Filed under: NBA = Nuthin' But Africans
[Editor's Note: This is a sports post. If that ain't your thing, keep it movin'.]
There’s breaks, bad luck, and then there’s the eternal curse that seemingly hangs over all DC sports teams.
The Redskins have a ballerina playing defensive end, a novice head coach who doesn’t even know the team colors, a primadonna running back who gets into shouting matches with local sportstalk hosts, and a fratboy tight end who inadvertently posts a nude picture of his junk on his personal blog. Don’t be deluded by that fluke win over the Saints. This team is headed to 3-13 with a bullet. Sorry Skins fans.
The Nationals couldn’t beat most Single-A teams.
I don’t even care enough about the Mystics or DC United to come up with a pithy remark.
The only DC team I’ve bothered getting behind in my dozen or so years living in The Urreah is the hapless Wizards. They’re the rare team that’s more exciting off the court than on. There’s the all-star small forward who flashes gang signs during pregame intros. The immature power forward who can’t stay out the club long enough to work on his post moves, and catches solicitation charges when he does. Two underachieving centers who routinely fistfight each other in practice, but can’t battle for an offensive board when the games matter. But perhaps the biggest personality on this team full of outsized egos is none other than point guard Gilbert Arenas.
I’ll admit, I was once an Arenas fan. He’s the biggest star to hit DC sports since Chris Webber’s brief stay here in the mid-90′s. He drops 30 a night with ease. He hits game winners. He can shoot the ball with amazing precision from two steps inside halfcourt. He is personable and has a very popular blog on NBA.com. He gives away his jersey to a lucky fan after every game. He puts butts in the seats. He’s flashy. He’s worth talking about, which is no small feat in Skins-obsessed DC. You can’t not watch him when is game is on. Witness his 60 point instant classic vs the Lakers.
But he’s also totally immature for a 26 year old. He couldn’t spell defense, let alone pretend to play it. He hogs the ball. He is prone to playing out erratic vendettas with his coaches while on the court. He is flighty and temperamental. He gets too caught up on stats. And perhaps worst of all, he’s now had two serious knee surgeries in the past 2 years, despite the fact that the team gave him the keys to the franchise in the form of a $111M contract this summer. Better or worse, my team has hitched its wagon on the hopes that he’ll magically grow up and get us past the first round of the playoffs again.
So what does this numbnut go out and do? He waits the entire summer before deciding to get a third knee operation, effectively screwing every Wizards fan for yet another season.
Gilbert Arenas had a third operation on his bothersome left knee Wednesday morning, once again throwing into doubt his status for an upcoming Washington Wizards season.Arenas had a “moderate amount of debris” removed from the knee after experiencing swelling and discomfort during his rehabilitation. The Wizards offered no timetable for his return — beyond the fact that he obviously won’t be ready for the start of training camp next week — but Arenas told The Washington Post that he plans to be back on the court in early December, which would rule him out for the first month of the season.
The surgery is the third on the knee in 17 months for Arenas, who missed 69 regular-season games last season and had to shut himself down in the playoffs. It also raises more doubt about the wisdom of the Wizards’ decision to give him a six-year, $111 million contract in July.
When a team, against its best judgement, gives you a $111M contract after you’ve essentially missed the last two seasons, the least you can do to return the favor is properly rehab your injury so you can earn your money. This nimrod waits until the eve of training camp, and despite what he says, rumor has it he will likely miss most of the season, and his knee could be permanently damaged a la Grant Hill.
Thanks a lot, Gilbert.
Question: Is DC the Worst Sports City in the nation or is there actually someplace more pathetic?
Arenas has 3rd knee operation, will miss a month [AP]
Redskins TE Cooley apologizes for revealing photo [AP]
Clinton Portis and Brian Mitchell Radio Interview Goes Entertainingly Off The Rails [DeadSpin]
There’s dumb stuff, and then there’s really dumb stuff, and then there’s this.
Maybe receiver Chad Johnson can go by the name that his head coach hates.The Cincinnati Bengals receiver has legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco in Broward County, Fla., a switch that became official this week, according to several media reports. Johnson, who lives in Miami, didn’t return a message left on his cell phone Friday night.
“It’s something I don’t think anyone has ever done before,” he told the team’s Web site. “Have I ever had a reason for why I do what I do? I’m having fun.”
Two years ago, Johnson gave himself the moniker – a reference in Spanish to his No. 85 – and put it on the back of his uniform before a game. Quarterback Carson Palmer ripped it off before the kickoff. After the season, coach Marvin Lewis – who dislikes Johnson’s attention-getting stunts – referred to the receiver as “Ocho Psycho.”
Johnson, who’s never met a camera he didn’t love and a verb he couldn’t split pulled a similar stunt a few years back.
Never mind the idiocy of changing your name to something that’s not even technically grammatically correct. Personally, I just wish the dude would shut up and play the darn game. He more or less ruined my fantasy season last year with this lackluster performance.
Still, how dumb is this?
Question: Is this a prime example of Extreme Niggadom™, or does Chad Javon Ocho Cinco have a marketing bonanza on his hands?
What’s in a name? Well . . . Ocho Cinco [AP]
Filed under: Judge Joe Brown Says : "WELL DONE", NBA = Nuthin' But Africans
It wasn’t exactly a blowout, but they did it!
All the way, we were waiting for somebody to give the United States basketball team a game. Nobody had. Greece, the last team to beat the U.S. in international play, got ripped by 33. Spain, the world champion, lost by 37. Argentina, the defending Olympic champion, was battered by just 20.Of all of them, only Spain got a second chance, in the gold medal match. And boy, did they give the Americans – and the world – a game.
But only one of these teams had Kobe Bryant. And that was the team that won.
With a young and talented team on the floor – Kobe, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, and Toronto Raptor Chris Bosh – Kobe was the alpha dog. He drove for a pull-up jumper in the lane. He fed Deron Williams for a three-pointer. He drove and fed Dwight Howard for a basket. He hit a three of his own, and the lead was back to 101-92.
Spain never stopped; they are a marvelous team. But Kobe hit a three-pointer, plus the foul that disqualified scorer Rudy Fernandez, to make it 107-99. With the score 108-104, Wade hit a three off a LeBron drive to push the lead back to seven. And in the final 90 seconds, Kobe scored again for a 113-105 lead. That was the end. USA 118, Spain 107, and Born in the USA played in the arena.
Say what you will about The Original Dream Team, but I’m much more impressed with this squad and the way they’ve handled themselves, given the level of competition. No, they’re not the 92′ squad, and never will be, but who is?
If nothing else, this team proved that despite what all the critics say, the modern day athlete has just as much pride, patriotism, and will to win as the old-schoolers. You might argue that this team represented the country even better than the 92′ team, given their constant appearances in support of other Olympians. MJ never did that. Oh yeah, and MJ also pulled that stunt with the flag. Lebron, say what you will about him, would never have the balls to pull that stunt.
So let’s all agree that the 92 Dream Team would have dusted these guys off the court. No complaint here, I’m with you. But when you consider the level of competition, the fact that we didn’t send our best team, and the end result (bling!), it’s hard not to be proud of these guys.
Well done, fellas. Well done.
Question: Did you manage to see any of the games this year, or did the time difference throw you off?
U.S. all-stars get their golden redemption [National Post]
[Editor's Note: This post is completely sports related, and it's prolly borderline blasphemous to some. Consider yourself forewarned.]
I know I’m about to open a huge can of worms, but it just occurred to me this morning that what this year’s Redeem Team is accomplishing is far more impressive than the 1992 Dream Team.
Pick yourselves off the floor and let me explain why.
Back in 1992, we sent the absolute best 11 players in the league, plus Christian Laettner, whom some might argue is the best college player evar. Note, I said best college player.
Just peep this roster.
Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers
Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics
Clyde Drexler of the Portland Trail Blazers
Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks
Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers
Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls
Christian Laettner of Duke University
Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz
Chris Mullin of the Golden State Warriors
Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls
David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs
John Stockton of the Utah Jazz
With the exception of Laettner (who barely played), every member of this team is either in, or will soon be in, the NBA Hall of Fame. Jordan is considered the best player evar. Johnson is the gold standard for PG’s. Stockton is the silver standard. Malone revolutionized the power forward position. Barkley is the best player under 6-4 to ever lace up. Pippen became the prototype for small forwards. Bird is Bird. Mullin is one of the best shooters to ever lace up. Drexler did his thing. Ewing and The Admiral are among the 50 best players ever. Laettner did one heckuva job fetching donuts.
These players were the best in the world at the time, let alone the best in the league. Only Isaiah Thomas (politricks) and Hakeem Olajuwon (not yet a US citizen) were the only truly elite NBA players excluded from this team. It was the creme de la creme. The Dream Team rolled over foes by an average of 43.8 points a game, and never even called a timeout.
This year’s Redeem Team is still a couple of games shy of the gold, but given their redemptive drubbing of Australia (whom they only beat by 11 just a week ago) on Wednesday, it’s hard to see them losing to anybody. They are winning by an average of 32ppg as I write this.
It’s roster is impressive, but probably not as impressive as the Original Dream Team.
Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz
Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks
Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers
Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz
Michael Redd of the Milwaukee Bucks
Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers
Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic
Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors
Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets
Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons
Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets
It’s hard to tell these sorts of things so early, but player for player, this is probably not as star studded a team as the 92′ squad. Bryant, Wade, Paul, and James are MVP caliber players, but you can’t really say that yet for any of the other players. Prince isn’t even an all star. Redd will not be Hall of Famer, and Bosh may not be either. Anthony is one DUI away from being a Clipper. Kidd is toast. Howard is showing his Shaq-like limitations. Williams and Boozer are good, but nobody is readying a place in Springfield for either yet. And some great NBA players like Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Elton Brand, Joe Johnson, Allen Iverson, Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, Tracy McGrady, Marcus Camby, etc. are back home. We could have sent a better team.
So, why in the ham sammich am I suggesting this team might be better than the 92′ squad? Simple: The level of competition.
Back in 92′, few of the foreign teams had legit NBA players. Germany had Detlef Schrempf, who was a 6th man for the Sonics. Lithuania had then-current Golden State Warrior reserve Šarūnas Marčiulionis and eventual Blazer Arvydas Sabonis. Croatia had five current or future NBA players in Dražen Petrović, Toni Kukoč, Dino Radja, Stojko Vranković, and Žan Tabak. Petrović died before he made a huge NBA impact. Toni Kukoč went on to a respectable NBA career. The other guys were pioneers in the art of weedcarrying excellent luggage handlers.
This year, seemingly every opponent has 2-3 solid NBA players. China has the NBA’s best big man in Yao Ming, budding star Yi Jianlian, Lakers rookie Sun Yue, and NBA yet Wang Zhizhi. Germany has Clippers star Chris Kaman and recent NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki. Greece has recent NBA players Vasileios Spanoulis, Antonis Fotsis, Andreas Glyniadakis, and Clippers draftee Sofoklis Schortsanitis. Spain has Lakers all-star big man Pau Gasol, Blazers rookie Rudy Fernandez, recent NBA players Raul Lopez, Juan Carlos Navarro, and Jorge Garbajosa, Raptors starting PG Jose Calderon, Grizzlies rookie Marc Gasol, and teen sensation (and likely #1 pick in next year’s draft) Ricky Rubio. Australia has Bucks’ center and recent #1 overall pick Andrew Bogut. Argentina, Lithuania, Croatia, and Russia have more NBA players than I’ve got time and space to list here.
But each and every one of these teams has been completely obliterated by the Redeem Team. Every single one.
I’m not saying the original Dream Team wouldn’t have rolled over these teams with ease, they probably would have won by even more, but there’s no way of knowing. And let’s not forget, in addition to playing vastly inferior opponents, the Dream Team had the whole fear/star factor at play. It was common for opposing teams to be in total awe of Team USA and ask for photos, autographs, and jerseys after, before, and sometimes even during games. No such thing is happening for the Redeem Team, since they already play most of their opponents during the regular season. Their foes are getting thrashed, but they ain’t scurred. Many of them have beaten Team USA before.
I suspect many of you will tell me I’m smoking for going out on a limb and saying this, but I do actually believe this year’s team’s accomplishment is more impressive than the Dream Team. That doesn’t necessarily mean this year’s Redeem Team is necessarily a better team that the 92′ squad, so please, spare me the comments. I am emphatically not calling this a better team, despite this title’s post. But when you consider all the factors, and the net result, you’d be hard convincing me that what these guys are doing isn’t as awe inspiring, if not greater.
Question: Assuming you’ve watched both teams in action, am I too far out of bounds in suggesting that this year’s Redeem Team is just as impressive, if not more so than the Original Dream Team? Which squad would win a Best of Seven series in a theoretical head to head match up? Would you like some of what I’ve been smoking?
USA Basketball Wiki [Wikipedia]
[Editor's Note: This post is completely sports related, and it's prolly borderline blasphemous to some. Consider yourself forewarned.]
I know I’m about to open a huge can of worms, but it just occurred to me this morning that what this year’s Redeem Team is accomplishing is far more impressive than the 1992 Dream Team.
Pick yourselves off the floor and let me explain why.
Back in 1992, we sent the absolute best 11 players in the league, plus Christian Laettner, whom some might argue is the best college player evar. Note, I said best college player.
Just peep this roster.
Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers
Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics
Clyde Drexler of the Portland Trail Blazers
Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks
Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers
Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls
Christian Laettner of Duke University
Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz
Chris Mullin of the Golden State Warriors
Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls
David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs
John Stockton of the Utah Jazz
With the exception of Laettner (who barely played), every member of this team is either in, or will soon be in, the NBA Hall of Fame. Jordan is considered the best player evar. Johnson is the gold standard for PG’s. Stockton is the silver standard. Malone revolutionized the power forward position. Barkley is the best player under 6-4 to ever lace up. Pippen became the prototype for small forwards. Bird is Bird. Mullin is one of the best shooters to ever lace up. Drexler did his thing. Ewing and The Admiral are among the 50 best players ever. Laettner did one heckuva job fetching donuts.
These players were the best in the world at the time, let alone the best in the league. Only Isaiah Thomas (politricks) and Hakeem Olajuwon (not yet a US citizen) were the only truly elite NBA players excluded from this team. It was the creme de la creme. The Dream Team rolled over foes by an average of 43.8 points a game, and never even called a timeout.
This year’s Redeem Team is still a couple of games shy of the gold, but given their redemptive drubbing of Australia (whom they only beat by 11 just a week ago) on Wednesday, it’s hard to see them losing to anybody. They are winning by an average of 32ppg as I write this.
It’s roster is impressive, but probably not as impressive as the Original Dream Team.
Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz
Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks
Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers
Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz
Michael Redd of the Milwaukee Bucks
Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers
Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic
Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors
Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets
Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons
Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets
It’s hard to tell these sorts of things so early, but player for player, this is probably not as star studded a team as the 92′ squad. Bryant, Wade, Paul, and James are MVP caliber players, but you can’t really say that yet for any of the other players. Prince isn’t even an all star. Redd will not be Hall of Famer, and Bosh may not be either. Anthony is one DUI away from being a Clipper. Kidd is toast. Howard is showing his Shaq-like limitations. Williams and Boozer are good, but nobody is readying a place in Springfield for either yet. And some great NBA players like Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Elton Brand, Joe Johnson, Allen Iverson, Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, Tracy McGrady, Marcus Camby, etc. are back home. We could have sent a better team.
So, why in the ham sammich am I suggesting this team might be better than the 92′ squad? Simple: The level of competition.
Back in 92′, few of the foreign teams had legit NBA players. Germany had Detlef Schrempf, who was a 6th man for the Sonics. Lithuania had then-current Golden State Warrior reserve Šarūnas Marčiulionis and eventual Blazer Arvydas Sabonis. Croatia had five current or future NBA players in Dražen Petrović, Toni Kukoč, Dino Radja, Stojko Vranković, and Žan Tabak. Petrović died before he made a huge NBA impact. Toni Kukoč went on to a respectable NBA career. The other guys were pioneers in the art of weedcarrying excellent luggage handlers.
This year, seemingly every opponent has 2-3 solid NBA players. China has the NBA’s best big man in Yao Ming, budding star Yi Jianlian, Lakers rookie Sun Yue, and NBA yet Wang Zhizhi. Germany has Clippers star Chris Kaman and recent NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki. Greece has recent NBA players Vasileios Spanoulis, Antonis Fotsis, Andreas Glyniadakis, and Clippers draftee Sofoklis Schortsanitis. Spain has Lakers all-star big man Pau Gasol, Blazers rookie Rudy Fernandez, recent NBA players Raul Lopez, Juan Carlos Navarro, and Jorge Garbajosa, Raptors starting PG Jose Calderon, Grizzlies rookie Marc Gasol, and teen sensation (and likely #1 pick in next year’s draft) Ricky Rubio. Australia has Bucks’ center and recent #1 overall pick Andrew Bogut. Argentina, Lithuania, Croatia, and Russia have more NBA players than I’ve got time and space to list here.
But each and every one of these teams has been completely obliterated by the Redeem Team. Every single one.
I’m not saying the original Dream Team wouldn’t have rolled over these teams with ease, they probably would have won by even more, but there’s no way of knowing. And let’s not forget, in addition to playing vastly inferior opponents, the Dream Team had the whole fear/star factor at play. It was common for opposing teams to be in total awe of Team USA and ask for photos, autographs, and jerseys after, before, and sometimes even during games. No such thing is happening for the Redeem Team, since they already play most of their opponents during the regular season. Their foes are getting thrashed, but they ain’t scurred. Many of them have beaten Team USA before.
I suspect many of you will tell me I’m smoking for going out on a limb and saying this, but I do actually believe this year’s team’s accomplishment is more impressive than the Dream Team. That doesn’t necessarily mean this year’s Redeem Team is necessarily a better team that the 92′ squad, so please, spare me the comments. I am emphatically not calling this a better team, despite this title’s post. But when you consider all the factors, and the net result, you’d be hard convincing me that what these guys are doing isn’t as awe inspiring, if not greater.
Question: Assuming you’ve watched both teams in action, am I too far out of bounds in suggesting that this year’s Redeem Team is just as impressive, if not more so than the Original Dream Team? Which squad would win a Best of Seven series in a theoretical head to head match up? Would you like some of what I’ve been smoking?
USA Basketball Wiki [Wikipedia]
Filed under: Judge Joe Brown Says : "DO BETTER.", NBA = Nuthin' But Africans, Nigga Nonsense
With the way Lebron, Melo, Kobe, and Co. are throttling their foes, it’s no surprise they have some extra time on their hands in China.
I couldn’t think of a good enough caption for this priceless photo, which I’m sure Bron Bron’s baby moms just saved on a thumbnail drive as evidence. Anyways, you provide the winning caption, I’ll provide the CapriSuns.
All jokes aside, as stupid as it sounds to be “proud” of a bunch of multimillionaires who play a game for a living, I’m very proud of the way these guys have handled their biz over in China thus far. They’ve completely obliterated 5 straight foes by an average of 32.2 points, and played the game with class, even as they avenged their loss to Greece, and got back at Spain for that lil’ “slant eyes” incident.
The gold medal is a mere formality now, but perhaps more than anything, Team USA has shown that the United States does dominate something.
We’re #1 (again)!
Question: Is there any chance in Hades that Team USA somehow manages to lose one of their final 3 games? Do you feel the Redeem Team has gotten the job done? Do you feel their story has been somewhat lost in the Michael Phelps hoopla, or is it merely a matter of timing? What was Bron-Bron thinking?
Team USA blitzes Germany, 106-57 [Dallas Morning News]
Filed under: Judge Joe Brown Says : "DO BETTER.", NBA = Nuthin' But Africans, That Sh*t Is Racist, What A DoucheBag
Man, are these Olympics turning into some odd soap opera or what? Yeah, the Michael Phelps thing is cool, but otherwise, these games have been one downer after the next. First, there were the CGI fireworks. Then that Milli Vanilli-style switcheroo with the little girl singing the anthem.
You and I both know that Team USA Basketball’s “Redeem Team” is just as much about P.R. as it is winning the gold. Yeah, the NBA is interested in reclaiming it’s ever diminishing throne as the King Of All Hoops. But David Stern and Co. are equally interested in re-branding the NBA’s top stars as do-gooding patriots, replacing their current image as underachieving, oversexed, overpaid, overly aggressive baby daddies.
So, thus far we’ve seen Team USA exercising restraint and not going all out with putting a Nike in their opponents behinds. Sure, their 3 point shooting is janky, and may be a precursor of upcoming problems. But thus far, during the exhibition season and their easy routs of China and Angola, it’s clear they’ve been restrained. Coach K, Jerry Colangelo, and David Stern have let these young Negroes know that they are to be on their best behavior at all times. Thus, you get thunderous fast break dunks and demoralizing trapping D, but none of the sneering and crotch grabbing of past editions of The Dream Team. And yeah, I’m talkin’ about that 96′ team from Atlanta, that featured Shawn Kemp clutching his infamously prolific Babymaker like he was at the BET Awards or somethin’.
By comparison, these dudes look like choirboys. Heck, they even had them dressed like they were bout’ to Drive Miss Daisy during the opening ceremonies, with those white caps and all. Jesse Owens was crying inside. So was I. But it’s all about diplomacy, and selling more shoes and jerseys.[1] Thus, the average margins of victory have been slimmer. They only beat Angola by twenty something the other day. The Original 92′ Dream Team beat Angola by like two hundred twenty something.
Here’s to hoping Team USA returns to their ghetto roots and puts a nice a$$ kickin’ on those Spaniards.
Players on Spain’s Olympic basketball team defended a photo in an ad showing the players using their fingers to apparently make their eyes look more Chinese.The photo, which has been running as a newspaper spread in Spain since Friday, shows all 15 players making the gesture on a basketball court adorned with a Chinese dragon. The photo was part of a publicity campaign for team sponsor Seur, a Spanish courier company, and is being used only in Spain.
International media criticized the photo. London’s Daily Telegraph said Spain’s “poor reputation for insensitivity toward racial issues has been further harmed” by the photo.
“This was clearly inappropriate, but we understand the Spanish team intended no offense and has apologized,” Emmanuelle Moreau, a spokeswoman for the International Olympic Committee, said in an e-mail. “The matter rests there as far as the IOC is concerned.”
The OCA, an organization representing Asian-Pacific Americans, also found the photo disturbing. “It is unfortunate that this type of imagery would rear its head at a time that is supposed to be about world unity,” George Wu, the group’s deputy director, said in a statement.
The Spanish women’s basketball team also posed for a photo doing the same thing, and four members of Argentina’s women’s Olympic soccer team were shown making similar faces in a photograph published last week.
Never one to mince words, Team USA guard Jason Kidd cut right to the chase and said the exact same thing I was thinkin’: Imagine if some Negroes had the nerve to pull this stunt.
Jason Kidd considered the consequences had those giddy European faces been substituted with those of Team USA.“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.”
For Spain, there are several NBA players, including the Lakers’ Pau Gasol and Toronto’s Jose Calderon, in this unnerving team photo. They wore Spanish uniforms and had the federation’s seal on the floor. It ran as a full-page advertisement in a Madrid newspaper, an advertisement for a national team sponsor. This wasn’t an impromptu shot, but a carefully calculated choice.
“They have some explaining to do,” Kidd said. “They’ll come up with something good.”
Gasol and Calderon aren’t just accountable to Spain on this Olympic stage but the global corporate entity that pays them more than $130 million in pro contracts. The NBA could’ve delivered a ready rebuke on Wednesday and there was none.
As much as anything, this episode feeds a prevailing feeling among African-American NBA players that they’re the constant scapegoats for whatever issues – real or perceived – plague the sport. Without the public demanding a pound of accountability for European players, do they get a pass?
Good for you, Jason. Thanks for stating the obvious. I’d like to see LeBron do the same, but he’s got too many shoes to sell. This nearly makes up for that lackluster playoff performance last Spring. Nearly.
Spain doesn’t think this was racist, merely good fun. Since I’m not into spreading racist stereotypes, I’ll allow you to insert your own snappy comebacks you-know-where.
Sadly, the Basketball Gods didn’t shine brightly enough on China, as they lost their bid at personal redemption, blowing a 14 point 4th quarter lead to lose to Spain by 10 in OT the other night. Then again, this is the same Spanish team chock full of NBA talent that was supposed to be Team USA’s biggest opponent barely squeaking by a Chinese team that the USA squad throttled by thirty-plus the other night. I smell a beatdown.
Fear not China, we got your back. Spain, prepare for a thrashing.
Question: Team Spain swears this was in good humor, and not even remotely racist. Do you understand the logic of their apology or are they full of crap? How much should Team USA bludgeon this team by to extract some ancillary revenge?
Members of Spanish team say photo not meant as offensive [ESPN]
Spain photo exposing NBA double standard? [Yahoo! Sports]
[1] Oddly enough, in a country of one billion, it turns out that Yao Ming not only doesn’t have the best selling jersey, he’s not even in the Top 10. Kobe rules the world!
Filed under: Judge Joe Brown Says : "DO BETTER.", NBA = Nuthin' But Africans, That Sh*t Is Racist, What A DoucheBag
Man, are these Olympics turning into some odd soap opera or what? Yeah, the Michael Phelps thing is cool, but otherwise, these games have been one downer after the next. First, there were the CGI fireworks. Then that Milli Vanilli-style switcheroo with the little girl singing the anthem.
You and I both know that Team USA Basketball’s “Redeem Team” is just as much about P.R. as it is winning the gold. Yeah, the NBA is interested in reclaiming it’s ever diminishing throne as the King Of All Hoops. But David Stern and Co. are equally interested in re-branding the NBA’s top stars as do-gooding patriots, replacing their current image as underachieving, oversexed, overpaid, overly aggressive baby daddies.
So, thus far we’ve seen Team USA exercising restraint and not going all out with putting a Nike in their opponents behinds. Sure, their 3 point shooting is janky, and may be a precursor of upcoming problems. But thus far, during the exhibition season and their easy routs of China and Angola, it’s clear they’ve been restrained. Coach K, Jerry Colangelo, and David Stern have let these young Negroes know that they are to be on their best behavior at all times. Thus, you get thunderous fast break dunks and demoralizing trapping D, but none of the sneering and crotch grabbing of past editions of The Dream Team. And yeah, I’m talkin’ about that 96′ team from Atlanta, that featured Shawn Kemp clutching his infamously prolific Babymaker like he was at the BET Awards or somethin’.
By comparison, these dudes look like choirboys. Heck, they even had them dressed like they were bout’ to Drive Miss Daisy during the opening ceremonies, with those white caps and all. Jesse Owens was crying inside. So was I. But it’s all about diplomacy, and selling more shoes and jerseys.[1] Thus, the average margins of victory have been slimmer. They only beat Angola by twenty something the other day. The Original 92′ Dream Team beat Angola by like two hundred twenty something.
Here’s to hoping Team USA returns to their ghetto roots and puts a nice a$$ kickin’ on those Spaniards.
Players on Spain’s Olympic basketball team defended a photo in an ad showing the players using their fingers to apparently make their eyes look more Chinese.The photo, which has been running as a newspaper spread in Spain since Friday, shows all 15 players making the gesture on a basketball court adorned with a Chinese dragon. The photo was part of a publicity campaign for team sponsor Seur, a Spanish courier company, and is being used only in Spain.
International media criticized the photo. London’s Daily Telegraph said Spain’s “poor reputation for insensitivity toward racial issues has been further harmed” by the photo.
“This was clearly inappropriate, but we understand the Spanish team intended no offense and has apologized,” Emmanuelle Moreau, a spokeswoman for the International Olympic Committee, said in an e-mail. “The matter rests there as far as the IOC is concerned.”
The OCA, an organization representing Asian-Pacific Americans, also found the photo disturbing. “It is unfortunate that this type of imagery would rear its head at a time that is supposed to be about world unity,” George Wu, the group’s deputy director, said in a statement.
The Spanish women’s basketball team also posed for a photo doing the same thing, and four members of Argentina’s women’s Olympic soccer team were shown making similar faces in a photograph published last week.
Never one to mince words, Team USA guard Jason Kidd cut right to the chase and said the exact same thing I was thinkin’: Imagine if some Negroes had the nerve to pull this stunt.
Jason Kidd considered the consequences had those giddy European faces been substituted with those of Team USA.“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.”
For Spain, there are several NBA players, including the Lakers’ Pau Gasol and Toronto’s Jose Calderon, in this unnerving team photo. They wore Spanish uniforms and had the federation’s seal on the floor. It ran as a full-page advertisement in a Madrid newspaper, an advertisement for a national team sponsor. This wasn’t an impromptu shot, but a carefully calculated choice.
“They have some explaining to do,” Kidd said. “They’ll come up with something good.”
Gasol and Calderon aren’t just accountable to Spain on this Olympic stage but the global corporate entity that pays them more than $130 million in pro contracts. The NBA could’ve delivered a ready rebuke on Wednesday and there was none.
As much as anything, this episode feeds a prevailing feeling among African-American NBA players that they’re the constant scapegoats for whatever issues – real or perceived – plague the sport. Without the public demanding a pound of accountability for European players, do they get a pass?
Good for you, Jason. Thanks for stating the obvious. I’d like to see LeBron do the same, but he’s got too many shoes to sell. This nearly makes up for that lackluster playoff performance last Spring. Nearly.
Spain doesn’t think this was racist, merely good fun. Since I’m not into spreading racist stereotypes, I’ll allow you to insert your own snappy comebacks you-know-where.
Sadly, the Basketball Gods didn’t shine brightly enough on China, as they lost their bid at personal redemption, blowing a 14 point 4th quarter lead to lose to Spain by 10 in OT the other night. Then again, this is the same Spanish team chock full of NBA talent that was supposed to be Team USA’s biggest opponent barely squeaking by a Chinese team that the USA squad throttled by thirty-plus the other night. I smell a beatdown.
Fear not China, we got your back. Spain, prepare for a thrashing.
Question: Team Spain swears this was in good humor, and not even remotely racist. Do you understand the logic of their apology or are they full of crap? How much should Team USA bludgeon this team by to extract some ancillary revenge?
Members of Spanish team say photo not meant as offensive [ESPN]
Spain photo exposing NBA double standard? [Yahoo! Sports]
[1] Oddly enough, in a country of one billion, it turns out that Yao Ming not only doesn’t have the best selling jersey, he’s not even in the Top 10. Kobe rules the world!
Filed under: NBA = Nuthin' But Africans
The United States is the greatest country in the history of all countries evar, and I wouldn’t wanna live anyplace else. But keepin’ it real, this country isn’t really number one in too many things.
Well, we’re number one in use of illegal drugs. Number one in Corporate taxation. Number one in carbon emissions. Number one in undiagnosed mental illness. Number one in incarceration. Those aren’t exactly things to brag about though.
One good area where we’ve always been #1 has been Olympic basketball, which made Team USA’s crotch-grabbing fall from grace in recent years very disappointing. But lo and behold, this year they actually assembled a real team, instead of some AAU outfit, and happy days appear to be back again, starting with yesterday’s throttling of China.
I’ll admit I don’t pay much attention to the Olympics generally, and this year will probably be no exception although Friday’s opening in ceremony was the stuff HD TV was made for. Still I’ll be setting the Tivo at odd times of day, watching Kobe, D-Wade, Lebron, Melo, and the rest of this merry band of all-stars restore our reputation by obliterating foes worldwide.
It’s the American way.
Question: Are you planning on following this year’s Olympic games? Which events interest you most? Do you think there’s any way Kobe Bean and the rest of Team USA can manage to blow it?
Energetic Team USA lights up China in 101-70 win [USA Today]
Filed under: NBA = Nuthin' But Africans
The United States is the greatest country in the history of all countries evar, and I wouldn’t wanna live anyplace else. But keepin’ it real, this country isn’t really number one in too many things.
Well, we’re number one in use of illegal drugs. Number one in Corporate taxation. Number one in carbon emissions. Number one in undiagnosed mental illness. Number one in incarceration. Those aren’t exactly things to brag about though.
One good area where we’ve always been #1 has been Olympic basketball, which made Team USA’s crotch-grabbing fall from grace in recent years very disappointing. But lo and behold, this year they actually assembled a real team, instead of some AAU outfit, and happy days appear to be back again, starting with yesterday’s throttling of China.
I’ll admit I don’t pay much attention to the Olympics generally, and this year will probably be no exception although Friday’s opening in ceremony was the stuff HD TV was made for. Still I’ll be setting the Tivo at odd times of day, watching Kobe, D-Wade, Lebron, Melo, and the rest of this merry band of all-stars restore our reputation by obliterating foes worldwide.
It’s the American way.
Question: Are you planning on following this year’s Olympic games? Which events interest you most? Do you think there’s any way Kobe Bean and the rest of Team USA can manage to blow it?
Energetic Team USA lights up China in 101-70 win [USA Today]
