Racial Slurs Won't Derail Linsanity

For NBA fanatics in America, Big Apple Linsation handily cancelled any recall of last year’s lockout lows. For communities occasionally rocked by world uncertainty, Linderella delivered a welcomed celebratory distraction. Black, white, brown or yellow people across the globe were united in “rah rah sis boom bah”until Linsanity yielded to media insanity. 

When the Asian-American NY point guard failed to engineer a team lin, Max Bretos, an ESPN anchor cited “a chink in the armor” for cause. “Oh no he didn’t,” I huffed when one considers the racial slur “chink” is earmarked for those of Asian descent. But yes, I’m afraid the media maggot did. Sadly, he wasn’t the lone blow fly.  

Anthony Federico, the writer responsible for the ESPN.com headline has since been fired while Bretos’s slip of the tongue netted a 30-day suspension. What’s puzzling is the lack of admonishment levied against Spero Dedes, the play-by-play voice of the Knicks, whose loose lips parted the same phrase via ESPN Radio New York. And this is supposed to be a team? Clearly those aboard the Lin train seem to execute this concept better than the executive team.

What about Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock who recently tweeted “Some lucky lady is going to feel a few inches of pain tonight”? Plain and simple, the statement opened a stereotypical attack on Lin’s masculinity. So unnecessary and unprofessional, but the columnist hasn’t been ejected from his throne when a suspension is justified. Never mind the apologies since issued by Dedes and Whitlock as provoked afterthoughts.   

Jeez, where’s the accountability in media these days? I see it slip-sliding away along with established editorial constraints requiring continuous enforcement.  

Past the professional roar of cultural insensitivity, you have to admit that lin or lose, the Jeremy kid is something special. Harvard’s grad is not only a ball of “I Can” fire on the court but gentlemanly enough off of it to forgive and forget. Perhaps he’s teaching us far more than we bargained for.               

With “The Old and the Gutless” Cancelled, Here Comes the Book

Susan Lucci’s relocation from Pine Valley to Desperate Housewives’ Wisteria Lane might find favor with fans but Hollywood’s map remains dotted in dead ends. “All My Children” hit the defunct soap opera wall several months ago and the Dallas Mavericks have since put the NBA’s Lake Show, aka “The Old and the Gutless,” on cancellation blast.  It’s easy to attribute the 4-0 skid to Big D’s athletic superiority but that’s too simplistic. So, what’s really going on?

Here’s an explanation that’s slow to populate: Pau Gasol’s MIA status could’ve been sparked by a mental trip to Heartbreak Hotel since it’s rumored that Mrs. Kobe Bryant engineered the breakup of his engagement. On ESPN this morning, Gasol vehemently denied any trouble in paradise. Allegedly caught up in a torn between two lovers web, “Ron Ron” has been spotted tipping around town with Shin Shin, a singer of Chinese-Korean descent.  Now how Artestic is that?       

Whether Kobe was stuck in egomaniacal neutral or an overindulgence of Reality TV’s dish hampered play (E’s Khloe and Lamar, VH1’s Basketball Wives features Matt Barnes’ baby mama Gloria Govan), the brutish behavior of Artest, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum dry docked an already sinking ship.

On Mother’s Day, OG’s Odom and Bynum displayed such classlessness that Bynum’s mother (Odom’s mom is deceased) probably joined outgoing coach Phil Jackson in lowering a glass, filled to embarrassment’s brim. Fined $25K for removing his jersey on the court with total losses registering $700K via a five-game suspension, Bynum’s lesson is costly, or as Tamar Braxton would say, “Over the top dotcom.”  For some, the five-game suspension is merely a drop in the bad boy bucket.      

I bet someone’s pen is poised to pour the Lakers’ tea, and chances are, it won’t be Jackson.            

For more on the Lakers, see these links:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-phil-jackson-20110510,0,6229314.story       

http://www.playerwives.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/ron-artests-girlfriendmistress-shin-shin-gao-xinxin/

http://www.playerwives.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/pau-gasols-girlfriend-silvia-lopez-castro/

Barkley’s Black Eye on Sports Broadcasting

Before steroid and sex scandals and the overrun of legal infractions, I was a ride or die sports fan. Thanks to my Dad, I’m still basking in the glory of having seen my first and only Super Bowl. But since that particular sports spectacular, the myriad of athletic impurities have altered my pledge of allegiance. Nevertheless, whether NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA or NCAA, when the championship bells ring, I’m there.

But this isn’t about me; it’s about the pained observations of a former journalist. I was scholastically trained to report the news utilizing a strong command of the English language.  However, whenever there’s a media mockery, I can’t help but cringe.

Having watched the latest NBA playoffs, the hardwood court action has taken a backseat to the color commentary. “Commentainers” like Charles Barkley have suddenly ascended in the commentator ranks. It’s bad enough that the no-ringed retired NBA player slammed New York Knicks Coach Mike D’Antoni’s head on the chomping block based on opinion rather than fact. But when he barked “you better ax somebody,” I’m sure every English teacher who noted his spelling error wanted to howl.

At that moment, Charles’ celebrity nosedived to “celebitty” for his small-minded faux pas. If he can spell D-E-F-E-N-S-E in the T-Mobile ad, certainly he can spell A-S-K correctly. Please spare us the ebonic references, Barkley. Instead of laughing with you, many are laughing at you and frankly, there’s no humor in ignorance.