While the SportsEye will never tell the black sports fan what to say, or how to say it, it is offering some suggestions this week. And while not censoring opinion or thought, it is time for some black folks to shut the heck up.
If you are an athlete or celebrity or caller to a sports radio call, and the subject is Mike Vick and dogfighting – shut the heck up. Take the 5th, say, “No comment,” forget how to speak English like Sammy Sosa. Nothing good can come of anything someone says on the despicable matter, so the best thing to do is say nothing.
Whoopi Goldberg was the latest to show her ignorance on the subject. She was immediately vilified, rightly or not. Yeah, it was her first day on “The View,” but “Barbara, dogfighting is bad, and that’s all I have to say,” would have sufficed.
If you are asked about O.J. Simpson’s latest legal troubles – shut the heck up. Black people are the last people to really care about O.J. or his antics. But once again African Americans are being put on front street with the “What about O.J. question?” Again, the right words should be “I have no comment on O.J.” Either that or “O.J. who?” O.J. is not a sports discussion topic. So don’t help national and local sports shows make it one.
If you are Donovan McNaabb – you should definitely shut the heck up. McNabb will be on HBO’s RealSports in an interview with James Brown in which he says is still a factor on the success and respect towards black quarterbacks. Duh-uh. But as badly as McNabb needed to zip his lip on this matter, he really looks foolish by backing it up with a brutal performance against the Washington Redskins last Monday.
McNabb has had a great overall career but injuries have slowed him, lack of playmakers around him has hurt his performance and time is taking its toll. But you gotta be smarter than he has been, lately. “No comment,” Donovan. Trust us, it works.
New York Knicks G, Isaiah Thomas either had to comment or face contempt charges during a deposition for a sexual harassment suit slapped on him on his team. But he certainly should have shut the heck up after he truthfully acknowledged he called a black woman employee the dreaded “b-word.” OK, he did it he was wrong. Thomas doesn’t think so. Without being asked he volunteered the preposterous notion that it is fine for a black man to call a black woman the b-word, but he would have a problem with a white man doing it. Thomas should fire the attorney who didn’t yell ‘shut the heck up’ the second he tried to rationalize his behavior.
Mike and Steve
No, not Mike and Steve Roberts.
Mike Tirico and Stephen A. Smith have landed the midday slot for ESPN Radio. In other words, they are replacing the departed Dan Patrick.
Tirico will bring his professionalism; Smith will bring his brashness and purposely overblown East Coast accent to the program. It’s a partnership that could work.
Well, actually, they aren’t partners.
Tirico, Monday Night Football commentator, will host ESPN Radio’s weekday noon- 2 p.m., slot beginning today (Sept. 20). Smith, of 1050 ESPN Radio in New York, will host the network’s 2-3 p.m. slot.
Smith, who is known for being loud, but also being correct on many NBA issues, didn’t mince words about his new role.
“I’m elated for this tremendous opportunity, and I appreciate the faith ESPN has shown in me,” Smith said.
“New York listeners and NBA fans have gotten a taste of my no-holds-barred mentality, and now the rest of the country is about to find out as well.”
Smith will continue to be joined by Mike Missanelli, a former Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter.
Smith is a former Inquirer columnist. He has recently had his column snatched from him, and the newspaper returned him to regular sports reporting.
While the National Association of Black Journalists is monitoring the move, within the newsroom it is being said Smith had put ESPN duties in front of his daily newspaper responsibilities.
Take it to the state
If you have a beef with the Missouri State High School Athletic Association, and many athletes, parents and administrators do, you are invited to testify at a hearing on Sept. 26.
A special interim committee will begin taking public testimony on cases involving MSHAA, according to Rep. Gayle Kingery, R-Poplar Bluff.
Public testimony must be submitted in writing to Kingery’s office in Jefferson City prior to the hearing. Public testimony will then be distributed to all committee members before any hearing commences and witnesses arriving in person will be allowed five minutes to tell their story. The committee has been tasked with evaluating MSHAA’s process for handling inquiries, petitions, and appeals in relation to high school athletes in Missouri.
The hearing is at noon, Wednesday (Sept. 26) in Hearing Room 3, State Capitol Building in Jefferson City.