Does anyone know what Steve and Cat are doing during the singing of the national anthem? For those not attending the games, Steve and Cat stand with their legs apart, hands behind their backs, completely bent over at the waist while staring at the floor. While I certainly hope this is not some sort of protest, it's sure not as traditional as facing the flag with your hand over your heart. ------------------
I'm hoping they are not right behind each other in that position...are they? Kids are watching...they need to do that in their personal time... ------------------
on a serious note, could they be stretching? That will still be very disrespectful... ------------------
Perhaps bowing? ------------------ "One thing computers can do that most humans can't is be sealed up in a cardboard box and sit in a warehouse." - Jack Handy
It's not some sort of stupid, personal (Abdul-Rauf like) protest. A Lot of athletes like to stare at the floor during the anthem to get their focus before games. Plus, it shouldn't matter what they are doing during the national anthem because WHO CARES...unless it is some blatant disrespect. ------------------
Abdul-Rauf's protest was neither stupid or personal, friend. And it wasn't blatantly disrespectful either. ------------------
You would gain a better understanding of Abdul-Rauf's position if you read that article on him in SLAM like a month ago. They're probably just stretching or something. ------------------ The whole world we travel with our thoughts, Finding nowhere anyone as precious as one's own self. Since each and every person is so precious to themselves Let the self-respecting harm no other being. -from the Samyutta Nikaya
People never used to notice that Cornbread Maxwell used to skip the anthem also, always booking into the locker room and sneaking back out after. Personally, I agree with Knutty on this one-- Abdul Rauf was unfairly criticized for peaceful expression of his beliefs. Ragging him for that is more disrespectful to the constitution than his protest by a mile (ACLUFanClub?). Dan Patrick -- houston radio reject a-hole -- pulled the Fabulous Sports Babe off the air for saying Rauf's protest was not a big deal. He is such a loser. He should have pulled her because she sucked, not because she refused to vilify Rauf. I'd be curious why Franics and Mobley do that, though. PS. I love the name "Jack" for Cat, that is hilarious. late CBFC ------------------ Join the Chucky Brown Fan Club
There was nothing stupid about what he did. You may disagree with it or completely think him out of line, but absolutely nothing was stupid about it. ------------------ "what if my aunt had balls?" -- in one fell swoop, bbs member verse expresses his dislike of "what if" scenarios and shows he has far too much idle time on his hands.
What did Abdul Rauf do? ------------------ "One thing computers can do that most humans can't is be sealed up in a cardboard box and sit in a warehouse." - Jack Handy
Okay, let me clarify my position. I didn't exactly check over what I wrote. I was a Abdul-Rauf supporter at the time the incident occur. I meant to seperate stupid and personal. What I meant was Stevie and Cat weren't doing what they were doing for stupid or personal reasons. Hence, Abdul-Rauf being more for the personal agenda. Point is, people can do whatever hell the want when the national anthem is play unless is something blatantly offensive (like flippin' the bird or something while it's playing). ------------------
Hey pee would likely say that they are checking out and comparing each other's sunshiny ass. but I say they are drawing energy according to Zen philosophy by consuming themselves with each tone and octave of the varying vocals sung to the national anthem. ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
Rocketfreak: I thought Cato still had his IUD CBrown: Yes, Dan Patrick is a huge loser! ROXRAN: "Drawing energy according to Zen philosophy" is the best explanation I've heard yet. As for the other theories -- Their routine is too correographed to be a "stretching exercise", too unorthodox to be a "prayer", legs too far apart to be a "bow" and too passive to be a "protest". Does anyone know if Phil Jackson has the same routine? ------------------
I'm sorry but putting your hand over your heart and pledging alegiance to this country is a personal decision just like praying to a god is. The Flag and Gods (whether it be a name or symbol, ie: the cross) are ICONS. Whether or not you worship them depends on you. Even if Francis and Mobley are flat out refusing to participate in the ceremony it is not disrespectful it is an individual freedom held up by a Supreme Court decision in regards to this in schools. Who Cares? I wish no one did, its sports after all, and the reason I love sports so much is because its objective to political and personal concerns or feelings. ------------------ -jbond77
Valio asked what Rauf did. He refused to salute the flag, so he got blacklisted in the NBA. The guy went from having 50 point games to being a scrub in less than a year. He said that the united states of america kills has killed people for a long time and that to him the flag stood for oppression. A lot of people like to point out that America made Rauf and others like him millioniares, and that because America has been good to them personally they should be quiet. That opinion, of course, actually degrades America even more; saying that in a country founded on the principle that poeple have the responsibility to voice displeasure you are exempt from that process just because of personal wealth. Anyone who thinks that is a FREAKING ASS WHO PROBABLY VOTED FOR BUSH!!! ------------------
wow, I'm so suprised you guys felt this way...I was kinda pissed when Rauf did that...I'm not saying he should put his hand over his heart or to say the anthem aloud, no one is making him do that...I really don't know what are his reasons are whether personal or political, but for me, I took it like a slap in the face to our country...Pay a little respect to a country that is paying you big bucks to play basketball for crying out loud...this is a tradition that's going on our sports history for years and years...lemme ask you a question, why didn't he do that when he was playing ball at LSU, or on the earlier games in the NBA? ------------------
I believe Rauf gained a little enlightenment down the road. Besides changing from Chris Jackson to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf after a conversion to Islam, Rauf opened his eyes. It's alot easier to take a position when standing in the cheap seats than to get rowdy on center stage. Just ask Jimmy Buffet. Rauf chose to point out a little hypocrisy that most Americans weren't ready to hear and got slamed for it. ------------------
i don't believe his sociopolitical viewpoints were as hightened in his days at LSU. his sociopolitical viewpoints changed (positively, IMO) when he converted to Islam, hence the namechange from Chris Jackson (LSU) to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. what he did was, in no way, disrespectful. he didn't flip the bird, nor did he make any kind of gesture. he simply did not stand for the national anthem. for quite some time, no one even noticed. and as for paying homage to the country that pay you big bucks, that argument stinks. so if i murdered your grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather, etc., etc. should you be happy if i started paying you money? and thats all it is, ChenZhen, is money - one of the least important values to a Muslim (or to anyone with common sense.) money does not replace responsibility or culpability. his protest was not against the present anglo-americans or the like (in case someone here is misinformed). his protest was against the history of america. a history rich with murder, enslavement, theft, etc. for the benefit of a singular group that had - really - no real right to be here. sorry to jump on the soapbox, but comments like that tend to bother me. btw, i didn't say the "pledge of allegiance" in school for the very same reasons. nor do i say the national anthem, for the very same reasons. i thank my boss for my paycheck, yes. but i am also cognizant of the fact that my presence brings him more money than i have. for that i feel no sense of indebtedness. for that i feel it is a business relationship, and i'm sure mahmoud feels/felt the same. oh yeah, he was also my favorite college bball player of all time
