Thicker skin would be interesting. It would all but eliminate mosquitoes and blisters. Not sure what the drawbacks are. Or what prompts skin evolution. Now I'm wondering how many layers of skin each animal has. Fascinating stuff. Must investigate further.
I don't really have a problem with WHAT he said. Most basketball fans make the same joke. I just don't like the fact that he acts like a jackass WHILE SAYING IT. He doesn't say crap like that in his columns because: a. He knows better. b. He has an editor. But, he does say those things on radio just to get people talking about him. It isn't some genuine guys-sitting-around-a-bar-talking-sports thing. It is him trying to be controversial. Here's a hint sportscasters. Don't try to be clever or cute or funny. Don't try to be controversial or edgy or hard-nosed. Just give me your analysis of what is going on and let me judge for myself. You don't need a schtick. You just need to know sports. Oh, and by the way, I care as much about what a sports guy thinks of politics or Hollywood as I do what an actor thinks of the economy or the food I eat, which is to say, NOT AT ALL.
If it was meant as a joke, sure, I don't see why anyone should have a problem with it.....we all need thicker skin, as many have said. However, that being said, if this is representative of his literal mindset and truly what he believes, then I would have a problem with it on several levels.
If people get offended or upset at what he said, then he got what he wanted...controversy. If people don't take these types of comments seriously, there wouldn't be any controversy. Just let him make a fool out of himself and don't lose sleep over it is how I look at it.
I'm getting really sick and tired of all the thick skin people taking over everything. Turn your head and they've got your job for less money. I don't think there is anything that makes me so mad as when a thick skin marries a thin skin --- that just isn't right.
I agree. Bob Ryan said something incredibly stupid but, as a white guy, I'm not offended. As a sports fan, I couldn't care less. Who cares what some pissant sportswriter thinks? I think Ryan was wrong, but I'm not gonna boycott the Globe or anything.
I only care because there comes a point where that negative stuff hurts your draft position.. when everyone just assumes freije is the next dan langhi because he is a white guy from vandy
mateo. yeah I mentioned it earlier in the thread. glad to get this win.. I liked how espn predicted we'd lose all week then after we won they were talking good about how we are a tough team and stallings is good etc etc etc... for all the people who said we'd lose, i never heard an actual reason besides .. upsets always happen with a 6 and 11 seed. or umm they are white
Back to the baseball side of the issue: From Peter Gammons' article The Miami Herald pointed out an astounding fact: unless Edwin Jackson and Dewon Brazelton make the Dodgers and/or Devil Rays rotations, the African-American starting pitchers in the major leagues will only be Darren Oliver and Willis with the Marlins and C.C. Sabathia with the Indians. "That is a reflection on how few African-Americans are playing enough baseball to build up their arms as kids," says one executive. "It's also a reflection on how fast we tend to typecast them and make them relievers." But history shows a paucity of African-American starting pitchers. In 1954, there were only three -- Don Newcombe, Brooks Lawrence and Bob Trice. In 1964, only eight -- Bob Gibson, Blue Moon Odom, Bob Veale, Al Jackson, Bennie Daniels, Al Downing, Mudcat Grant and Earl Wilson.
The reasoning behind his remark is offensive. Lemme guess, he's a staunch supporter of Affirmative Action.
As an Aussie I cant believe some of the race related remarks that are made in U.S. media. The way I was brought up....I dont really care what the colour of your skin is! But I think the point some people are missing here is this. Racist remarks are Never acceptable. Never. Not as a joke....not as a common fact....they are never acceptable. If you start accepting remarks about white players....there will come a day when remarks about black swimmers, sports car drivers, quaterbacks.....these remarks will crop up and alot of work will once again have to be done to rid sports (And life in general) of such stupid comments. How can a team be to white. What the hell does the colour of someones skin have to do with it? Not to long ago the joke was about black quaterbacks. Thankfully alot of that crap was thrown out the window and these days you can see some great black quaterbacks playing the game and not having to worry about what will happen when he comes across some racist fan, player or coach. So what happens to the white kid that loves the game of basketball. He plays the game all his life and in college he never gets a chance to show his stuff.....because he is white no one ever gave him a chance. Skin colour doesnt change racism. Its not ok to be racist against anyone! Now having said that....the are certain trends in sport that would seem to suggest white people cant play basketball, black people cant swim, asians cant play gridiron.... But does this REALLY have to do with race. Maybe white people just dont play basketball as much as black people do. Have you ever seen a black racecar driver. I think Ive seen one. That doesnt mean black people cant drive....maybe it just means black people can think of better things to do then drive around in circles all day! So before you start saying "Its just a joke" think about where that joke will end. This about how that joke will effect people around you. Think about what lessons you are teaching your children about race relations.
Christopher, is Cathy Freeman considered a great Australian athlete or a great Aboriginal Australian athlete? Is that distinction made whenever she is referred to in the media in Australia, or is that just here in the USA?
[QOUTE]The Miami Herald pointed out an astounding fact: unless Edwin Jackson and Dewon Brazelton make the Dodgers and/or Devil Rays rotations, the African-American starting pitchers in the major leagues will only be Darren Oliver and Willis with the Marlins and C.C. Sabathia with the Indians. "That is a reflection on how few African-Americans are playing enough baseball to build up their arms as kids," says one executive. "It's also a reflection on how fast we tend to typecast them and make them relievers." But history shows a paucity of African-American starting pitchers. In 1954, there were only three -- Don Newcombe, Brooks Lawrence and Bob Trice. In 1964, only eight -- Bob Gibson, Blue Moon Odom, Bob Veale, Al Jackson, Bennie Daniels, Al Downing, Mudcat Grant and Earl Wilson.[/QUOTE] This sounds vaguely familiar. I hate when people start crying about this subject. Rush Limbaugh told the truth last year about black quarterbacks in the NFL and he got crucified. I guess he was on the wrong side of the PC line. Whatever the case may be, I hate this subject about black athletes not being a starting pitcher/quarterback. Who cares? Does anyone cry about the ratio of white point guards in the NBA? I sure don't. It's funny how everyone in the US is so race conscious. This whole thing about Bob Ryan is a perfect example. It's even funnier that everyone else in the world capitolizes on the fact that the US is nontolerant of racism, no matter how remote the claim is. There are many many countries in Africa and in Asia that have white minorities and the whites have little to no say. What happened when Nelson Mandella took over South Africa? I'm not saying it was bad that a black South African won the presidency, but when he did take over the hate crimes went sky high against whites. All over Africa whites are constantly being forced off of their land, white women are being raped, etc. These are the same countries that scream that the US is being racist against them. That was a bit off subject. Anyway, Bob Ryah's comment was a joke stemmed from stereotypes which proves stereotypes hold truth but that is another subject.
I would love for Bob Ryan to coach basketball. How about this, I will give him a team of: Steve Urkel Ruben from American Idol Stevie Wonder Prince Michael Jackson (okay, bad choice)...errr...Gary Coleman My team will be: Steve Nash Brent Barry Peja Stojakavic Dirk Nowitzski Brad Miller Hell, his team should beat the hell out of mine, my team is way too white. I'm sure the sweet shooting of Dirk, Nash, Peja and Barry won't be able to compete with the blazing speed and athleticism of Gary Coleman and Ruben. Just too white. As for the thick skin, this sort of commenting doesn't annoy me because it isn't PC, it annoys me because it's ****ing stupid.
