Weve now established that Rush Limbaugh cannot own an NFL team given his unacceptable (read: conservative) political comments. What about sports figures executives and commentators who offer their left-leaning political thoughts?
Many of us turn to the sports pages before the news section. For just a moment we can put aside worries about the economy Iraq Afghanistan ObamaCare the peril of global warming government bailouts and the feds borrowing and spending.
In sports we want to read or hear about who ran the fastest scored the most points defeated the opponent. In sports there is an oasis -- until anti-GOP anti-Bush anti-conservative comments slap us.
National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern was asked whether Kobe Bryant should continue to play while being prosecuted for rape. Stern responded: Absolutely. We dont have a Patriot Act in the NBA. That means that youre innocent until proven guilty. What does the Patriot Act --passed to fight terrorism -- have to do with the presumption of innocence or guilt?
New York Times sports writer George Vecsey wrote about how the French handled the allegation that cyclist Lance Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs. Vecsey wrote Personally I think the French have linked Armstrong with George W. Bush surely a disservice to the cyclist. Nice.
Stephen A. Smith -- the usually insightful and entertaining ESPN analyst -- in an appearance on Chris Matthews MSNBC show said (Republican former New York Mayor Rudolph) Giuliani is a dictator. Oh.
New York Times sports writer Harvey Araton in an article about friction between two U.S. Olympic speedskaters wrote At the root of the conflict is (one skaters) belief that (the other skater) has been attempting to swift boat him. You see Swift boating to many liberals has now become a synonym for lying. Never mind that the real Swift boaters were ex-military men raising legitimate points about the military record of former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
Bryant Gumbel on his HBO Real Sports program said that he wouldnt watch the Winter Olympics. Gumbel said Try not to laugh when someone says these are the worlds greatest athletes despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention. Gumbel too finds soccer boring because he knows that in soccer they score about as often as Ann Coulter makes sense.
When then-Gov. and GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin attended a hockey game in Philadelphia The New York Times posted a story from a hockey blogger who wrote Palin ... was greeted by resounding (almost deafening) boos from the Flyers crowd. Really? The Associated Press wrote: The Alaska governor and self-described hockey mom heard a few boos when she walked onto the ice but that soon turned to polite applause. ... Palin waved to the crowd and smiled as she dropped the puck to applause and cheers. (Maybe Palin attended two different games.) At least the Times quickly pulled down and replaced its post with a more accurate version.
Norman Chad a syndicated sports columnist bemoaned the dearth of black sports editors and staff. He asserted Were whiter than Newt Gingrichs Fourth of July barbecue.
Maxim magazine asked NBA basketball superstar LeBron James If there was one guy on the planet you could dunk on who would it be? James responded: If it doesnt have to be a basketball player George W. Bush. I would dunk on his ass break the rim and shatter the glass. Bushs sport was baseball. Wouldnt former prep-school baller President Barack Obama present a bigger challenge?
Popular television sports analyst and former NBA star Charles Barkley said I was a Republican until they lost their minds. He also offered that only two presidents in his lifetime -- Clinton and Carter -- had ever done anything for black people.
Nation magazines sports editor Dave Zirin condemned Limbaughs interest in purchasing an NFL team as having somebody in an NFL owners box who (players) know views them with naked and open contempt because of the color of their skin.
John Salley former NBA player and co-host of Fox Sports Best Damn Sports Show Period said in an appearance on a podcast: I have a question: Do you hate Obama? Why are so many people -- who now hate him -- after just 266 days they loved him? (sic) All of white America. Not all of em but the majority. So opposition to policies equals hate.
New York Times sports columnist Selena Roberts when it became increasingly clear that Duke lacrosse players were innocent of rape channeled her inner Dan my-facts-are-wrong-but-my-points-valid Rather: What happens if all the charges are dismissed? There is ... the irrefutable culture of misogyny racial animus and athlete entitlement that went unrestrained that night. Hey they were falsely accused but well lets examine the big picture.
Now then -- if its not too much to ask -- how did the Yanks do last night?
Larry Elder is a syndicated radio talk show host and best-selling author. His latest book Whats Race Got to Do with It? is available now.
Weve now established that Rush Limbaugh cannot own an NFL team given his unacceptable (read: conservative) political comments. What about sports figures executives and commentators who offer their left-leaning political thoughts?
Many of us turn to the sports pages before the news section. For just a moment we can put aside worries about the economy Iraq Afghanistan ObamaCare the peril of global warming government bailouts and the feds borrowing and spending.
In sports we want to read or hear about who ran the fastest scored the most points defeated the opponent. In sports there is an oasis -- until anti-GOP anti-Bush anti-conservative comments slap us.
National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern was asked whether Kobe Bryant should continue to play while being prosecuted for rape. Stern responded: Absolutely. We dont have a Patriot Act in the NBA. That means that youre innocent until proven guilty. What does the Patriot Act --passed to fight terrorism -- have to do with the presumption of innocence or guilt?
New York Times sports writer George Vecsey wrote about how the French handled the allegation that cyclist Lance Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs. Vecsey wrote Personally I think the French have linked Armstrong with George W. Bush surely a disservice to the cyclist. Nice.
Stephen A. Smith -- the usually insightful and entertaining ESPN analyst -- in an appearance on Chris Matthews MSNBC show said (Republican former New York Mayor Rudolph) Giuliani is a dictator. Oh.
New York Times sports writer Harvey Araton in an article about friction between two U.S. Olympic speedskaters wrote At the root of the conflict is (one skaters) belief that (the other skater) has been attempting to swift boat him. You see Swift boating to many liberals has now become a synonym for lying. Never mind that the real Swift boaters were ex-military men raising legitimate points about the military record of former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
Bryant Gumbel on his HBO Real Sports program said that he wouldnt watch the Winter Olympics. Gumbel said Try not to laugh when someone says these are the worlds greatest athletes despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention. Gumbel too finds soccer boring because he knows that in soccer they score about as often as Ann Coulter makes sense.
When then-Gov. and GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin attended a hockey game in Philadelphia The New York Times posted a story from a hockey blogger who wrote Palin ... was greeted by resounding (almost deafening) boos from the Flyers crowd. Really? The Associated Press wrote: The Alaska governor and self-described hockey mom heard a few boos when she walked onto the ice but that soon turned to polite applause. ... Palin waved to the crowd and smiled as she dropped the puck to applause and cheers. (Maybe Palin attended two different games.) At least the Times quickly pulled down and replaced its post with a more accurate version.
Norman Chad a syndicated sports columnist bemoaned the dearth of black sports editors and staff. He asserted Were whiter than Newt Gingrichs Fourth of July barbecue.
Maxim magazine asked NBA basketball superstar LeBron James If there was one guy on the planet you could dunk on who would it be? James responded: If it doesnt have to be a basketball player George W. Bush. I would dunk on his ass break the rim and shatter the glass. Bushs sport was baseball. Wouldnt former prep-school baller President Barack Obama present a bigger challenge?
Popular television sports analyst and former NBA star Charles Barkley said I was a Republican until they lost their minds. He also offered that only two presidents in his lifetime -- Clinton and Carter -- had ever done anything for black people.
Nation magazines sports editor Dave Zirin condemned Limbaughs interest in purchasing an NFL team as having somebody in an NFL owners box who (players) know views them with naked and open contempt because of the color of their skin.
John Salley former NBA player and co-host of Fox Sports Best Damn Sports Show Period said in an appearance on a podcast: I have a question: Do you hate Obama? Why are so many people -- who now hate him -- after just 266 days they loved him? (sic) All of white America. Not all of em but the majority. So opposition to policies equals hate.
New York Times sports columnist Selena Roberts when it became increasingly clear that Duke lacrosse players were innocent of rape channeled her inner Dan my-facts-are-wrong-but-my-points-valid Rather: What happens if all the charges are dismissed? There is ... the irrefutable culture of misogyny racial animus and athlete entitlement that went unrestrained that night. Hey they were falsely accused but well lets examine the big picture.
Now then -- if its not too much to ask -- how did the Yanks do last night?
Larry Elder is a syndicated radio talk show host and best-selling author. His latest book Whats Race Got to Do with It? is available now.
