What's in a word
OK, Wednesday, there was a convergence of storylines about white guys in or around professional sports who said something that either had or very well could have career-altering ramifications. Let's cover the actual events first.
Back during the shut-in part of the 2020 pandemic, when video game NASCAR racing felt like a treat, rising-racing-star Kyle Larson was caught on a hot mic dropping the N-bomb in frustration. He immediately lost his ride.
Monday, Charlotte Hornets radio play-by-play guy John Focke tweeted during a thrilling Utah-Denver NBA playoff game, ""Shot making in this Jazz-(N-word) game is awesome! Murray and Mitchell going back and forth what a game!" He said typed the N-word instead of 'Nuggets.'
Wednesday night, Thom Brennaman was pulled in the middle of a Reds broadcast for using a homophobic slur that sounds like 'Bag' on a live mic that he thought was off.
OK. Deep breaths.
First, the N-word for white people should have Hitler-like status for non-Jews. We can't use it. Ever. There are millions of other words. Find one. Any other word. Those of us of a certain pigmentation should know that by now.
Second, racial or homophobic slurs are, for a lack of better comparison, like cockroaches. If you see a roach in your home, the pest people will tell you there are at least 10 or more somewhere that you can't see. Slurs and bigoted comments carry a similar ratio, at least, in my opinion.
If you say that into a hot mic you think is off or off the cuff, then you almost certainly say it somewhat frequently in private or around homogenous groups.
Now let's review the cases, because, while it seems easy enough to offer the blanket statement of "Get that word out of your mouth," none of these instances are congruent. And to borrow from Mrs. Monfort's high school Geometry class, they can be similar but not congruent.
For Larson, his name is coming up about several open rides as NASCAR's season winds down. The timing of NASCAR in general works against him. Larson's undeniable talent works for him, though. In fact, here's one of the best - and most controversial - drivers to ever put his foot on the gas, Tony Stewart, speaking up for Larson getting a second chance.
As for Larson, he's still in his 20s, but at 28, youth is hardly an excuse. His trials and tribulations amid the fallout may be the litmus case of whether the N-word is truly a career killer.Since he offered that word, Larson has taken mandated sensitivity training from NASCAR, then decided to do more. He has volunteered for causes in Minnesota, St. Louis and Philadelphia and earned honest praise from organizers. His words are earnest - he said plainly that he was ignorant rather than the traditional "This is not me" or "Sorry to those I offended" - and appear heartfelt.
I agree with Stewart that Larson appears to deserve a second chance, but again, as a 49-year-old Southern white man, I'm not sure my vote counts in this instance. But after reading this, if Larson can not find his way back after using the N-word, I'm not sure there is a path these days to return from it.
As for the announcers, understandably both have been suspended by their teams.
Focke said his mistake was simply crooked thumbs and mis-typing. Hey, you guys read this. I have no firm footing to point fingers at mis-typers unless I start with me. And in truth, in my first job, about two weeks in, I wrote a story about a preseason high school basketball practice and reference "shirts-vs.-skins" and left out the 'R' and if you reread that, it's a completely different scene-setter without that very important 'R' no?
But as Jay Williams wondered on ESPN, is this a spell-check issue - I doubt that - or a suggested frequently used replacement feature on the iPhone?
As for Brennaman, his apology was immediate and actually happened as a home run was happening on the field around him.
If I had to guess, Brennaman is done. Focke is 50-50 at best - and in truth, it's more likely to be like the odds Marko Ramius gives the mutinous crew of the Red October "Personally, I give us one chance in three" - considering how easily replaceable radio voices can be.
Larson is the wildcard. But who knows.
NBA details
Wow that got wordy. Yeah, shocker, I know.
OK, let's try to right the ship and get you guys and gals out of here before you spend an hour around these parts.
Two quick NBA takeaways from Wednesday.
First, Luka Doni is one of THOSE guys. Not an all-star. Not even an All-NBA kind of talent.
He's one of those guys who will be the best player on a championship team - and maybe multiple championship teams - before he's done. And the Hawks traded him.
Luka has a record 70 points in his first two playoff games, and the Mavs would be up 2-0 if not for some questionable calls in Game 1.
As for the other, Paul Pierce said that if the Lakers lose to the Blazers (Game 2 is tonight; Blazers lead 1-0), then LeBron is washed and he has no business in the GOAT conversation. Yawn. There are two major issues with national media folks, whether it's politics or sports.
There are the line-carriers, that fall into the group think without, you know, doing any critical thinking for themselves. This is more of a political item, although in terms of sports, the silence of many on issues like the NBA's completely botched efforts in Hong Kong is a clear conflict of interest as well as a group-think issue
Then, there is the Paul Pierces of the world. Dude has next to nothing impactful, insightful or interesting to add to the discourse. So, go the other way. Say something so stupid and outrageous that people are forced to discuss it.
Pierce said LeBron is not a top-five player.
Lord, that opinion is OK from someone who does not know the difference between a crossover and croissant. But from a former NBA all-star and champion to say the guy who has made nine NBA finals with three titles and will finish among the top five in assists and the all-time leading scorer is not top five.
Side note: One word as bad as the N-word or other slurs can cost a broadcaster his gig and a river of stupid words can make some broadcasters more known.
Pride, power or pigheaded
OK, let's try this again. Jab and move, like Sugar Ray or Sweet Pea Whitaker.
Amid all the conversations about whether they should or whether they shouldn't play major college football, the Big Ten has offered the conference version of a parent saying, "Because I said so."
In the new era of gutless statement releases, new commissioner Kevin Warren wrote an open letter to the "Big Ten community." It is here.
But by doing it there and not at least on a zoom with reporters, Warren gets to be vague and loose with reasoning and not address several direct questions that truly must be asked.> What doctors did you consult and what specific information different from the SEC, ACC and Big 12 led you to this decision?
> Why do you think it's OK for high school football, C-USA football and NFL football to be played in Ohio and not safe for THE Ohio State?
> So if there was a vaccine in the next month, you're still out, even though teams are still practicing right now?
> Your students are on campus in almost every Big Ten school, so it's safer to go to school amid the 50,000 in Columbus out in the open than the 100-or-so student-players under the close scrutiny of coaches and teammates?
> Is the conference prepared to make the ends meet for programs at Rutgers or other member institutions that may have to be cancelled because of the loss of football revenue after the loss of the NCAA tournament money?
> Which medical personnel did you run the risks of spring football by and what were the results about recovery time, concussions and all the rest?
> Finally, why are you viewing this differently as a father and as an administrator, since you are OK with your son playing at Mississippi State this fall?
Again, the praise I offer the SEC and the ACC for exploring every option possible to try to play.
No one has said "We're doing this come heck, high water or high positive cases." They've only said, "We still planning on playing," with an eye on everything - good or bad - and that's great leadership in my opinion.
This and that
- While all the Reds conversation is about what was said last night, we missed what was done. According to ESPN stats and info, Reds hard-throwing righty Trevor Bauer became the first pitcher in the modern MLB era to strike out 40 batters and allow fewer than 10 hits in his first four starts of the season.
- Side note: Is there a more contradiction of terms than the "modern MLB era" since, that describes baseball from 1919 to now. Modern.
- Here's today's A2 column on trying to find positives amid the growing number of positive Corona cases.
- This LSU story is sickening, and this could topple everyone if Coach O turned a blind eye to the allegations that Derrius Guice raped two women while he was at LSU.
- You know the rules. In the dog days of August, our man and TFP college football expert David Paschall can never ever be accused of doggin' it. He has some college football knowledge here on motivated Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses and here on UGA deciding about attendance decisions. And just for good measure, Paschall gives us a report on Stephan Jaeger, the former Baylor School and UTC star who won on the Korn Ferry Tour last weekend.
Today's questions
OK gang, about 24 hours before the mailbag. Fire away.
Big picture question for the masses, and I'm somewhat biased because of fan-boyness for LeBron, but is the NBA as dependent on James as golf is on Tiger in terms of ratings and splash impact?I ask with the background information that Lakers-Blazers Game 1 outdrew every game of the restart and every game of Round One of the 2019 playoffs. Game 1 with Luka also was up compared to the same window from last year, but every other Round One game was down by at least 26 percent.
Granted, those games are sprinkled throughout the day because of bubble scheduling.
Thoughts?
As for today, let's review for Aug. 20.
Happy birthday Amy Adams, who has crafted a really strong filmography friends. Robert Plant is 72.
Wow on this day 100 years ago, the American Professional Football Association is formed with Jim Thorpe as the president. That group later becomes the NFL.
On this day 20 years ago, Tiger Woods beat Bob May by 3 to win the PGA Championship. It was his third major of the 2000. That's some kind of great season, no?
Rushmore of best single seasons in sports history. Go and remember the mailbag.