I guess as a black male, watchin black athletes is no big deal, mostly likely because I can identify with a play. I hear friends say, that was impossible.

I tend to think, naw that was just concentration because I’ve done something similar. From one handed TD grabs to put back dunks. Chasin a baseball down and makin an over the shoulder grab. Tossin a silly dime on the break, and gettin hype before your man even touches the ball. Screamin after a big play. Tellin the QB to just throw it to me in the huddle. Talkin landfill amounts of trash. I can relate to all of that. Hoppin over someone, I was speechless.

It’s being able to relate. I can’t watch sports when it looks like the athletes are puttin in work. Sports shouldn’t be that difficult. If it is you need to get your game up.

Long time, no hear! I was thinking about the Starting Five last week while I was in D.C. visiting my daughter and her future hubby.

I took a break, but I’m back. Looks like lots been brewing in SF world. What up with A-Rod, and nem?

oh,oh, she’s BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking forward to commenting soon. Peace out.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/swimming/news/newsid=194272.html

Here’s to BLACK MUSTARD

Arlene (Aware) Forbes

Funny stuff Boney but I won’t stoop…

not this time anyway especially when I know the streets are watching.

The angry mob you speak of is no where to be found.

You are not a Black man in America so you just can’t relate can you?

Tell me where did I misquote you? I actually agree with some of what you say here but it is what it is.

I’ll print some of what you wrote so there won’t be any confusion:

My other problem with the “Dream Team” is also that while we all paint a rosey picture of how our world class basketball players play without selfishness when that is far from the truth. It’s not a mirage the images of Shawn Kemp grabbing his balls on a dunk, it’s not a mirage to watch Vince Carter “jump over” Frederic Weis and then taunt him after he dunks the ball. It’s not a figment of my imagination or anyone else’s. The “Dream Team” is a microcosm of this country and what it’s turned into. We think we’re automatically better than everyone and we rub it in their faces and look what that gets us, negative press that we deserve. Does Larry Johnson really need to taunt foreign players to make himself feel good? I saw these things with my own eyes, and I formed my own opinion. Before I read any news clippings I watched those “Dream Team” games and called bullshit on the taunting and the finger pointing the showboating of the players on the teams.I cheer for the underdog, in all sports. Again, it’s not because of the player’s skin color, it’s because it’s special to see the underdog win. History is made when the underdog wins. The “favorites” do things like taunt his opponent on a breakaway dunk or a punt return for a TD while the underdog has to put in the extra work to overcome the physical or mental differences between themselves and the favorite. It’s not un-american to not “cheer” for the US Men’s National team, and it also does not make me (and I’ll go out on a limb here) or the majority of those who don’t cheer for them bigots.

If the players don’t want to be looked at like they’re making an And-1 mixtape on the court, then dunk the ball without all the theatrics. If the commenters who “call me out” want to tell me I called someone a monkey (which I didn’t) for hanging on the rim and grabbing his balls, then maybe Shawn Kemp shouldn’t set such a poor precedent. Image is everything, and that image is burned into the minds of those that dislike USA basketball. It’s disrespectful to show up your opponent, and that’s what the individual players (not whole teams) have done over the years. Which is why, I feel, the people that don’t like USA Basketball don’t like them.

So if I’m a bigot because I’m not interested in watching an alleyoopfest during the Olympics, then I guess I’m a bigot. If I’m a bigot because I referenced hanging on the rim and grabbing your balls to disrespect your opponent, then I guess I’m a bigot. One thing though, I don’t enjoy the team because of the arrogant image they project, not the color of their skin. Which, the last time I checked, doesn’t make me a bigot or racist. So, “call me out” or “put me on blast” if everyone wants to but there’s honestly not a hateful bone in my body. I find fratboy blog humor somewhat amusing, so I guess that’s what is held against me. That’s fine with me, think what you want. Put me on blast, call me out, bring out all the venom… I’m no better than anyone else, and I feel I don’t act like I am.

Couldn’t Vince Carter have been really excited that he jumped over a 7 foot tall man?

Where was the taunt?

You bring up a few instances and judge the entire sport based on insecurity.

Did you root against Argentina when they were on top of the world?

Did you root against Usain Bolt in the 200 after he one the 100?

Did you root against Michael Phelps after he won his first gold?

Do you feel Cullen Jones deserved to compete in the final?

Did you root against the American women gymnastics team?

Track and field competitors haven’t been classified as amateur since they were in college and some even before.

Your history of professionalism in comparison to amateurism in Olympic basketball play is way off base dude. The world has been sending pros to the Olympics for years. When the world “caught” up to us, what were we supposed to do keep getting our asses kicked by men who have been playing together for years? This team played ball, won the gold and left. It was the world who punched and kicked and whined when they just couldn’t crack their psyche.

To characterize the NBA as a showboating league is laughable. Yes there are instances of players going overboard but they should not and will not overshadow the most fluid game in sports.

In a nutshell, Black athletes get painted with the same brush and when cats like you spout nonsensical and mad generalizing words that just echo “White Salad Dressing”, then I have to call you out.

Our athletes are a microcosm of America’s culture. There is not a more scrutinized member of any race in sports than the Black man.

I want some excitement in the game. I love exotic flair. Shawn Kemp did not come through in the clutch ever, but his athleticism was amazing to watch.

He had his place in the league. He doesn’t represent all the players or even talent I personally love to watch.

I wrote this piece because in the past you’ve commented with veiled words that should be construed as racist. I’m not the only reader who has said such Boney. You know you can’t come here or SOMM and get away with words you say at a bar, in your car or at your crib.

That’s the difference between you and I.

We speak truth here and we call it how we see it. I pull no punches and say the same things here as I would do anywhere.

I guess you couldn’t handle getting called out indirectly.

The one thing I will say I will do as a writer is to stop reacting to words which are predictable.

You find frat boy snark amusing? How is that so when you then in turn hate an athletic reaction?

I find it repugnant because it honestly adds nothing to sports. What is its origin or its meaning? Is snark the only way you can relate? Who gives fans the right to act like assholes when attending games? Don’t say the dollar because you don’t own an athlete just because you attend a game.

Why is it all about the athlete in America? What about the fans? What about their (fans) individual lives? Why have fans and yellow bellied media members become the moral and technical compass of American culture when we all know some are far from it?

So athletes over the years aren’t going to become numb to fans who hate them?

Are you are one of those cats in the 700th level burpin’ and cussin’ at McNabb one minute and cheering for him the next?

Look dude, this world is changing. Bitchassness from Black writers assimilating is no longer going to be tolerated and folk like you just have to deal with it.

In the past I would have cussed you out along the lines of your post, but no longer because really what does it all mean?

Your respect means nothing for when you come with coded conversation to satisfy your own insecurities you certainly won’t get any from me.

Now, we can have a conversation all day long but stick to the script. In other words, be honest.

Allen puts everything in perspective here:

I wrote about this as well a while back on my blog. I pointed out that they have no problem watching us suffer when we fail in sports, but when we succeed and celebrate it becomes a problem. Both emotions come from the same place. the realization that you as a person have accomplished a goal that has taken untold sacrifice. That would make anybody celebrate or cry.

Perhaps they do actually enjoy the NBA, just not the fact that the Olympics are, or have been about, the amateurs in years past.

There is no “rage” when it comes to “jumping over” (jumping over does not mean jumping and spreading your legs to avoid the man by the way), it’s a showboating style of play. It comes into play also as Larry Johnson talks trash to clearly overmatched benchwarmers from other countries, it comes into play when Shawn Kemp grabs his dick on a dunk and then immediately begs for forgiveness in an SI column afterwards.

See, when you intentionally misquote a “reader”, it’s disrespect. It’s what fires up the already angry mob that attends this very site. It’s that same disrespect, that allows Vince Carter to drag his dick across Fred Weis’ head or that causes Kemp to grab his sack.

Call it whatever you want to call it, but let me tell you this. When it’s “white mustard” it’s disrespectful borderline racist but when it’s “black mustard” it’s pure african.

There’s not a single african out there on the Olympic basketball court in any of those highlights.

So, continue to intentionally misremember the quote about not liking the NBA or Team USA… Perhaps that emailer knew that this type of response would come, only continuing to prove that you are in fact a bottom dwelling, opportunistic scum.

You had my respect… when all you really are worth is my sack on your tonsils, bitch.