WXRR-104.5 FM was airing a webcast of the Southern Miss spring game over the weekend, when all of a sudden the commentary got extra filthy. Two DJs for the network were having a "private conversation" and they unfortunately didn't realize that it was actually being broadcast to a handful of people listening online. Now that wouldn't have been a problem, if the conversation hadn't been about blowjobs, transexuals, bathroom habits, and of course the N-word. Here's a portion of the audio, if you care to listen to the whole thing, EDSBS has the over thirty minute version. Oh and a reminder that it is VERY NSFW....

Wow. That one just kept going, and going. Here's what Blakely Communications, who owns the station, has issued as an apology...."The employees were not aware that their conversation was accidentally being picked up by a live microphone and could be heard by Southern Miss fans who were trying to listen to the webcast of the game."

Ah yes....the standard "it wasn't our fault" move. Forget having the two disgusting employees say something. We'll just pretend like it never happened and move on.

Southern Miss Had A Fun Spring Game (Every Day Should Be Saturday)
USM Broadcaster Apologizes (Clarion Ledger)

During last night's Penn State-Notre Dame N.I.T. Semifinal game, ESPN decided to sit down with Joe Paterno and the result is one of the most hilarious on-air interviews I've ever witnessed. After some Football questions, Bill Raftery decided to ask the Coach what he thought about College Basketball and this was his response (sorry for the video quality). Via HHR....

"They all talk about it as a Black Man's game now. Everyone says it's a Black Man's game. When I grew up it was a Jewish mans game."- Joe Paterno

Obviously Joe Paterno wasn't being derogatory in any way, but it's still awkward to hear someone who's 82 years old not being politically correct. The added clip of Joe Pa emulating the granny free throw was just icing on the cake.

JoPa Being JoPa (HHR)

I love when graphics go bad, which is why this screenshot sent in from RG makes me laugh so much. As the Raiders and Jamarcus Russell, were picking apart the Texans, CBS put up a graphic for the QB which contained a very interesting photo. Take a look....


I poke fun, but Jamarcus Janikowski would be a badass name, and they're basically the same build so it's understandable how CBS would mix them up. Wait, no it's not.

Charles Barkley has said and done a lot of controversial things in his days, but his latest comments might bring about the most change. Contrary to popular belief, I don't agree with everything Barkley says, but on this issue I don't see how you can't. Barkley stirred the pot recently and he went on the Dan Patrick Show to apologize to new Auburn Head Coach, Gene Chizik, and to reiterate the need to hire Black Coaches....

Look....it's OBVIOUS that College Football programs aren't hiring Black Coaches. It's even more OBVIOUS that Turner Gill needs to be picked up somewhere and soon, but until either someone at a large University makes a stand or players boycott places like Auburn, nothing is going to change. And that's pretty depressing if you ask me. Your grand total of Black Coaches in Division 1-A is four....four people out of one hundred and twenty. Unbelievable.

Oh and be sure to listen to the rest of the interview, and especially the part when Barkley explains how he was kicked off the Auburn Basketball coach search committee. Hilarious story.

Barkley upset at colleges' racial bias (Dan Patrick Show)

So I was randomly forwarded a casting call from an anonymous tipster for an ESPN commercial which features various students calling people around the country to get them to watch more College Basketball. Seems like a basic concept right? Well wait until you read what the Casting Director is looking for from each individual acting as students from various Universities....

ESPN
Promo
SAG
PAY RATE: SAG PROMO RATE

Director: Matt Aselton
Casting Director: ERICA PALGON
Interview: Thurs 11/13 and Fri 11/14, Mon 11/17
Fitting: 11/21
Shoot: 11/24, 25
Location: New York

SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY LIZ LEWIS CASTING PARTNERS

EVERYONE MUST BE STRONG WITH COMEDY/IMPROV. PLEASE WRITE ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES, IN THE NOTES PAGE, ABOUT ACTOR'S COMEDIC/IMPROV EXPERIENCE/TRAINING, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN LOOKING THROUGH SUBMISSIONS

All roles are ages 18-22 yrs old. WITH THE EXCEPTION of PERDUE.

The concept: The spots take place in the ESPN College Basketball Call Center (CBBCC). All of these guys are there representing their schools, calling people on the phone to get them to watch more College Basketball. Basically they are selling college basketball.

SEEKING:

[ DUKE UNIVERSITY ]
MALE. Our guy for Duke UNIVERSITY is a smart, with it, young WHITE male. He's handsome. He's from money. He is, in short, the kind of guy, everyone can't stand. He is the kind of guy everyone wants to be.

[ NORTH CAROLINA ]
FEMALE. She's a Southern bell. She is the counterpoint to Duke. Being young and pretty everyone wants to be around her. She's charming. Not a dingbat, she's sharp.

[ TEXAS ]
MALE. Straight out20of an Abercrombie & Fitch catalog, Texas is a young man's man. He is the kind of guy that could field dress a deer and then take you to the debutante ball in 20. Polite, farm boy. He's good at everything. Except call centering.

[ KANSAS ]
MALE. Kansas is straight off the farm. However, he takes great pains to point out that Kansas is very cosmopolitan, as witnessed by their record, their burgeoning tech industry, and their hybrid corns (bonus:
modified by fish genes!)

[ CONNECTICUT ]
MALE. Connecticut is all things Connecticut. He's a little bit older.
He's a little bit thicker around the waist. He's WHITE. He's also competitive. Very. Waspy, blue blood.

[ OKLAHOMA ]
MALE. Oklahoma is awesome and he thinks everything is awesome. He's very enthusiastic about all things call center and all things life and he wants to share this contagious enthusiasm with everyone he meets.
Wide-eyed, as naive as they come.

[ LOUISVILLE ]
MALE. Louisville is very true to place. He's short. He's HISPANIC. And one day he hopes to carry on in proud Louisville tradition and race thoroughbreds.

[ TENNESSEE ]
FEMALE. Tennessee is orange crazy. The ice tray in her orange fridge, that freezes the water she dyes orange, is that orange. The party girl cowboy hat she wears is a white and orange zebra print. The tattoo on her lower back is Pantone 3 for that Tennessee orange. The only thing that's not orange is her dog, which is the20mascot Smokey. Did we mention she's crazy? A slutty girl who would hang out at the cowgirl hall of fame.

[ PURDUE ]
MALE. Child prodigy. 14-year-old. Or open to an 18-year-old who looks 14. Aeronautical engineering. Wiz kid. Think McLovin from Superbad.

[ VILLANOVA ]
MALE. Villanova is the poor man's Duke — he's not quite as handsome, he's not quite as rich, he's not quite as dapper. After 2 or 3 beers though, who cares? As he's friendly enough.

[ NOTRE DAME ]
MALE He's an ASIAN kid who is in to all things Notre Dame, ridiculously so. Oh, and he's always fighting. Every time we encounter him he always has some words or another, be it the faint traces of a black eye, or a scab or whatever. He epitomizes the fightin' Irish.

[ PITTSBURGH ]
FEMALE. Pittsburgh is a tomboy. She obviously grew up in the neighborhood and isn't going to take any guff from anyone and she'll wallop you in the eye with a crowbar if you suggest different. So don't. Think Tina Fey type.

[ SYRACUSE ]
MALE. Jewish kid from Long Island that is loving the college experience. It has opened up a world he never knew existed. All you can eat buffets in the cafeteria — who knew? To Syracuse, everything is a party.

[ GEORGETOWN ]
FEMALE. Georgetown, a 4.36 GPA who's lived in 9 world-class cities, but all the time in her sister's shadow (her GPA is 4.37). She's sort of the female Duke, except most people like her. Think Reese Witherspoon.

[ GONZAGA ]
MALE. No one knows what Gonzaga looks like because no one knows where to find him. He is still stuck in the grunge look, reckless, in from the wild. Flannel look. Chews tobacco. Guy that would go to school in the Pacific Northwest.

[ MARQUETTE ]
FEMALE. Marquette, on a scale of 1-10, she's a six. A B-, C in every category you can define a person by. Her defining characteristic is you don't really remember her. You're not breaking your arm to get to her, but you're not chewing it off to get away. She does have a winning personality though. Midwest, sweet girl.

[ MICHIGAN STATE ]
MALE. Blue collar to the core. Michigan State is one tough kid that grew up by putting a few down. That's just Michigan State's way. Big beefy kid.

[ MEMPHIS ]
MALE. What can we say about Memphis? He's a southern BLACK kid, really culinary and polite. He's artistic, and draws comic books really well.

[ MARYLAND ]
MALE. He plays lacrosse. A dude. Low key. Mid Atlantic, wears baseball hats and chinos.

[ OHIO STATE ]
MALE. He looks like Jim Tressle (head coach of Ohio State football) in the dress code. Red sweater vest. Always. Doesn't care for swearing either — of course we never really test this out as they are commercial advertisements and no one swears in them, but it's true nevertheless.
A Republican.

[ ILLINOIS ]
MALE. African-American. Young Obama. Think Toofer-the straight-laced, Harvard grad write r from 30 Rock (Keith Powell)

[ OKLAHOMA STATE ]
FEMALE. She's a fun loving girl, Oklahoma born and bred. Decided not to travel out of State so she should be closer to home. She's a flirt.
She's a hot chick.

[ TEXAS A&M ]
MALE. True to the region, Texas A&M is one tough dude. He's not big physically, but he is imposing. He's an ROTC kid and his 100-yard stare lets you know it.

[ BAYLOR ]
MALE & FEMALE. Baylor is not one people but two. It's a couple. In fact, we're not even sure which one goes to Baylor. We only know they are madly in love. Their world is each other, which is really sweet or really sickening, depending. Think Sheri Oteri and Will Farrell as the cheerleaders.

So, ummmmm yeah. Basically if you're in actor/actress in NYC and you want to be a part of possibly one of the most sexist, racist and stereotypical ads ever, then this is for you! They're so stereotypical that they're almost funny. I mean...."[ MARQUETTE ]
FEMALE. Marquette, on a scale of 1-10, she's a six.....Really? I mean....REALLY?!?!?! Oh and so they want one "BLACK kid" and one "African-American"? Pretty funny how the "African-American" went to Harvard and the "BLACK kid" draws comic books. Unbelievable.

Good lord. I know directors are looking for certain people to fill roles, but are casting calls always this ridiculous? I wish I was making this up. Just flat out unbelievable.

Update: According to the original tipster, the notice has been taken down and here is ESPN's statement on the matter....

"Our marketing department just learned of this casting call today and the campaign is not something we will pursue. The language and approach reflected in that document were not approved by us and in no way represent ESPN or the respect we have for the college community."

Fair enough. When things get outsourced like this, you can certainly lose a lot of control. I don't think ESPN is entirely to blame for this one, but maybe they should keep a closer eye on things like this in the future.

I know you're probably sick of the ESPYs stories, but there's just one more to pass along. According to Arash Markazi of SI, not every Justin Timberlake joke was well received last week (and no not because it just wasn't funny). Markazi was at the event and says that Timberlake used the term "shucking and jiving" when joking about Paul Pierce's NBA Finals injury and it was taken out of the tape delayed showing....

In describing how Pierce quickly came back after being taken off on a wheelchair, Timberlake joked that Pierce was back on the court, "shucking and jiving." The comment, which was cut out of the broadcast that aired Sunday night, was met with mostly silence from the crowd when the show taped on Wednesday before Timberlake transitioned into his next joke about Eli Manning.

The phrase, which has racial connotations originating from slavery, has been discussed recently when used by others, who like Timberlake, most likely weren't aware of its meaning and origin.

Interesting. I wasn't aware of the phrase's connotation either until this article, but with four days to play with I it was a smart idea to take it out. You learn something new everyday.

Easy Edit (Fan Nation)

Floyd Mayweather decided to take time out of his busy WWE schedule to lay into HBO's coverage of him over the weekend. The recently retired fighter had some choice words for the cable channel's analysts and more specifically Jim Lampley....

Mayweather criticized the network's announcers for a bias against black fighters, and for not treating their own indiscretions as seriously as those committed by people they cover, during an exclusive interview with The Press.

"Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, Emanuel Steward, they're always talking about the negative things in my life," Mayweather said. "But I've seen Jim Lampley in the same strip club as me before. They always want to talk about me going to strip clubs, but they don't want to talk about that.

Mayweather, the Grand Rapids native who returned home this weekend to host a holiday carnival and entertainment festival, was convicted on four counts of misdemeanor assault, and pleaded no contest to another, earlier in his career.

"He caught a court case himself, too. But when they catch a case, all they do is take them off the air a couple weeks, then it's over."

Lampley is currently on probation for violating a restraining order leveed on him by his former girlfriend and according to Mayweather, routinely brings up his outside the ring issues. It's always a tough spot for announcers who have had trouble with the law themselves to speak on the subject and in most cases they should probably just leave that talk to the analysts.

Mayweather rips HBO announcers for racial bias (M Live)

From Fanhouse via The 700 Level comes this clip of Charles Barkley on Philadelphia's NBC-10 last night talking about how tough the Philadelphia fans and media are on African Americans. It's an interesting watch and he also has some good advice for the Phils Front Office.

He's got some points right and some kind of wrong. Philly is tough on all athletes really. When I lived there for a year back in 2003 the city was at the height of its "Pat Burrell Hate". I don't think I've ever seen an athlete get skewered more in the media on a daily basis. Obviously that's just one example, but in a city that booed Santa Claus you can't say they target black athletes to hate on.

Charles Barkley Doesn't Think Any 2008 Free Agents Make Sixers a Contender (The 700 Level)
Charles Barkley: Philly Is 'Always Tougher on Black Guys' (Fanhouse)

Hey, it's a race driven kind of day isn't it? Why not just bring it full circle with some thoughts from Jemele Hill on her suspension, Boston Radio Stations, and comparisons to Don Imus. Via an interview she did with MDS over at Fanhouse....

The statement released by ESPN said you were relieved of your duties to reflect on the impact of your words. What have your reflections been like over the last week?
It's been a myriad of emotions. Obviously, I was embarrassed. I was frustrated, and at times a little angry. But I wanted to keep in mind the actual offense and not get caught up in the hoopla that surrounded what was done. That's the part that can send you into negative places and I tried very hard and I think I largely succeeded in staying away from that – I never read anything that was written about me or said about me by various blogs or whatever newspapers might have done it.

The e-mails I received were tough and the only point where I really got mad in terms of the reaction was when that radio station in Boston posted my telephone number and address. That, I thought, was completely out of line.

You were critical of Don Imus. Do you see any similarities between what you wrote and what Imus said, and has this incident led you to reconsider anything you wrote about Imus?
No, I wouldn't reconsider anything that I wrote about Don Imus. I stand behind it. As for the similarities, I'll let people be their own judge. I know some people were putting me in that category and it's certainly their right to do so. I feel differently and I think pulling Imus into this is kind of a distraction. This shouldn't be about whether me and Imus should share the same fate, this should be about my particular insensitivity and not his. I hope this is about me being better as a columnist and as a person.

The Big Lead also reported in October of 2006 that you had signed a two-year contract. Does that mean you might only have a few months left at ESPN?
It was actually November of 2006. Yeah, you're right. It's closer than I thought it was. I'm sure there will be some talking. I usually leave that in the hands of my very capable manager. I try not to think about that. My relationship with ESPN has been very positive and I do not anticipate any contentiousness around that. I have no doubt that will continue.

I don't want to even get into a comparison of our three racial subjects of the day (four if you count Miller over the weekend), but it's good that Hill thinks she erred in making the comparison. It's also very interesting that her contract is up, but as the quote goes, "Any press is good press." Even if the reaction to her column was negative, she's still more than likely to be re-signed by ESPN.

With that said....Can we please stop with all of the racially charged comments in Sports? I don't care if you're Jemele Hill, Don Imus, Johnny Miller, or Joe Schmo. It's so counterproductive, idiotic and just downright tiresome. Enough. Great interview by MDS and you should definitely check out the rest of the questions and responses from Ms. Hill.

Update: Hill has now penned/typed her own apology for ESPN.com. Here's an excerpt....

This isn't about my editors because even if the word "Hitler" never appeared in the posted column last Saturday, that doesn't change the fact that I wrote it and, at the time, found humor in making a moronic comparison between a man who was responsible for killing millions to Detroiters who root for the Boston Celtics.

This is about my living up to a standard I expect of everyone else -- respect, awareness, honesty and accountability.

Rob King, the editor-in-chief of ESPN.com, once said something I've never forgotten. I'm paraphrasing, but if we truly want to see racial progress, you have to be willing to be the dumbest person in the room, a person who can admit to being in need of education.

I wish I'd raised my hand before writing that column last week.

In January, I wrote about Kelly Tilghman, the Golf Channel anchor who was suspended two weeks for joking on the air that young players should "lynch [Tiger Woods] in a back alley." I wrote, "... those who, like Woods, believed this is a 'non-issue' would understand that the word 'lynch' is off-limits to most blacks, just as joking about the Holocaust is off-limits to most Jews."

I got too comfortable with my own knowledge and history of dealing with racial issues. I forgot to ask questions, perhaps subconsciously thinking I knew it all. I've served on numerous diversity panels, and regularly work with the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports. I had a this-would-never-happen-to-me attitude, instead of a let-me-make-sure-this-doesn't happen-to-me attitude. I dropped my guard. I got caught up in being cutesy and wrote something stupid.

I let you down.

Apologizing for an error in judgment (ESPN)
FanHouse Interview: Jemele Hill on Her Hitler Comment, Don Imus Criticism and More (Fanhouse)

Unbelievable. From The Sporting Blog via Politico comes yet another Don Imus racially charged comment in regards to Adam "Pacman" Jones. The conversation was about how Jones wanted to drop the nickname of "Pacman" to turn a page in his career when Imus asked "what color is he?"....

During the show, conversation turned to a story about how suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones now wants to drop his well-known nickname. In the course of the segment, Imus is told that Jones has “been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005.”

Imus asks: “What color is he?”

“He’s African-American,” the host is informed by one of his on-air sidekicks.

“Well, there you go,” Imus said. “Now we know.”

Audio

Good lord. I don't even have words to describe how ignorant that is. Can we just send him to his ranch permanently please? Dick Enberg's earlier today was bad, but this is just downright racist. I don't defend anything Jones has done outside of Football, but there's no place for commentary like this.

Don Imus Has Really Been Working on That Racial Sensitivity Thing (The Sporting Blog)
A new Imus controversy? (Politico)

I swear we can't go even a week without some announcer saying something stupid that upsets a racial, religious, or gender based group. Most recently it was Johnny Miller and Italians, but over the past two years I've been writing this site I think we're up in the teens now.

Well I think we're likely to add yet another controversy brewing after Dick Enberg decided to use the term "Nubian Slaves" while calling an opening round match. He was talking about Roger Federer talking with the Studio Team and how regal the number one player in the World is. Some much so that he would have to be transported like a Sultan being carried by "Four Nubian Slaves"....

"Roger Federer on his way. I wonder how they transport him? One of those Sultan chairs with four Nubian Slaves take him into our studio."- Dick Enberg

I know Enberg wasn't trying to intentionally bring race into his commentary, but he did. Just using the term "slave" alone in an arguably elitist Sport dominated by white individuals alone is going to perk some ears but using the term "Nubian"?! Come on Dick. You're better than that.

There's a battle going on in New York and Willie Randolph and various SNY personalities are in the middle of it. The whole thing began when Randolph decided to respond to criticism by hinting that announcers on SNY were racist because of their treatment of black coaches in New York. SNY's personalities shot back today, and here's a collection of quotes during the war of words....

"I don't know how to put my finger on it," Randolph told the Record's Ian O'Connor. "But I think there's something there. Herman Edwards did pretty well here and he won a couple of playoff [games], and they were pretty hard on Herm. Isiah [Thomas] didn't do a great job, but they beat up Isiah pretty good. ... I don't know if people are used to a certain figurehead. There's something weird about it. They're the artists, I'm the canvas."- Willie Randolph

"Why is Willie wasting any time watching us, for one, and two, I just think it's wrong. I think his comments are wrong. I think some of the best things we do are watching not only Willie, but also his staff, go about their business educating these young men on how to play the game."- Ron Darling

"In my 17 years of major league baseball and 10-plus years of being up here in the booth, I've just never heard of a manager make those kinds of comments before, and I'm really quite surprised that Willie made those comments."- Keith Hernandez

"It's stopping you from doing what you're supposed to be doing: getting ready for the game. Part of the problem we have now is that the manager has chosen to make comments about things that you would think that for him should be water under the bridge. Who cares what anyone says? You care about wins."- Ron Darling

People involved in Sports are so sensitive aren't they? The crazy thing about this whole mess is that SNY is the Mets own channel, so the organization can't be happy with anyone involved it this right now. Expect this to be swept under the rug shortly, but if the Mets fall in the standings (seriously...they're 1.5 games out of first) look for it to resurface.

Mets' Randolph in hot water over latest comments (Newsday)
SNY announcers react to Willie's comments (Newsday)

I think I've come to a level headed approach over the past two years working on this site. Very few things "piss me off" anymore and I do a good job of reminding myself that Sports is in the end just a game and not the end of the World (as much as they my encompass my World). Well this my friends....pisses me off.

Dana Jacobson was doing her daily duties as host of First Take and leading Detroit News' Rob Parker and Skip Bayless through their list of topics when they came to the White Sox blowup doll incident. Watch closely as Dana Jacobson steals the show away from an idiotic point from Rob Parker. Listen closely.....

Let me just write that quote out for all of you again....

"If this was something that degraded somebody racially someway or religiously in some way. Would you view this differently?"

Okay, Rob Parker's understanding of the "you are coming into our home" argument aside (come on)....are you f'ing kidding me Dana Jacobson?!?! This statement is coming from someone who went on a vodka fueled religious tirade to get a laugh out of a crowd at a roast. This also isn't the first time that she's done this either. At the end of last month she questioned Tiger Woods about cursing on the golf course.

How can ESPN continue parading these jokers out there again and again and think that people aren't paying attention? Not all of ESPN is filled with them, in fact most of the employees aren't, but it's the precious few that are making the rest of the network look so bad. Hypocrisy should really be a crime, especially in this case. Good lord.

Dana Jacobson (Of All People) Questions Tiger Woods' Use Of Language (Awful Announcing)

I said it last month and apparently the remove Packer from CBS movement is gaining steam. According to the NY Daily News he might be removed for his ridiculous statements in the Final Four....

CBS is paying $6 billion for the right to air the tourney over the life of its contract with the NCAA. From a business perspective, telling viewers to turn off the TV is not a great idea, especially in a soft advertising market.

Naming a "winner" with plenty of time left in a game does not sit well with corporations paying top dollar to advertise their products during the tournament. Some of these same companies will be asked to purchase time on next year's tourney.

Not only did Packer prematurely turn the lights off - the Tar Heels eventually cut the gap to four points before losing 84-66 - but a few days later in USA Today, he poured salt on the wound.

Packer portrayed himself as an ethical realist just dealing with what he was seeing on the court.

"The integrity of the sport is more important than any promotion for television," Packer told USA Today.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Billy Packer is a cancer to CBS. The guy has called a black player a monkey, made sexist remarks on-air about a female player, used the term fag during an on-air interview, and even told a woman worker at Cameron Indoor Stadium, "Since when do we let women control who gets into a men's basketball game? Why don't you go find a women's game to let people into?" Every single time CBS defends the guy and for what?

All of the sexist, racist and idiotic remarks take a backseat to the guy losing the network millions of dollars. Either way.....it's time to make the move CBS.

Billy Packer can't dance around the stir at CBS (NY Daily News)
CBS Suits Seriously Considering Packer Ouster? (Sports by Brooks)
It's Time CBS, Get Someone Other Than Billy Packer (Awful Announcing)

If I had heard this live I probably wouldn't even have paid attention but I think Deseret News writer Scott Pierce brings up a good point. See Ric Bucher was talking about the home court advantage that the Jazz will get in the Playoffs when he decided to bring up Religion and the fact that outside of the Arena, Utah is boring.....

"Let's be honest. They're Mormon. And they're in Salt Lake. And there's nothing else there," he said. "You've got to smile and be happy all the time. This might be one opportunity for fans to get vicious."

Let's leave aside the lame comment about how there's nothing to do in Utah. That's been done so many times it's neither original nor amusing — let alone accurate. If Bucher had left it at that, nobody would have noticed his comments.

And let's leave aside how dumb it is to assume that everyone in Utah, let alone everyone in the EnergySolutions Arena, is a member of the LDS Church.

But let's be honest. If Bucher had been talking about the Knicks and said, "They're Jews and they're in New York City"; if Bucher had said, "They're African-Americans and they're in Memphis," he would have been suspended if not fired by now.

This is almost along the same lines of someone saying that all Southerners are Rednecks and watch NASCAR, and people just don't ever make the connection that it's prejudiced. Per usual.....just keep religion and race out of things.

Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before (Deseret News)

I've been furiously searching for video of this (why the hell was I watching the Zards-Celts?!?), but according to about a thousand (give or take) emailers, Joe Morgan decided to talk race tonight. Whenever someone goes there you just knoooooow it's going to be good.

Morgan was talking about Jose Reyes and mentioned that he comes from a more entertaining culture. He then decided to drop this on the viewing audience...

"I'm an African-American, we have a little bit more flash." - Joe Morgan

Ah yes Joe, let's start making racial comments. How about the fact that white players are boring and slow? What about the extra muscle that African-Americans are supposed to have??? Good lord this man needs to be stopped. It's not that it's overly racist or THAT controversial, it's just stupid to even bring up. Imagine for one second that Steve Phillips said that. How crazy would the Sports World be in the morning? But since Morgan said it....this is probably the only place you'll see it.

If anyone has video let me know....you will rewarded handsomely.

I put a link in the open thread below, but I thought this one was worthy of its own post. Here is Jay Bilas and Dan Le Batard getting into it on 790 The Ticket earlier this evening....

Wow...that was kind of intense. I wonder if there's a bit of a history between those two. Anyone have some insight? As far as the interview I think Le Batard is right in saying it's not stupid and Bilas is right in bringing up the European angle. Like I say time and time again....no good can come when you bring up race.

Jay Bilas Interview (790 The Ticket)

Who knew that a great center winning the Player of the Year award in College Basketball would cause such great controversy? Of course I'm talking about no other than UNC's Tyler Hansbrough and his umm, caucasianess.

Everything was going along swimmingly in the tournament and all the number one seeds were advancing with ease like they should. That's when Jay Bilas decided to go overboard in praising one player and the flood gates opened up. So much so that he's emailing reporters from the Baltimore Sun and ESPN employees are calling each other out. Where do I even start? Let's go in chronological order....

1) Last Week: Skip Bayless and Rob Parker dismiss Tyler Hansbrough for his whiteness. Let's Go To The Videotape!

Now there's a few problems with this (not Rob Parker calling Eric Montross, Eric Mondross). Yes it's idiotic, but it's borderline racist. And ESPN's LZ Granderson was there to explain....

Could you imagine what would happen if Hollywood released a comedy about football entitled "Black Men Can't Throw"? Rush Limbaugh would be sitting in the theater chuckling with a box of Ho Hos in his lap as movie execs tried to explain to Jesse Jackson and/or Al Sharpton why he/they should not be offended. Yet men and women of both races who are otherwise intelligent not only embrace the notion inherent to "White Men Can't Jump," but it is spoken about as if it's scientific fact.

This is true in the barbershop.

This is true at the local Y.

Apparently it's true on national television as well.

Just last week I watched a pair of journalists dismiss the pro potential of both Tyler Hansbrough and Kevin Love for no other reason than their skin color.....

......If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, racial reconciliation is a two-way street. You can't say Hansbrough won't make a good NBA player because he's white unless you are prepared to also say Oregon's Dennis Dixon won't make a good NFL quarterback because he's black. For every Larry Bird there is a Doug Williams. For every Big Country there is a Stanley Roberts. You'd think we'd figure that out by now, but apparently not.

It almost seems as if ESPN might be pushing the race angle just to get controversy doesn't it LZ? I mean why else would you bring up race when it has nothing to do with anything right (*ahem* Jemele Hill!)? There is a time and place for race discussions but when you force the issue it just comes across as callous and petty. Yes there is a problem, and yes there are biases towards black athletes, but drawing attention to it in this light only makes it worse.

So with that out of the way let's move onto the completely separate issue of Jay Bilas.

2) Jay Bilas goes gah-gah over Hansbrough and Baltimore reporter calls out Bilas and hints at racism.



Via the Baltimore Sun....

Here's some of what Bilas had to say: "He's not supposed to be able to make those [shots from beyond 15 feet]. ... He's willing the ball into the basket. ... His will exceeds his skill, and his skill is considerable. ... Michael Jordan did not out-compete Tyler Hansbrough -- no way."

The problem is hearing the hosannas for Hansbrough with an ear for what has come before. We're back in familiar territory here. The star white player -- no matter how clearly talented -- has somehow elevated himself through the sweat of his brow. The star black player, meanwhile, is doing amazing things on the court because his talent is carrying him.

Here's the thing. Sure Bilas went over the top when praising Hansbrough EVERY SINGLE play, but there's nothing wrong with an announcer marvelling at a player's ability. It happens all the time regardless of race and I've heard Bilas praise numerous players both black and white. It's just the amount of times he did so and at the oddest times that made it stick out to everyone. Here's what Bilas had to say in response to the above statement....

Please accept this in the spirit it is intended. I respect your opinion and judgment, and I would never contact you to question your likes or dislikes regarding broadcasts, broadcasters or the like.

However, I do take exception to your implication that the comments regarding Tyler Hansbrough were racially motivated. If you recall, I compared Hansbrough favorably to the hardest worker and greatest competitor the game has known, Michael Jordan. If you will recall as well, I have praised Curry all season for being a smart player and one that really knows how to play. I have praised countless others for their work ethics.

Reasonable minds can differ on the matters we normally discuss. However, the implication from your point that was directed toward me is offensive and contrary to clear evidence. Such matters require a higher level of discussion, in my judgment, and I believe your blog item regarding me was incorrect and unfair.

Good for Bilas. Broadcasters will always be biased over certain players and teams because that's who they enjoy, played for, or grew up with. Some are obviously worse then others (*ahem* Mike Patrick), but they're human. The fact that Bilas is praising an individual player at UNC when he went to Duke should speak volumes for his credibility if you ask me.

I don't mind race coming up and/or discussing it, but when media members use it to gain attention (when it clearly doesn't need to be brought up) it really really bothers me. No matter if said media member is black, white, or green.

Jay Bilas Responds (Baltimore Sun)
Who says white men can't jump? (Page 2)

Jemele Hill has been in the news of late mainly for jumping on the whole Lebron James racist "Vogue" magazine cover, but that didn't bother me nearly as much as this. The ESPN columnist was filling in for Jim Rome last week and when she wasn't reading poorly off of cue cards, she was mocking Shawne Merriman for having his SUV stolen and burnt....

"There are no reports to back this up, but I'm betting – and by betting I mean hoping – that whoever set that Benz ablaze busted out in that ridiculous sack dance just as the flames were starting to run rampant over the upholstery. Karma is reponsible for this. Merriman got his sled ripped and barbecued because he can't make a play without making a fool of himself, and people just aren't feeling it."

It's a shame that ESPN seems to turn certain writers into such attention getting journalistic jokes. I don't care who you are, the words "hoping", "someone's property" and "getting barbecued" are not words you should use together. It's just a celebration dance not a crime that someone should pay for. Wide Receivers celebrate every damn first down by doing some ridiculous first down signal. Should Chad Johsnon's Lexus be stolen and burnt to a crisp because of it?

If you'd spend less time trying to be controversial and more time writing heartfelt pieces.....people might begin to respect you Jemele. It's a shame because I was beginning to enjoy her work.

Torching of Merriman's car funny? Rome fill-in host seems to think so (Sign On San Diego)

Charles says something outlandish just about everyday, so you know it has to be extra special for him to make these pages. Well yesterday was just that crazy. Chuck started the day on Dan Le Batard's radio show bashing ESPN and personalities like Mike Lupica, Jemele Hill, and Jay Mariotti and then ended his night by saying he wanted to grab some lady's "popcorn".

790 the Ticket Audio

The fun starts about a quarter of the way through. Here some of the quotes via The Big Lead:

“Seems to me that the white guys don’t know anything about the sports and all the black guys want to talk about race … Jay Mariotti, Skip Bayless, they don’t know anything about sports. Jason [Whitlock] and Jemele Hill, they always talk about race, because they know that’s controversy.”

“If it wasn’t for guys like myself, all these quote, unquote, sports fans would be listening to Skip Bayless, Jay Mariotti, Mike Lupica - the little midget … I like ESPN a lot, but they want to dominate the world.”

“I’m not going to let all these losers, like Bayless and Mariotti and Lupica … they can say what they want to. I’m gonna say what I want to. They’re going to deal with it or they’re going to shut the hell up. I don’t care.”

“ESPN rode all those clowns out there everyday like they’re experts in every sport … first off, they’re not experts in every sport. Trust me - Jay Mariotti, Skip Bayless, and now, Jemele Hill - they’re just people giving their opinion. They’re not the law, and they’re not that important. Get that straight.”

Well that was fun wasn't it? Well later in the night on TNT he went especially off the deep end and we have the rundown via reader IANJ.....

They played a clip of a TrailBlazer falling into a female fan, spilling her popcorn and then taking some from her bag and eating it. Ernie Johnson then asked if Charles would have done the same thing. He basically said he wouldn't have grabbed the popcorn, bur rather her breasts." I would have grabbed the other popcorn".

He called out Rick Mahorn after video played of an altercation when they played and told Mahorn he would have beat his ass.

He mentioned that he "hated" a ref when he played, and if he saw him in the street, he would run over him with his car, and then back up to make sure he got him.

He abused Kenny saying "How long is he gonna milk this pregnancy thing"

Great day all around for the Chuckster. I'm still looking for the popcorn clip but Odenized has the referee clip, which is pretty funny.....



Barkley Sounds Off on “ESPN Clowns” (The Big Lead)
Charles Barkley hates Mike Mathis (Odenized)