2008 Olympics: Racism 101 in Black and White
August 25, 2008
If this article is posted Monday morning, we can safely say the sporting press is generally racist. We can also say that certain black sportswriters and columnists are little more than shuffling, scuffling, buffoons; house slaves who love “Massa” more than they love themselves. You see Thursday evening just after 10:30 p.m. EST defending 400-meter gold medalist Jeremy Wariner finished a disappointing second in his event to fellow American LaShawn Merritt. Wariner, in fact, trailed Merritt, who posted a personal best time of 43.75 seconds, by nearly a full second (44.74) at the finish line.
But that was not the entire story of the Men’s 400-meter event in Beijing.
Not even close.
The real story was Wariner’s pitiful finish. With only 20 meters remaining in the race Wariner looked to his left and saw Merritt ahead of him. Instead of pushing himself to the end, Wariner, realizing there was not enough track left in the race to come back against his countryman, gave up.
Jeremy Wariner, the gold medal favorite in the 400-meter dash, gave up on his primary Olympic event before the finish line. He jogged to the tape and nearly cost himself a silver medal.
But as despicable as Wariner’s lack of effort was, that is only part of the story.
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?
Barack Obama Picks Joe Biden as Vice President
August 23, 2008
The text message came into my phone at 3:07 AM. “Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee, watch the first Obama-Biden rally live at 3pm ET on www.barackobama.com”
Here are some quick thoughts:
From purely a politically strategic point of view, I think that I like it, but need to do some more homework. Sure, there will be some negative commentary on past Biden “debate clips”, and we will hear about how “clean” he thinks Obama is. In between, he may fill the perceived voter doubts about Obama’s foreign policy experience. I deliberately say “perceived” because I believe that Obama is already 1000 times more qualified than McCain on foreign policy. Any president — save our current one — can hire experts around them to fill in their gaps, but Obama goes into foreign policy dialogue as someone who is actually LIKED and RESPECTED all around the world. This is the first step of productive dialogue with any foreign nation. The fact that Obama is far superior a communicator than McCain doesn’t hurt either. But I digress.
I also like the pick for something that will most likely not reach the nightly news anytime soon. An Obama-Biden ticket is America’s best chance to signal an end to the despicable, devastating, disgusting, and discriminatory “crack vs. cocaine” disparity laws. This law along with mandatory minimum sentencing, prisons for profit, “3-Strikes”, and others were all enacted in the years after the success of the Civil Rights movement. In other words, they are Jim Crow’ direct off-spring the way Jim Crow was slavery’s first-born. Of course, this doesn’t mention a whole host of nephews, nieces, and cousins – but I digress.
Unlike Mccain, Obama is on record stating that he wants to end the crack vs. cocaine disparity. Biden is quite significant because not only does he want to end the disparity — but he is one of the original fools who strongly supported the legislation in the first place. And in the last couple of years, even he has been fighting hard to overturn them.
Anyway, something to consider. Expect a more thorough future post on this subject.
Tiki Busted Using the “C” Word On National TV
August 21, 2008
Damn, he did!… more tomorrow.
It Might Not Be the Most Eloquent Piece, but It’s True…
August 17, 2008
I had what can be termed as an argument with someone who will read this. Maybe it was just an intense discussion; I don’t know.
Whatever it was, it was very intense.
The topic of discussion?
Racism. Of course. Racism.
A black person - me - and the person on the other end of the phone - white - talking about racism and how to get people to truly understand how deeply it is woven into the fabric of American society.
Notes: And Tampa Bay Didn’t Pursue Brett Favre Because…?
August 10, 2008
In Brett Favre, the New York Jets got their man. If they get into the playoffs with Favre at the helm it will also save Eric Mangini’s job.
There’s just one little problem with the whole “Favre comes to Broadway,” well, more accurately, East Rutherford, New Jersey, deal. What happened to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ interest in the legendary QB?
Sure, the Bucs have four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jeff Garcia on their roster as their starter. But no one ever mistook the plucky Garcia for Brett Favre. But despite the clamor for Favre in Tampa, despite the rumors, despite the talk about how Bucs head coach John Gruden likes to “collect quarterbacks” Gruden, last Friday, said there was no talk of bringing Favre to Tampa.
Notes: Matt Jones Returns to the Field
August 10, 2008
The Florida Times-Union, newspaper to the Jacksonville Jaguars made no mention of the odd happening on the field during the Jaguars-Atlanta Falcons game. ESPN made no mention of the happening, Additionally, in a feature “Camp Confidential article on ESPN.com, Paul Kuharsky, former Tennessee Titans beat writer for the Tennessean and now ESPN.com writer, never mentioned the name of the man involved in the happening. The NFL Network showed a highlight of the happening.
BODY SHOT: Antonio Margarito Outsmarts Miguel Cotto — and the Rest of Us
July 27, 2008
Boxing history’s most dramatic knockouts are those that come without a single punch. It is the picture of Joe Frazier on his stool in Manila as trainer Eddie Futch tells him “Sit down, son. No one will ever forget what you did here today.” It is Roberto Duran waving off Sugar Ray Leonard while exclaiming “No mas”. And it was yesterday as an utterly spent and exhausted Miguel Cotto dropped down to one knee after being backed into a corner in the 11th round by a relentless Antonio Margarito before his trainer and uncle, Evangelista Cotto waved the white towel. No Aaron Pryoresque barrage would be necessary to finish off Cotto – only the mere thought of one. Announcer Max Kellerman immediately pronounced the fight “A modern day classic” while Jim Lampley called it “An epic fight with an epic conclusion”. While HBO announcers are known to embellish from time to time, it ain’t hyperbole if it’s the truth. And if you are upset that you missed the bout, all I can say is: “I told you so”. Read more
Notes: Let the Brett Favre Story Lie
July 24, 2008
Brett Favre allegedly possesses a Green Bay Packers cellphone. And Favre allegedly used this phone to call the Minnesota Vikings about joining their team.
And people are tripping about this issue.
The thought here is, who the hell cares what this cat is doing? Sure Favre has all the meaningful records there are to have for a QB, sure he’s an inronman and has a consecutive games played streak that is easily on par with that of Cal Ripkins’ MLB games played streak. But Brett Favre has a cell phone belonging to the Packers and it’s national news? Roger Goodell is now very publicly injecting himself in the situation? The fact of the matter is that if the phone was supplied to him by Green Bay management as a retirement gift or whatever, it represents a salary cap transgression and might bite the Packers’ management in the behind.
If Favre stole the phone, or conveniently retired and took the phone with him and someone on the Packers accounting staff is burying the monthly bills pertaining to the certain Hall of Fame quarterback, he and the person hiding the records should be outed. But beyond this, who should care outside of die-hard Favreophiles around the country and the denizens of Green Bay?
Stop with all the damn swooning over this 39-year old man who has proven that he is just as selfish as any other star athlete, just as much of a great player, but is ultimately just as human as any other human. The press needs to wait until there is something to report before reporting it and stop trying to make stories where there are none just to keep the legend of Brett Fav-ray alive.
Let it go. Let him go. Everything will play itself out.
Notes: LeBron Guarantees Gold (I Get Sorta Sappy)
July 24, 2008
LeBron James is guaranteeing gold for Team USA in Beijing. This will be a big deal in upcoming days as the Olympics approach, but should it be?
James made his guarantee in a Time magazine story that hits newsstands Friday. The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar is featured on one of the covers of the Olympic preview issue.
After comparing the feeling of receiving a gold medal on the podium to opening a prized gift on Christmas morning, James was asked if that meant he would lead the Americans to the title.
“Absolutely,” James responded.
Asked if he guaranteed it, he repeated, “Absolutely.”
