Wednesday, October 01, 2003

I guess I have to admonish Dean, too So Howard Dean weighs in with "There is no legitimate place in sports broadcasting for voices that seek to discredit the achievement of athletes on the basis of race."  Well, Donovan McNabb "got off to the worst start of his career this season and was the NFL's lowest rated starting quarterback after losses to Tampa Bay and New England".  So he was not discrediting McNabb's achievement - he was only discrediting the press that McNabb receives even though he has done so poorly so far this year. (PS That link also has the stat that "10 of 32 teams will have started black quarterbacks in at least one game" that I quoted earlier ("about one-third").) 9:40:34 PM    Here's what I have to say about THAT! []

Always blame the parents, eh? So here's a mother that's on trial for "contributing to her son's suicide".  What are they accusing her of?  Failing to get medical and psychological help for him.  Meanwhile, "Scruggs [the mother] helped Daniel by keeping him out of school at the suggestion of school and child welfare workers because the school could not guarantee Daniel's safety, he said. Witnesses testified that while at school, Daniel would be pushed, punched, and verbally abused. Students also would spit on his chair, witnesses said." So, can I assume a prosecution is in the offing for the local school board, the principal, assistant principals, teachers, counselors, etc., for not stopping the abuse?  Not to mention the individual bullies themselves.  I'm not saying that this woman is blameless - I don't know whether she is or isn't; I don't know enough about the case.  But if she gets any blame at all, I think the school system should get at least an equal measure, given the hostile environment this kid had to endure.  If the prosecutors do not sue the school system over this, I think that she should. I remember feeling bullied in elementary school.  But it wasn't really in school - it was after school.  It was one girl.  And when I think back on it, it was all taunts.  I was never pushed or punched, and no one ever spit on my chair (that I know of).  If they're passing out blame in this situation, the school board and this kid's school staff should just get in line. 9:32:12 PM    Here's what I have to say about THAT! []

Stand back, I'm gonna defend Rush Limbaugh and admonish Clark! So, Rush Limbaugh says, "the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well", and that "he [Donovan McNabb] got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve."  Folks, this is not really a racial slur.  This is really a slur at Limbaugh's favorite nemesis, the infamous "liberal media".  He's essentially saying that the media is singing McNabb's praises more than he feels they should just because he's black, and that if he were a white quarterback, they wouldn't be so complimentary, because Rush thinks he's not that good a quarterback. I think that yes, many in the media, and many actual real people, do want to see black quarterbacks do well.  The league is what, 70% black?  And yet only about one third of the teams have a black starting quarterback, that will start at least one game this season.  Quite an inequity, don't you think?  Doesn't anyone remember the whole "black head coach" issue from last season?  Did you know there are only three black head coaches this season in the NFL?  Now, it's possible that McNabb is being hyped more on past performance rather than on current performance.  But that happens to every good player that people like, I think.  We want this person to do well.  People that are only so-so sometimes get more good press than people who are good but annoying.  Anyone remember Deion Sanders?  He was good, and yet he got a lot of press saying he wasn't all that.  Think about it. Then, all that said, Limbaugh was hired to give a fan's opinion.  Obviously he is not giving every fan's opinion, or probably not even most fan's opinion.  But it is just that - his opinion.  So Clark calling for him to be fired is overkill.  He says that "ABC and ESPN have no obligation to sponsor such hateful and ignorant speech."  It may be true that they are under no obligation to do so.  And I do think it is insensitive.  But I don't think it was particularly hateful.  Now, if he starts to make a pattern of it - whining that black players get more positive press than white players or whatever - you can bet I'll be verbally slapping ol' Rush like the proverbial hooker that hasn't turned over her pimp's cut.  But until then, I'm reserving judgment. (To attempt to explain the Clark overreaction, the article reminds readers that "Clark, a supporter of affirmative action, has sought to burnish his credentials as a Democrat" since entering the presidential race.  He may have just been saying this thinking that that is what is Democratic supporters-to-be would want him to say.  Discuss.  :-) ) 9:09:35 PM    Here's what I have to say about THAT! []

Frog-walk McNuggets So it seems the planned defense is making itself known.  I saw an article earlier today (UPDATED: I found the link!) that said that the first thing they will be asking themselves once they identify the leak(s) is, did this person/these people know that the information was classified.  UPDATED: The further information is that this was McClellan, the press secretary, speaking.  He said that now they're getting into issues such as: "Was it known that that information was classified? I think that's an important question." So there's your defense, folks.  They [the leakers] are going to claim that they did not know the information was classified.  You heard it here first.  Of course, if it is Rove, he'll have a hard time reconciling that with Wilson's claims that he told these reporters that his wife was "fair game".  At least I have that link!  Also of interest in that article is that the probe is requesting that all documents and records from 2/1/2003 forward not be destroyed and to be made available to investigators.  Yet, the State of the Union address was on 1/28/03, according to the White House website.  I guess they get three free days, huh? Meanwhile, for a little lightening of the mood, go view the joke here, at Beelzebastard.  Heh. 7:40:03 PM    Here's what I have to say about THAT! []