The only part that bothered me was the "shooting" comment...sounded weird. He's still my favorite MLB player.
Maybe the question was "Hey Lance, don't you just want to shoot the Dixie Chicks over their comments in London?"
Now you're backpedaling. You didn't say controversial. You said arrogant. It is not arrogant to answer a question that is asked of you. Do you seriously think otherwise? How have I proven your point? You have yet to explain this at all. If I don't get mad at all celebrities for expressing an opinion, that is somehow a double standard?
OK I try to stay out of political discussion but just to put in my $.02. Newsprint often can't convey tone or intent. I highly doubt Lance was anything but joking when he made the "shooting" comment. I would've thought the follow up Oklahoma line would have given it away, since NO ONE honestly wants that to happen to anyone, not even their worst enemy . Unfortunately, he doesn't have the ability to inject smiley faces into his comments to let the readers know when he's being serious. He was asked a question and he answered it as honestly as he could while attempting to inject a little sophmoric levity as well. As for the double standard, I don't see what people who agree with Lance are doing is any different from Chick supporters screaming about how "They have the right to express their opinions" while at the same time demonizing Lance for doing the same thing. Just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't mean they don't have the right to give their side of the argument. Do I agree with Berk? In this case, yes. Do I think the Chick (not to sound patronizing, I just don't remember her name) was wrong? Yes. Do I think she has the RIGHT to give her opinion? Yes. Everyone has the right to say want they want, but it's everyone else's right to express their opinion on what you say. As our esteemed mod Jeff said in the Dixie Chicks thread: "Point is, we all have opinions and we all have a right to express them however we like. Disagreeing with an opinion is different from disagreeing with the right to have one. Saying that all actors and musicians have no business having any opinion and expressing it in an open forum is no different than saying none of us has a right to express an opinion. It's what gives Barbara Streisand the right to be a self-righteous blowhard as much as Mel Gibson despite the fact that their viewpoints are in diametric opposition."
We care what celebrities have to say about stuff, otherwise we wouldn't post something about 'not caring what celebrities think politically'.
When Berkman steps out of the batters box at a game, asks for a Mic and then says he supports Bush then I will care. I could care less who supports what, unless they do it on stage in front of people who paid to see them perform.
So, what you're telling me is that you'd trade Randy Johnson and Alex Rodriquez for him? Bottom line, celebrities have the right to say whatever they want. As 4chuckie mentioned, I think broadcasting their opinions at an event that has nothing to do with politics is downright reprehensible, but there's nothing to stop them from doing it.
my guess would be that it's one of those statements that in the context of the discussion was funny...but read in a bubble later looks worse than it really is. just a guess.
Double Standard Schmouble Standard I agree with what LB said. It was funny. I will now buy a jersey with his name on it because we have something in common. If he had come out and said he was ashamed that G-Dub was from Texas I would not have bought a jersey with his name on it. I damn sure would not root for him. If the Dixie Chicks had told the people in the UK they were proud that Bush was a Texan I would have bought more of their ****. IF they had not said anything at all then I would have only bought their crap if I thought it was particularly good. Since they took a stance opposite of mine I decided not to buy their crap.
I can't speak for everyone, but I personally could care less what a celebrity thinks about issues..I can form my own opinion without the help of someone famous, thank you very much. Berkman, Dixie Chicks, Alec Baldwin, Streisand....whoever....they all have the right to speak out on whatever they want...I dont care.. Having the right to free speech means defending other people's right to speak their opinion even if their opinion makes me want to puke. Period. I dont care how controversial it may be, how it makes anyone look in the media, or how other people may think it makes us look.....they have every right to speak out. Same goes for everyone from the most well known star in the world all the way down to the poorest guy in the trailer park...when it comes to the right to speak their opinion.....everyone is exactly the same to me.
Why do people get incensed about every little thing a celebrity says. Their people just like the rest of us. I mean if people on this board actually said some of the things they post on this board, they'd probably get lynched in public.
