than it is a statement about Sherman.