Notes: ESPN’s and the Press’ Silence Following Greenberg’s “Martin Luther Coon King” Statement Can Now Be Understood (and more)

By: dwil

First up a couple of more acrcane sporting mentions…

The Danica Patrick-NASCAR experiment is over for the next four months. After three NASCAR Nationwide Series races, Ms. Patrick is headed back to Indy cars for the next four months. How did she do in her first foray into the 21st century version of the “chitlin” circuit”? The Girl Wonder was involved in two accidents in the three races with neither of her making. After a cautious run at Daytona and getting caught up in crash ahead of her in her second outing while at the back of the pack, Patrick looked set to make a splash in Las Vegas. However, while running in third place after 83 laps, Patrick was cut off by Michael McDowell heading into turn one. Patrick sized up McDowell and was passing him low on the inside of the track when the Nationwide Series-only driver dove down into the turn apparently deaf and blind to the fact that another, speedier, 3,400-pound vehicle was but inches from him.

Though NASCAR drivers have no rear view mirrors, each driver has a spotter sitting high above the track watching their every move and guiding the driver around the course. Either McDowell’s spotter informed him that he was okay to dive on Patrick’s number Seven Go Daddy Chevy or McDowell failed to heed his spotter telling him to stay high because he was in the midst of being passed.

While some NASCAR commentators felt the mistake was Patrick’s, McDowell, in full roundabout NASCAR speak, blamed himself for the wreck:

I tried to giver her the outside – I started comin’ into it [the first turn] and she dove to the bottom and I closed the door. It was completely 100% my fault… I take 100% responsibility. You know it’s just… there wasn’t a whole lot of time to make a decision.”

Though it’s tough to go from the clean style of open wheel Indy car racing to the bump-and-grind of driving at 180 miles per hour with drivers using their nearly two-and-a-half ton cars – 3,400 pounds, to be exact – to love tap the rear of your nearly two-and-a-half ton car as a way of communicating everything from, “I didn’t like the way you passed me” to, “I’m faster than you, must get by, and gotta move you outta my way come hell or high water,” or some equally homespun- cornpone statement, for someone who had never sat behind the wheel of a NASCAR-style car, Patrick progressed dramatically. Additionally, attendance was up from last season at the three events in which Patrick drove.

Patrick will race 10 more time on the Nationwide series this season, next in New Hampshire in June after the Indianapolis 500.

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Ever watch the World Series of Poker? Do you play online? Do you know whether or not it is legal to play in the U.S.A.? Additionally, did you know that VISA and Mastercard have blocked its card members to directly deposit money to online poker sites?

If you are a fan of poker and play the game at many of the online poker houses you might not realize that, if you live in the U.S., what you’re doing is illegal. Barney Frank (D. MA) has led the fight to legalize Internet poker playing in the U.S. by repealing the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act which stated that credit card companies and banks could not, under penalty of the law, process fund transfers for unlawful Internet gambling. However, while attempting to stop these transaction, the law but only loosely “unlawful gambling” as it pertained to the game.

Though presently illegal, ESPN has used its website, ESPN.com, to heavily promote poker, including Internet poker. Commercials for Internet poker websites are seen throughout the day on ESPN’s television network. And the network televises the World Series of Poker, the World Series of Poker – Europe, and is largely responsible for the newly formed, North American Poker Tour. Though televising live poker, nearly every new star of live poker today cut their teeth playing at online poker houses.

Recently though, the subject of Internet poker landed on the cover of Forbes magazine. And lo and behold, the conservative economic magazine subtly advocated for the legalization of the sport/game (you choose which it is).

And now, tucked inside The Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010 (S 3018), a proposed bill to simplify the U.S. tax code, is legislation to make online gambling, including online poker houses, legal and subject to being taxed in America:

The bill, introduced by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and Republican Senator Judd Gregg, is an attempt to find compromise in this one arena in an increasing divided Congress.

S 3018 attempts to change the tax code and address the large number of tax breaks, with a much easier system that would put every American in one of three tax brackets (15%, 25% and 35%). The bill would also eliminate the Alternative minimum tax, as well as make significant changes to the capital gains tax.

On Oregon Senator Wyden’s webpage (www.wyden.senate.gov), there is a two page summary of this new proposed legislation, with no mention of Internet gambling, however upon examination of the legislation itself- also available on that site- the subject of online gambling eventually does take center stage (around page 126), as both a means to generate revenue and to protect American citizens interested in engaging in these types of activities.

This section, “Subtitle C–Internet Gambling, Taxation and Regulation, proposes a system where legal sites would pay a monthly licensing fee equal to 2% of total deposits made on that site the previous month. To justify this type of regulation, the bill notes numerous Congressional findings on Internet Gambling.

“Despite the increasing use of the Internet for gambling by persons in the United States, there is no Federal or State regulatory regime in place to protect United States citizens who choose to engage in this interstate activity, or to oversee operators to establish and enforce standards of integrity and fairness.”

“Internet gambling in the United States should be controlled by a strict Federal licensing and regulatory framework to protect underage and otherwise vulnerable individuals, to ensure the games are fair, to address the concerns of law enforcement, and to enforce any limitations on the activity established by the States and Indian tribes. “

Recent studies on regarding Internet gambling show that legalizing the game on the Internet could generate over $40 billion for the U.S. economy over the next ten years. And with sites like Ultimate Bet/Absolute Poker, Poker Stars, and Full Tilt Poker generating somewhere between $500 million and $1 billion in revenues, that figure could jump even higher.

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I admit it, I watched the Olympics every day of its two week existence. It was the first time there was no big run-up to the Games by the press, which scare me a little. I actually felt there was going to be some sort of “terrorist” incident because of the under the radar manner in which the Games were approaching. It would have been perfect for “our neighbors to the North” to become embroiled in some sort of violent action blamed on members of one of the “you name the group” Middle Eastern Muslim radicals wanting to be heaven-bound to be surrounded by the proverbial harem of virgins for the remainder of his ethereal existence and for the U.S. to ride, troop-heavy, to the rescue of Canadians and athletes the world over.

Thankfully the two week jock-fest went off without any such insanity.

However, the Olympics were marred by the first day of the Games death of Georgian luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili, on a course where a dozen some of the best one-man sledders in the world had already crashed during practice and complained that the course was fast and too dangerous.

Fortunately, the Games ended in a diametrically-opposed fashion. On the Games’ final day Canada faced off against the U.S. and the two teams played, perhaps, the best hockey games in the history of the sport. The game involved two all-star teams of players playing a tough but open style of hockey as opposed to the much slower clutch-and-grab NHL way of play. Additionally, fights are outlawed in Olympic hockey, so there were no stoppages of play due to players taking time out to pummel each other while referees and other players mill around the men involved appearing to take bets on which player will win the jersey-purposely-pulled-over-heads fists to the face affair.

Canada won 3-2 in overtime with Canada’s finest player and team captain, 22-year-old Sidney Crosby tallying the game-winning goal off a remarkable no-look backhanded pass from teammate Jerome Iginla. The underdog U.S. team played valiantly against their more talented opponents, fighting back from a 2-0 deficit in regulation to send the game into an extra period.

But.

What stood out to me was -this will come to no surprise to readers of SOMM – the officiating in speed skating. I witnessed local Canadian event throwing and Pan-Asian compliance event twisting. In the women’s relay, an Australian official ruled that a Korean skater fouled a Chinese skater handing a gold medal to China it did not in any way deserve. In fact the Chinese woman skated up the back of her Korean opponent on a turn and spun herself out of the race. After the Koreans won, the Australian ruled that, somehow, the Korean was at fault. Despite much protesting from the Korean coaches and team officials, the ruling was upheld. As a result the official was removed from ruling over any other events because of myriad death threats. However, he was spotted the following evening at other speed skating events grinning widely and laughing heartily in the stands, no doubt surrounded by security.

Next, in the 500-meter men’s final, Canada was handed gold and bronze medals in the event. Near the end of the race U.S. skater Apolo Anton Ohno touched the back of a Canadian skater. When Ohno removed his hand from the skater’s back the Canadian mysteriously sun out into the padding surrounding the oval. Because the hand-on-back maneuver is normal for speed skating. When skaters round turns they often use a hand place on another skater’s back to keep themselves balanced and to let the opposing skater know they are in the process of a pass. Unless a racer pushes an opponent, the maneuver is accepted. In no way did Ohno who finish second in the race, push the Canadian. However, the U.S. skater was disqualified.

Meantime at the front of the four-man pack the eventual gold medalist, another Canadian pushed his Korean foe into the padding in an effort to keep the Korean from swiping the gold from the host country. While Ohno’s non-push was judged to be a push, this push was never even discussed. Even U.S. commentators said the Korean “fell on his own” rather than tell the truth about the incident. Interestingly, the official in this event, one in which Canada pinned its gold medal hopes, was ———- Canadian.

Oh well.

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A brouhaha about the National Step Off is boiling over. Why? A White sorority won:

Visit any of the nation’s more than 100 historically black colleges or universities and you’ll see clusters of men and women engaged in the rhythmic clapping and foot stomping routines known in black Greek circles as “stepping.”

Now a white Arkansas team’s win in an Atlanta step competition has started a fiery debate over the African-inspired tradition and whether the integration of a once-ethnically exclusive activity constitutes a form of cultural theft.

“What has happened is black youth culture, what people would call hip hop, sort of made black culture accessible and appealing to all kinds of people,” said Walter Kimbrough, president of historically black Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., and an expert on black Greek life. “It really now has become an American experience.”

The uproar began when the all-white Zeta Tau Alpha team from the University of Arkansas beat out five other sorority teams to win last weekend’s national final in the Sprite Step Off competition. A YouTube video of their performance, inspired by the movie “The Matrix,” generated hundreds of comments.

Posters questioned everything from whether a white group should have been allowed to compete to whether judges wowed by the unlikely competitors inflated their scores to let them win.

“Good Job but let the Black folks have their own thing for once!!!” wrote one commenter posting under the name “titetowers” who said the Zeta Tau Alpha team did well but should not have won.

On Thursday, sponsor Coca-Cola announced “scoring discrepancies” and said the runner-up — the Alpha Kappa Alpha team from Indiana University, whose members are black — would share first place and receive the same $100,000 in scholarships that the Zeta Tau Alphas won.

Oh boy, this is getting good. Having seen step offs and frats and sorority members step across campuses (and prospective members. too), I definitely have my own opinion.

Watch the video.

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Back to a sport we love and know…. this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament promises to live up to its “March Madness” moniker. Though Syracuse and Kansas appear to be the favorites going into the regular season home stretch, there are no clear-cut, overwhelming favorites going into the tournament as there have been in recent seasons.

Jim Boeheim’s zone is difficult to prepare for in one day, so the Orange has a distinct advantage against other schools in a tournament setting. However, though long-armed, Syracuse is prone to being out-rebounded precisely because of its zone. And if an opponent can pound the glass Syracuse can be had. Kansas is tough but beyond their starters, how good they are is of question. After the starting five, the four of the next five Jayhawks primary bench players are guards. Kentucky is probably the most talented team in the country, but John Calipari’s top players are, collectively, the youngest group and most prone being upset by a lower seed. Their achilles heel is the three-point shot. They don’t shoot it well and NCAA champs shoot over 40% from beyond the arc during the tournament. Finding someone to step up an hit threes will remain a problem for the Wildcats.

Villanova looks like it has most of the components to reach the Final Four. Jay Wright’s team is deep and has senior Scottie Reynolds leading the way. But they desperately need better shooting from backcourt mate Corey Fisher. The junior guard runs too hot and cold and, if he’s off on a given night, opponents can concentrate their energies on Reynolds, and the Wildcats suddenly become vulnerable. Duke is a likely number one seed in the Big Dance but of all top teams is the most ready to be upset. The Blue Devils lack a true point guard, have no reliable inside scorers, and can be beaten up by stronger opponents.

Kansas State is tough and is running under the radar until their recent rise to number four in the rankings. Now we’ll see how they feel being the hunted instead of the hunters. Without Robby Hummel Purdue is done. Ohio State has POY candidate Evan Turner, but on the whole, is counterfeit. New Mexico is not as good as their ranking indicates (nor is BYU). Butler receives more favorable officiating than any other team in the nation but is too small on the whole to compete with the big boys.

Of all the top teams, West Virginia is the most interesting. Bob Huggins’ team plays his usual brand of tough defense and can beat up opponents on the glass. The Mountaineers are led by the brilliant play of the four-headed forward monster that is Kevin Ebanks, Da’ Sean Butler, Kevin Jones, and Wellington Smith. But the guards don’t shoot it well enough to take pressure off their bigger players. Still, if Huggie’s crew gets good breaks with officiating crews during the Big Dance, the Mountaineers are a good sleeper pick for a deep run in the tournament.

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Congratulations to Michael Jordan, soon-to-be majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Jordan is taking control of the team from Bob “Black Excrement Television” Johnson. Charlotte is in the hunt for a spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs and appears to have a bright future.

Though Jordan, as general manager of the Washington Wizards, was scapegoated as the sole reason for the Wizards’ failure to progress, he is known to be a master at surrounding himself with talented people and delegating responsibility to that talent.

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Speaking of the unreal nature of our world today…. ESPN radio tandem of Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic of the Mike and Mike in the Morning radio-television simulcast, are now selling books. The two are co-authors of the book “Mike and Mike’s Rules for Sports and Life” to be released April 6. The pair is also embarking on a national book tour.

Remember all the apologists who immediately popped up after Greenberg’s heinous uttering? Remember the comment sections following the mention of Greenberg and how they were flooded with commenters apologizing for Greenberg’s racist statement?

If anyone discounts the importance of these two men – especially Mike Greenberg – to ESPN, think again. And if anyone discounts the power of ESPN to silence the media, including every mainstream Black sports journalist and any Black Internet journalist with any mainstream or widely-popular platform ——- think again.

Perhaps the abject silence that continues to follow Mike Grenberg’s Martin Luther Coon King statement can be fully contextualized, fully understood.

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Sorry I’ve been away from SOMM for a few days, I had to take care of some pressing business. Also, please remember to contribute to SOMM. Pennies on the dollar journalism can’t compete with mainstream or what is designated by the mainstream as “popular” Internet journalism. Without your help sites like this one are quickly going the way of the dinosaur – and that cannot bode well for anyone.

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