2008 Olympics: Redeem What Exactly?
August 24, 2008
(I couldn’t help myself … I had to write this)
It appears a battle is raging … and it is a battle for your mind. Early last week Jemele Hill appeared on ESPN’s 1st and 10 portion of its morning show, First Take. On 1st and 10 Hill talked about the “Redeem Team’s efforts and her belief that a gold medal would be some sort of pride-boost for that great monolith, “The African-American Community.” Dana Jacobson, the segment host indicated that Hill had written a piece about that very topic to be posted on ESPN.com later that day.Well, the shoe did not drop until Saturday (when it is all but assured that the US Men’s Team will win the gold) … and drop it did:
But considering how, until recently, Team USA has been vilified for being selfish, noncompetitive and fundamentally inept, it doesn’t surprise me that African-Americans view the gold medal as a special vindication.
The previous failures of the national team brought a strong sense of embarrassment to both African-American fans and players.
Wrong. Vindication for what, exactly? Vindication for malfeasant acts by the press and shock jocks, including those of ESPN Radio, who used the losses of the 2004 US Men’s National Team in Athens as their personal race-bait pulpit?
Hoping A Shoe Drops
August 23, 2008
I have a post written Thursday night readied for Monday. The event that took place that evening has not been touched upon by any media, mainstream or otherwise, though it was televised globally. However, I am giving everyone, mainstream or otherwise, ample opportuinity to discuss the happenings of that night before dropping my article.
The televised event was clearly shown at the time and there was no mistaking the acts. That it has, predicably, escaped perusal by those who would normally create ceaseless “programming” segments around it illustrates that racism is prevalent in our society, that it is prevalent within sportswriting, and that racist reporting equal profits. And unfortunately the lack of writing about “the event” shows that black reporters and columnists suffer from myriad ills that allow them to miss what should be obvious to the journalist’s eyes.
See you Monday.
The Sports Writing Blues: Confessions of an Angry White Fan
August 20, 2008
Notes: The Greening of Chad Johnson Thanks to ESPN
August 14, 2008
Thursday morning on ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning Show, hosts Mike Greenberg and Erik Kuselias ripped Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, Chad Johnson. Was it because he looks like a hypocrite reporting to training camp and acting as if all is well after all but blowing up his relationship with his Cincinnati Bengals teammates and Bengals management?
No.
In short, Johnson, on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption Wednesday afternoon, said Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is facing no viable competition. He continued saying that if Phelps had grown up in his South Florida neighborhood he might not be the swimming champion he is today because some of the best athletes are never seen and further, Johnson boasted - “I’m serious” - that today, as three-time child champion swimmer at his local pool in Liberty City, Florida, he could defeat Phelps in a swim race.
“Some of the best people in the world are people who can’t make it to that level. I know a couple of people who can beat Michael right now and I’m one of them.”
Greenberg, the ringmaster in the Mike and Mike airing, took the bait hook, line, and sinker and appeared incredulous after reading Johnson’s remarks. The once print journalist turned radio jock just could not wrap his head around Johnson’s words. So rather than admit his inability to contextualize the words he heard and seek to interview Johnson, Greenberg took the low road and questioned the wideout’s sanity and said he felt Johnson was demeaning the work it takes to become an Olympic champion. Kuselias largely deferred to Greenberg, but agreed with the main host’s assessment of Johnson.
Notes: Spanish Olympic Men’s Hoops Squad Ups the Racist Ante (Disney-ESPN-ABC says “Ho-hum”)… Update - J. Kidd Responds; Pau’s Rebuttal Weak
August 13, 2008
Update: I just heard that the Spanish Women’s Olympic Basketball team allegedly struck the same pose as the men for their team photo. I’m searching for more news…
Additionally Jason Kidd speaks out:
“We would’ve been already thrown out of the Olympics,” he told Yahoo! Sports. “At least, we wouldn’t have been able to come back to the U.S. …There would be suspensions.”
And for his European peers, well, Kidd suggested, “They won’t do anything to them. It’s a double standard.”And for his European peers, well, Kidd suggested, “They won’t do anything to them. It’s a double standard.”
…Kidd talked at Team USA’s practice. He was curious how the Spanish players were spinning this.
“They have some explaining to do,” he said. “They’ll come up with something good.”
The idea that Stern shouldn’t act on this behavior because it falls under FIBA and Spanish rule is ridiculous.
“We could say that too, but at the end of day, we are still representing the NBA,” Kidd said. “No matter if we’re saying (the actions) have nothing to do with it. At the end of day, we have to go back home, and our jobs are there.”
“I’m not Dead Yet”: Why are Stars Past their Prime Treated so Badly?
August 13, 2008
Recently we saw both Manny Ramirez and Brett Favre being escorted off the premises in Boston and Green Bay. Both had delivered a title to each city after decades of losing. Both were slightly past their prime, but still at least among the top 25% in the league at their position. Yet they were widely vilified for their attitudes, and management tried hard to get rid of them. Why did this happen? Are you going to tell me that Manny and Brett’s attitudes have spontaneously changed from team player to spoiled divo as they aged? Or that their attitudes were so bad that they could only be tolerated when playing at an MVP level? Both theories are highly suspect.
Why Marvin Lewis Can Smile (while the NFL press freaks out)
August 12, 2008
Marvin Lewis is cool. In fact, in his most recent press conference he was almost giddy despite being peppered with usual questions about difficult Cincinnati’s schedule this season (Cinci must deal with the NFC East and the AFC South), the loss of players due to suspension (Odell Thurman and Chris Henry), and the portent of a defense that might not improve on its 24th-ranked 2007 performance. Additional queries dealt with how the outwardly mild-mannered Lewis plans to get the inconsistent Bengals to a second playoff appearance. And if you listen to the NFL press it is widely felt that Lewis’s player choices and low-key demeanor are responsible for the Bengals off-field woes that are reflected in the team’s lack of consistency.
Though he was hired in 2003 for his reputation as a defensive guru, Lewis’ primary on-field problems are on the defensive side of the ball. Off-field, though, so many Bengals players have run afoul of the law that they have become a sad running joke. Because Lewis has taken his team to the playoffs only once 2005, a 31-17 loss to Pittsburgh - and because Cincinnati players have had so many run-ins with the law, the coach finds himself perceived as being on the chopping block this season.
The primary problem, as it is seen, is that Lewis sacrificed “character” players when the team felt it needed to upgrade its team to match that of elite franchises in the NFL. That sentiment was yet again expressed on ESPN’s NFL Monday Night Countdown before the Cincinnati-Green Bay game. Adding to Lewis’ perceived woes, commentator Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end and former Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Chicago Bears let it be known that it is Lewis’ fault that the players are not performing on the field.
Normally in situations like these it is said that the bottom line is the players are professionals and must take responsibility for their on and off-field actions. Oddly, the feeling surrounding Lewis is that he is a “good man” but not a good assessor of character and is not firm enough with his players.
Jerry Colangelo Can’t See Darfur for the Trees while Silencing Kobe, Lebron, & Team USA
August 5, 2008
USA Team National Director Jerry Colangelo told USA team players in a June team meeting that “he believes that the Olympics shouldn’t be used as a political platform”according to ESPN’s Shelley Smith in this Outside the Lines report. And judging from these before-and-after June meeting statements by NBA stars Kobe Bryant and Lebron James on the ongoing genocide in Darfur, the message has been clearly received. Read more
Smearing Manny (with a Mike and Mike in the Morning and a David Ortiz update)
August 4, 2008
Manny’s in La-La.
Meantime, Theo and John Henry are busy back across the country scuffing Manny’s image like a Phil Niekro offering just like the dynamic dupes did Ramon spelled backwards…. remember, Pedro got done the same way, too. The pair didn’t and won’t use the Globe or even the Herald to exact their pound of person meat from Ramirez (though you can always count on some writers there to be senseless and unkind); they know better. They know the writers there know the real deal. No, they went to Rhode Island - Providence to be exact - to do their dirt and used the natural hater tendencies of the scribes in New Yaaawk to do their dusty deeds. Scoopin’ up the Theo-Henry poop exactly as planned, the boys with a chip because they don’t live in Massachusetts and the boys with a chip cause they haven’t won none in a few years ran with the hateful message like Tyson Gay on his best day.
And like a good dog ESPN came a’ lappin’. They picked up the finger nail file-frayed ball and repeated the Ramirez as bad egg words and swore to the nation they never threw a dirty pitch.
Good thing Manny’s got a fuck you attitude because his uni is still old school baggy and even Joe T. won’t make him shore his magic “Manny Locks” - and 2-for-3 when the Big Unit was bumpin’ the bump after traveling all day, going straight to the park to look at Chavez Ravine for the first time in your life is a great way to show how truly great a ball player you are.
Erin Andrews Blasts Women Back to the Stone Age
August 4, 2008
It looks like Erin Andrews missed the AOL FanHouse-Fantasy Sports Girls flap. Or maybe Erin Andrews doesn’t give a damn about how she is perceived by athletes and sportswriters.
Or maybe Erin Andrews was just “channeling her inner ho’” (an ESPN writers-generated “Bush-ism” if I’ve ever heard one).
Whatever the reason, Andrews set female television reporters and perhaps female sporstwriters beck about, ohhhh, 20 years or so - or until the final person affiliated with the Chicago Cubs who witnessed Andrew’s lascivious act in the Cuvbs’ clubhouse retires:
Erin Andrews, the ESPN “it” babe who clearly isn’t afraid to flaunt it, sauntered around the visiting clubhouse, flitting from one Cubs player to another. Her skimpy outfit — designed to accentuate her, um, positives — had players leering at her. Some made lewd comments under their breath. Others giggled like 12-year-olds.
Brilliant, Erin.
According to Mike Nadal, Andrews’ get up was something a cocktail waitress at “gentlemen’s club” might wear and she acted like she was hard-pressed to get her fair share of ——— “tips”:
With the season only two-thirds complete, it’s far too early to say the Cubs have wrapped up anything. Same with saying Milwaukee is doomed. Still, the Brewers’ claims of being unaffected by this series’ results were as unbelievable as Erin Andrews’ work clothes.
“Good for you, Rammie,” Andrews said three hours before the game, bending forward to shake Aramis Ramirez’s hand.
“Good for you.”…
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