The Old Blog

Jason Whitlock tries to defend his “if you don’t root for Team USA, then you’re a racist” column…and fails miserably.

Yes, there is racism in America. Yes, I believe that just about everyone (including myself) has thoughts and judgments about others–whether they’re conscious or not–that are tied to race.

But no, this was not about race. It was about effort and team play. If 12 black college basketball players “only” won the bronze medal (like the ’88 Olympic team did), nobody would have rooted against them. People didn’t like Dream Team 2004 for the same reason they don’t like Martha Stewart: they have money and talent, and we don’t. The fact that the team didn’t seem to appreciate their money and talent only made them worse in the eyes of America.

Soldiers in Iraq have constructed a makeshift Fenway Park, complete with Green Monster and Citgo sign.

I don’t know if this is significant, but the men who built the stadium are known as “cannoncockers.”

It wasn’t a cover story, but Sports Illustrated’s 7-page article on De La Salle High School in Concord, California, came just a month before the school football team’s record 151-game winning streak was snapped–by a team with a 14-year-old quarterback!

According to the article, the seniors on the team were in Kindergarten the last time they lost. Conversely, my high school football team didn’t win any games in four years, and my college football team won once before being axed completely.

Not that it affects whether he’d do a good job as President from 2005-2009, but there are five categories of documents still missing from Dubya’s National Guard records.

Reigning NBA MVP Kevin Garnett apparently took exception to Rick Rickert putting a nice move on him and put a move of his own on Rickert: a punch to the face (see “DQ’d”) that chipped a couple (scroll to bottom) of the rookie’s teeth. No word yet on whether Anthony Peeler wants credit for teaching Garnett the move.

Former President Clinton is going in for multiple bypass surgery tomorrow Labor Day.

Spin from the left: it’s all Bush’s fault
Spin from the right: surgery in an election year; how convenient

I’m the first guy to call the “Curse of the Bambino” thing bullshit, but this is just funny.

The biggest sports story of the past year is officially a non-story. Charges against Kobe Bryant were dismissed today after his accuser said she wouldn’t testify. To celebrate, Kobe released a statement to the alleged victim, apologizing for, er, not raping her.

ESPN’s Page 2 just picked up Bat-Girl and her Legovision abilities. Congratulations, Bat-Girl!

It’s been a few days since I’ve posted, as I’ve been helping my girlfriend move. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t make sure to talk about Jessica Cutler/Washingtonienne’s new pics in Playboy (not a link to Playboy).

Steve covered this well; I have lost most of the respect I had for Ms. Cutler early in her infamity. Whereas she once was a tell-it-like-it-is breath of fresh air, she now seems a tired young woman starved for attention. I mean, I wouldn’t pass up a book deal, were one offered (hint, hint), but the partying, the interviews, and the Playboy just keep robbing her of any positive attributes she may have once had.

Oh yeah, Republicans? She’s one of you.