I think we've established that ESPN should have reported on Ben Roethlisberger's lawsuit last week, and that we've all moved on. Well apparently the Sports Reporters haven't. The civil suit was the opening topic on the show over the weekend, and it sparked a war of words between, Mitch Albom (Detroit Free Press) and Bill Rhoden (NY Times). Tom Jones of TampaBay.com took notes....

ESPN's Sports Reporters got a little testy Sunday when Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom and New York Times columnist Bill Rhoden got into an argument about Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who is being accused in a civil lawsuit of sexually assaulting a woman. The argument essentially started because Rhoden came off highly critical of Roethlisberger. Albom, who made a point of saying he didn't know whether Roethlisberger was guilty, brought up the possibility that the allegations are false, saying, "There are many women who make false claims.''

To which Rhoden said: "Many? Name five.''

Albom said, "You sound as if you already presume he has already done this.''

Rhoden: "I'm presuming he put himself in a bad position.''

Jones notes that Mike Lupica then pulled the reins in on the argument, and the topic was quickly switched (presumably to Brett Favre). It's actually a bit ironic that ESPN decided to ignore the fact the whole week, and then when it's finally brought up in a debating format, the kibosh was quickly put on the topic. To say ESPN's stance and reporting on this has been schizophrenic, is an understatement.

Shooting from the Lip/Monday edition (TampaBay.com)

There are certain monikers that stick with a team/player, and every time you hear some one utter the phrase, it makes you think of them and them alone. One of the more famous ones, "America's Team" has been associated with the Dallas Cowboys since 1979, and one that's unmistakable. Well that is until ESPN gets their hands on it. The "Leader" posted an article yesterday titled "The Great Debate: 'America's Team'", and is trying to make cases for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots (!), as the heirs to the title. Seriously....

It's time to rescind the Cowboys' honor and turn it over to the Patriots. The Cowboys are known for wanton spending and attention-mongering with zero results. The Patriots are widely regarded as the NFL's most efficiently run organization. Their owner, Robert Kraft, was a season-ticket holder who aspired to buy the team one day -- and did. The American dream and capitalism all in one.

What's more, the Patriots were formed in Boston, a.k.a. "The Cradle of Liberty" and crucible for the American Revolution.

They were an original member of the American Football League, which is celebrating its golden anniversary this year.

They changed their name to New England to reflect their meaning to a region where Pilgrims landed. Some teams, such as Minnesota and Arizona, claim a state. The Patriots claim six.

The Patriots wear red, white and blue. When they score, Minutemen line up behind the end zone and fire their muskets into the air.

They're loved. They're despised. They give a nation of sports fans plenty to talk about. They win.

They're called the Patriots, for crying out loud.

What's more American than all of that?

The thing that's so dumb about this isn't just that they've had the term since the 70s, but rather that they're just using Football teams. Shouldn't you consider the Yankees (perhaps more fans out there), the Red Wings (the American working man's team), and/or the Celtics?

As much as I hate the Cowboys, that nickname is theirs and theirs alone.

The Great Debate: 'America's Team' (ESPN)

Trent Green recently retired, and while he seems to still seems to be getting used to life without Football, the former NFL qb might have found a new career. Green is filling in for the vacationing Peter King, and decided to write about Mike Vick, the NFL schedule, Brett Favre....and of course....the "10 things he thinks he thinks". Here are some highlights....

2) I think I'm going crazy because I feel like we've been talking about Brett Favre and his retirement since the new millennium. You want to play, Brett? I hope you do. I've always enjoyed watching you play. But please decide by the start of training camp.

6) I think, actually I know, that Mark Brunell is the last quarterback standing from the 1993 draft class. He's outlasted Drew Bledsoe (No. 1 overall), Rick Mirer (No. 2), Billy Joe Hobert (No. 58), Gino Toretta (No. 192), Alex Van Pelt (No. 216), Elvis Grbac (No. 219) and me (No. 222). Keep going, Mark! I'll be pulling for you.

8) I think that brings me to ticket prices. Where are the family seats at most stadiums now? Teams need to realize they are pricing out a huge part of their fan base. DirecTV is great and watching games in high definition is amazing. But absolutely nothing can beat watching a game live. The atmosphere, the grill smells, the people all dressed in team apparel, the elements, the live sound of a good tackle, 80,000 people all cheering at the same time -- you can't replicate the experience. I'd like to see all owners set aside a few sections for reasonably-priced seating so parents can afford to take their kids.

10) I think I hope Peter King has a great vacation. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity.

Okay that last one was a bit cheesy, but I think Trent Green may have a future in the writing business. Apparently those concussions haven't had THAT much of a lasting affect on him. In fact, Peter King may have just been Wally Pipp'd! Oh and who knew Mark Brunell was still in the League? That my friends is insight!!!

What it's really like to retire and how NFL should handle concussions (SI)

If there was one thing that I never thought see, was the day that Peter King opened a Twitter account. KSK found the SI writer's page the other day, and there are so many good entries, that it's almost impossible to link to just one. Here are my top three....

3. "Good morning all. This is my first Tweet of all time. Noticed in the NY Times that Oprah beat me by one day. I'm bitter."

2. "Just talked with Mark Sanchez. Dedicated lad. Worked out at his old high school tonight. Will go to class all week at USC. More in MMQB."

1. "Have a good day. Off to run some errands. Hey, thanks to Karen Dmochowsky and Sam Farmer for making Twitter sound not so intimidating."

As KSK points out, it didn't take just one person to help open a Twitter account for Mr. King, but it took two. I also like the use of the word "lad" in reference to Mark Sanchez. Twitter has taught me that Peter King talks like he's stuck in nineteen dickety two (King had to say dickety because the Kaiser had stolen our word for "twenty.")

The Peter King Twitter Is Here, And It Defines Clutch (KSK)
Peter King (Twitter)

Major League Baseball has hired a lot of famous people as bloggers in the past (i.e.- Alyssa Milano), but this might actually be one of their better additions. MLB.com is now employing Keith Olbermann as a blogger, and has even come up with an extremely clever name for his writing space. The "Baseball Nerd"....here's a snippet....

Like the relaxed pace and increased interaction of Spring Training wasn't thrill enough. This is the start of my 43rd year as a fan, my 43rd year attending games, and my 43rd year of keeping score. On Saturday in Phoenix, I witnessed, for the first time, a triple play. First and second, Oakland's Bobby Crosby with a solid one-hopper to Ryan Rohlinger of the Giants. Rohlinger unsuccessfully tried to tag elusive Oakland runner Matt Carson, fired to Matt Downs at second for one out, who relayed to Scott McClain at first for another. That's when it became evident Carson had been called out for leaving the baseline. A double play is, of course, scored by writing the position numbers (5-4-3) and circling them. A triple play requires two circles. Making my first "second circle" was the thrill of the spring.

I never knew Spring Training was sooooo beautiful! Good luck, Keith....welcome to the Dark Side!

Introducing the Baseball Nerd (Baseball Nerd)

Huzzah! The ESPN war that is Simmons vs. Reilly will be heading to the airwaves. Bill Simmons was on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan, and when the hosts asked him about his feud with Rick Reilly, he said things are fine and that the two will be together on the B.S. Report soon. Here's the audio....

Man, I cannot wait for that one. This podcast has anticipation similar to that of Tyson-Holyfield. Oh and Bill, I know the Rushmore thing was technically your idea, but after seeing how it turned out....you might want to distance yourself from it a bit.

Bill Simmons (WEEI)

I have no idea why the LA Times decided to put up this promotional video on Youtube, but it is just about the funniest thing I've ever seen. Here is Bill Plaschke being led through various faces, which are somehow supposed to relate to the paper's March Madness coverage....

Okay Bill, you're the least liked newspaper reporter on Around The Horn. Show me your disdain for the fact that people even like Jay Mariotti more than you! Perrrrrfect.

Brian Windhorst, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, has broken just about every single Cavaliers story/trade that's gone down over the past few years. He had the Mo Williams information first, and more recently, had the Joe Smith deal before anyone else. Most people would speak highly of someone with such a stellar record of finding things out, but apparently ESPN's Ric Bucher isn't most people.

Bucher is the latest person to head onto the B.S. Report, and the NBA analyst decided to take a few shots at the CPD writer. Via Cursed Cleveland....

“The Plain Dealer came out and said very early on that Joe Smith was going to the Cavs, but I know as early as yesterday that there was a chance it could have come apart and he could have been headed to the Lakers… it got a little contentious… at the end of the day does the Plain Dealer look wrong…? No, because he ended up there, but were they completely on the beam… maybe not?

And so, my issue now is right now is....You have people who put things there, that are not couched, that put it out there early because they want to be first, and then they're not right. There's no culpability, there's no okay...this is going to happen and it didn't."

Seems rather petty to use the culpability, when there's not a reporter or ESPN personality that every apologizes for getting things wrong. I don't know what Bucher's beef with Windhorst is, but this seems like someone being jealous of a beat writer's talent.

Ric Bucher Rips Plain Dealer and Brian Windhorst’s Reportage (Cursed Cleveland)

Sunday Times reporter, Paul Kimmage, conducted a radio interview after Lance Armstrong announced his return to Cycling in which Kimmage called Armstrong the Sport's "Cancer". Well last night, during a press-conference for the Amgen Tour of California, Armstrong got his chance to address the reporter and absolutely owned him. Here's the video via Velo News....

Man. I almost feel bad for the guy. Well besides the fact that he's an ass for using "Cancer" as the butt of his commentary. I too have questioned Lance Armstrong's use of PEDs before, but I've always believed that someone was innocent until proven guilty.

Sports writers don't necessarily make a killing when it comes to their salaries, and I'm sure a lot of them look at other avenues to bring in income. Some write personal blogs, some do tv work, and some even start a weed growing operation out of their home. Wait what?

A Grand Rapids Press sports columnist today was charged with growing marijuana at his Northeast Grand Rapids home.

David Mayo, 48, was arraigned in Grand Rapids District Court on charges of manufacture of more than 20 but less than 200 plants, a seven-year felony, and also maintaining a drug house, a two-year high-court misdemeanor, at his home on Fuller Avenue NE.

Mayo turned himself into the Kent County Jail this morning, where he was housed while awaiting arraignment. A warrant for his arrest was issued by the prosecutor Friday.

His lawyer, Bruce Block, said Mayo is cooperating with police. Block said the plants were for personal use and Mayo was not selling them.

"This wasn't heavy drugs or anything like that," Block said.

Nice. I love that the lawyer had to classify that they weren't "hard drugs". Sure my client grew multiple plants in his house so he could sell marijuana, but at least it wasn't a meth lab! Good times.

Grand Rapid Press sports columnist David Mayo charged with growing marijuana (MLive: It's Just Sports)

I thought Alex Flanagan did a fine job as one of the sideline reporters during the Super Bowl, but not everyone agreed. Two of those people were, Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union and Ted Cox of the Chicago Daily Herald, and Keith Olbermann has come to Ms. Flanagan's defense. Here is the clip via Fang's Bites....

The quote that the articles highlight was Flangan's use of an F. Scott Fitzgerald quote, and while I rolled my eyes at the time, I didn't think it was nearly as bad as Dougherty or Cox did. Still though, it's funny that Olbermann took the time to call them out on national television.

Oh and Keith, it's the Albany Times Union....not Herald.

Keith Olbermann Nominates Sports Media Columnists As Worst Persons in The World (Fang's Bites)
Flanagan gets a flag for sideline report (Albany Times Union)
Super Bowl XLIII: the highs, the lows and the in-between (Chicago Daily Herald)

Ever since Deadspin unleashed holy hell on a Simmons article about a year ago, the Sports Guy's pieces have been without comment. Since then, only Rick Reilly has been added to the commentless ranks, while all other works on ESPN.com can be picked apart and debated. CBS Sports reporter, Cameron Martin, decided to ask ESPN why this is so, and ESPN Spokesman Paul Melvin had this to say....

Me: "Paul, I had a question about ESPN columnists that I was going to address in my CBS column on Monday: Why can't readers comment on Rick Reilly and Bill Simmons columns? And why is it only them? Is it to protect the idea that these two columnists are universally loved? Jemele Hill and DJ Gallo and Scoop Jackson and Gene W get hammered by some readers. Why isn't that same courtesy extended to Bill and Rick? Seems disingenuous. Thanks, Cameron Martin."

ESPN: "Cameron, Bill and Rick's accessibility to fans has always been part of their style, and they both have developed long-standing practices of engaging their fans. Bill has a history of using his interaction with his readers as part of his voice and has, through the years, developed a regular, robust 'mailbag' style column that is a favorite of readers. Rick's connection to the personal stories of people in all walks of life has helped give him his signature voice. With respect to those traditions, we've chosen to continue to present their interaction with readers through those avenues."

(As non-answers go, that's pretty good. Unfortunately I wasn't looking for a non-answer.)

Me: "Paul, thanks for the reply. Quick follow-up: In this new era of change, transparency and accountability, isn't it a bit antiquated and un-American to try to control feedback from the public? What if President Obama wanted to comment directly on one of Rick Reilly's stories? Shouldn't he be able to announce to the world, ‘Rick, you're an inspiration to millions everywhere'?"

ESPN: "Hi Cameron. Appreciate the follow up, but I think our earlier comment is all we're going to have to offer here. Paul Melvin."

Okay, well that was a pretty obscure response, wasn't it? To be fair, Simmons and Reilly get about ten times the criticism that other writers get, and I don't fault ESPN for not wanting to sift through, and delete, over 1,000 comments or so. It's still interesting that with the thick skin that both Reilly and Simmons probably have at this point, that they wouldn't just go ahead and unleash the hounds on their articles.

Oh and if you're a dog owner, and want to have a good cry, read Simmons latest article on the passing of his Golden Retriever.

Monday S.P.O.R.T.S. Cam: Bad breaks, worst football state wrapup (CBS Sports)

With all of the Ombudsman hiring talk that's been going on, this story comes as a bit of a shock. ESPN.com writer, Kyle Whelliston, decided to write about the fact that ESPN had decided to cut their College Sports writing in half, and because of that, "he has been relieved of his duties" with the "Leader". Here is the original post, and the subsequent "firing" update, from Whelliston over at The Mid-Majority....

No part of the Sports Bubble, not even the attached layer of media soap-scum, is immune to structural weakness. Just under a month ago, while staying in this very city, I was given advance warning that ESPN.com is planning 50 percent cuts to its college sports coverage, and I was put on notice that my contributions would likely be halved in the new year. Earlier today, I was notified that beginning in February, I will indeed be cut in half -- writing and chatting every other week instead of weekly.

Now, if I know my audience the way I think I do, I know what you're thinking. ESPN is not "screwing mid-majors." These were cuts ordered by faraway men in suits who have bottom lines and share prices to protect, and this situation is not unlike the ongoing bloodbath at Sports Illustrated. I'm not the only one affected, and I'm fortunate enough not to be cut completely -- a fate that will befall others.

Update: I have just received word, within the hour, that I have been immediately relieved of my duties with ESPN.com (all of them, not just half). I have truly enjoyed a period of almost four years working with the Worldwide Leader in Sports. I thank the staff for taking a chance on a blogger back in 2005. I also appreciate their (unknowing) subsidy of this website and its experiments, during what turned out to be a prolonged and protracted timeframe. ESPN and I worked together to create a new, unique type of college basketball journalism that served a traditionally underserved niche.

Seems like a drastic move to just drop someone for calmly commenting on the move, but if it was an internal edict, I can sort of understand the move. It's a shame during these economic times that ESPN has to decide what to cover, but that's not really any different than in times when the economy is thriving.

Good luck, Kyle. In all honesty, you're probably better off because of this.

The Sports Bubble (Mid-Majority)
Ex-SPN (Mid-Majority)

Rick Reilly is slowly starting to earn that huge paycheck from the "Leader", and along with Homecoming and Mt. Rushmore, the man who is not a fan of the blogging medium is getting one of his own. It'll be called "Go Fish" and you're able to read it now at ESPNTheMag.com.

Not only can you check out what words the writer has made up in the "Rickology" section, but you can also read about how him going to the bathroom and meeting Screech from Saved By The Bell!!!

This week, I was in a bathroom and a guy came up to me and said, "I'm a huge fan. Do you know that? A huge fan. I know who you are! How many people actually know who you are in this club tonight? Only me, right? Give me your cell, Bill. And not your BS work number that some secretary answers. I want your straight-up cell, Bill. I mean it. Give it to me. I'm gonna have Bill O'Reilly's cell. Sweet. We'll hang."

I saw Screech (Dustin Diamond) from Saved by the Bell at XS at the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas last weekend. He has a crazy Afro now and a triangle-shaped mini-beard and is still about nine on the Geekmeter.

Now I know that my entries aren't of the greatest of length, but those are even less than Terrell Owens' first effort at Yardbarker. But who am I to tell someone how to blog, right? Welcome Mr. Reilly, you'll be live-blogging the World Beer Pong Championships in no time!

Reilly: Go Fish (ESPN The Mag)
ESPN Is Officially Trying To Get Rick Reilly To Do More (Deadspin)

Old people are funny. People have been playing beer pong in College, and at tailgates, for well over 10 years now, but Rick Reilly is just now learning of the pastime. His latest column is all about this "new" (to him) phenomenon, and how he attended the World Series of Beer Pong in Vegas. Oh and one more thing....his sons were in said Tournament. Via First Cuts....

Still, there were quality team names, such as: He Sucks … I'm Good; Beer Pong … Because Jesus Would; and Chase's Mom ATM. There was also Francois the Butt Dusters, made up of my sons, Jake (21) and Kel (23). The Dusters started off 4–0, including a W over a team from Rochester, whose members, no joke, would, out of nowhere, slap each other hard on the face. The slapee, red-cheeked, would look at his partner—stunned—and then yell, "Yeeeeahhh!!!" One guy from Jersey ripped his shirt off just before a crucial point. One team played sitting on each other's shoulders....

It should be noted that the final was filled with honor. Nobody mentioned anybody's sister or flashed unwelcome appendages. That's good. All this bush league stuff will have to go if we're going to take beer pong to the next level: the Olympics.

Hope they don't test for whiskey.

Francois the Butt Dusters!?!?! I personally would have gone with "Two Balls, One Cup", but I guess that's just as good. Seriously though, it's kind of cool that Reilly would show up to his son's attempt at College fame, and then right a column on it for ESPN. I'm more surprised that ESPN actually published the article than Reilly actually attending.

Introducing the next great American pastime: beer pong. (ESPN the Mag)
Rick Reilly, DTV And How It Fits Together (First Cuts)

Can't let the weekend go by without mentioning the media news that Deadspin broke yesterday: the former Chicago Sun-Times columnist and Around The Horn panelist that everyone loves to hate is debuting at AOL Sports in some capacity tomorrow (DS says he's going to be on FanHouse, the banner at the site just says "AOL Sports".)

You may remember Mariotti's hissy fit of a resignation a few months back, obviously, followed by what seemed like waves of missives from his former co-workers about how they won't miss him. It's pretty clear when your paper features a subscriber who returned because you left (along with allowing the beat writers and columnists to trash you), people aren't really that fond of you.

I know it's only encouraging him, but I'll probably read Mariotti's debut at AOL for the same reason I read Whitlock at Fox Sports: just to see how blatantly wrong and off-base he can be, while getting paid for it.

The Vancouver Courier's Mark Hasiuk is either being particularly obnoxious, slightly racialist, or highly selective when it comes labeling an entire sport, in this case, the NBA, as "America at its worst." (It's likely bits and pieces of all three.) This case is getting a bit of attention on the interwebs this morning, because it's his theory behind why the league did not succeed in Vancouver with the Grizzlies:

Basketball traditionalists (older white guys) blame the overwhelming influence of hip hop culture in the NBA. But they're wrong.

Hip hop, a cultural movement spawned in 1970s New York, has been dead for years.

It sold its soul to corporate sleaze merchants, who repackage black music for a white suburban consumer base.

Nope, the remnants of hip hop--flamboyant chauvinism, jailhouse lingo, black ink tattoos--didn't kill the NBA. It was New York lawyers like Stern, who cashed in on the athletic ability of young black men while ignoring the social realities of basketball in America.

According to a New York Times report, more than 70 per cent of black American children are born out of wedlock. Most NBA players hail from poor neighbourhoods--and despite token college careers--graduate from broken public school systems. They are often ill-equipped to handle multi-million-dollar contracts, or the expectations of a community desperate for positive male role models. To be fair, the NBA, like other professional sports leagues, is a business. And it's not responsible for the endemic problems of black America. But considering basketball's influence on black popular culture, the NBA has a responsibility to produce a "positive" product, not the ghetto garbage we see today.

I have to admit that this tactic kind of confuses me: he's denigrating an entire class of athlete via their endorsements and appearance and blaming Stern and the league for riding that image to the bank. I still think these kinds of critiques that take cracks at the players for having tattoos, cornrows, etc. and more of an individual focus are misguided in the sense that the NBA has always marketed individual stars as soon as it got the guys like Magic, Michael, and Bird to do that with. Also, expansion and relocation has kind of diluted both the talent pool of teams and the regional focus of teams. It's no surprise that the league markets individuals, because the appeal of the teams themselves, to non-NBA fans, is hyper-local.

The problem is that Hasiuk does kind of come off as the old white guy who notes in the beginning of the excerpt I quoted. So much of this is because NBA players are visible in a way that baseball, football, and hockey players aren't in terms of uniforms; everyone gets to see in full what they don't like and run with it.

Also: you're not gonna get any points with me if you're gonna link Allen Iverson as someone who doesn't hustle and want to win. He may not play great defense, he may need the ball a bit more than you'd like -- but that's a guy who plays hard, every time I watch him.

NBA: a ghetto gutter run by money grubbers [Vancouver Courier]

Who woulda thunk it, right? I thought he was an author, columnist and announcer, all wrapped into one, but apparently only one of those is actually true. The blog, d1004d, happened to be listening to Mike and Mike when Dickie V broke the news that he "has guys" that write the articles for him. Here's the audio....

"I'm no Mike Lupica. I'm no John Feinstein. I can't bang out the words like they can. But I can talk. And when I talk to my guys, they convert it. And they put it to a column."- Dick Vitale

It's really not that big of a deal, but it's just funny to me that he freely admitted it on national radio. Too funny.

Ever wonder how Dick Vitale 'writes' his columns? (d1004d)

Le Anne Schreiber has once again pulled the curtain back on the most powerful Sports network in the World, and as she addresses perceived biases across the board at ESPN (including BCS rights and Chris Spielman's Michigan comments), she also hints at a committee being formed to write a book of standards for the "Leader's" personalities. It seems like a simple idea in theory, but after speaking with Bill Simmons on the matter, it might not be so easy to get put into action....

When I told Simmons about the guidebook in progress, he said, "You mean they are planning on cracking down?"

When I suggested he think of it as clarifying rather than cracking down, he said, "So I'm writing a column and I have to consult the rule book."

I reversed field and asked him what he found most troublesome about writing for ESPN.com.

"When you are supposed to push the envelope," Simmons said, "but you are afraid of the repercussions of every decision, I think it affects you. I don't really blame the editors, because those guys aren't really sure where the lines are anymore, so they're going to take stuff out that is anywhere close to the line. But if you're going to take something out, the reason can't be 'We'd rather be safe than sorry.' You have to put some thought into it and say, 'If this stays in, what are the potential repercussions?'"

What if guidelines meant editors didn't have to resort to the better-safe-than-sorry stance, because they knew and could articulate where the lines were, and didn't have to wait to see how PR would draw the lines after some genuine or manufactured public outcry?

"If these guidelines could help me do my job, great," Simmons said.

It still amazes me that a company as large and as prominent as ESPN, doesn't have standards in place, but I think it's more the penalties that people question. When you suspend a Jemele Hill for a Hitler comment, and then don't do the same for Lou Holtz, you come off as a tad hypocritical. And when you fire someone like Harold Reynolds (allegedly based on heresay), and then stories of multiple transgressions from various employees are leaked onto the Internet.....you almost solidify the hypocrisy.

I personally could care less what Chris Spielman says when he's not on ESPN's airwaves, or in print. But if you let things like that go when they happen, there's almost no way that someone might not bring that bias back to the network. Again, you don't have to start disliking a team you played for, or grew up liking, but catering to them on-air is just taking it too far.

I have a feeling that ESPN will be taking a closer look at itself in the new year, but changing a culture can be a huge undertaking. With all of the new league, and championship, acquisitions....I just don't think there will be enough time to hammer something out. Good luck though.

ESPN can define boundaries and keep its edge, too (ESPN Ombudsman)

Well besides the fact that it's ridiculously uncalled for, probably the fact that the player in question, Juan Barea, isn't exactly Mexican. LAist was flipping through some power rankings in the LA Times, when they came across an interesting nugget for the Dallas Mavericks. The writer, Mark Heisler, decided to refer to Puerto Rican guard, Jose Juan Barea, a "Mexican Smurf". See for yourself....

10. New Orleans (12-7) Scott worries carrying team will reduce Paul to a grease spot by the end. (9)
11. Atlanta (14-9) Bibby at career-high 44% on threes, gives them big-time backcourt with Johnson.(12)
12. Phoenix (14-10) Looks like Suns vs. Mavericks for No. 8 in West. Loser breaks up team first. (14)
13. Dallas (13-9) Juan Jose Barea, superstar: Mexican smurf gets 15-18-22-21 off bench. (11)
14. Detroit (13-9) Once Bad Boys, now Small Boys, starting Wallace, Prince, three guards. (13)

Not only is the nationality wrong, but Barea is actually listed at 6 feet tall on his NBA.com player page. Not exactly someone I would call a smurf, per se. I'm sure he wasn't really meaning it as that big of an insult, but it sure comes off that way.

Power Rankings (LA Times)
A 'Mexican Smurf," he is Not (LAist)