When Sports-Lefties Go Political

Townhall.com ^ | October 29, 2009 | Larry Elder

[Kaslin]

We've now established that Rush Limbaugh cannot own an NFL team given his "unacceptable" (read: conservative) political comments. What about sports figures, executives and commentators who offer their left-leaning political thoughts?

Many of us turn to the sports pages before the news section. For just a moment, we can put aside worries about the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, ObamaCare, the "peril" of "global warming," government bailouts and the feds' borrowing and spending.

In sports, we want to read or hear about who ran the fastest, scored the most points, defeated the opponent. In sports, there is an oasis -- until anti-GOP, anti-Bush, anti-conservative comments slap us.

National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern was asked whether Kobe Bryant should continue to play while being prosecuted for rape. Stern responded: "Absolutely. We don't have a Patriot Act in the NBA. That means that you're innocent until proven guilty." What does the Patriot Act --passed to fight terrorism -- have to do with the presumption of innocence or guilt?

New York Times sports writer George Vecsey wrote about how the French handled the allegation that cyclist Lance Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs. Vecsey wrote, "Personally, I think the French have linked Armstrong with George W. Bush, surely a disservice to the cyclist." Nice.

Stephen A. Smith -- the usually insightful and entertaining ESPN analyst -- in an appearance on Chris Matthews' MSNBC show, said, "(Republican former New York Mayor Rudolph) Giuliani is a dictator." Oh.

New York Times sports writer Harvey Araton, in an article about friction between two U.S. Olympic speedskaters, wrote, "At the root of the conflict is (one skater's) belief that (the other skater) has been attempting to swift boat him." You see, "Swift boating," to many liberals, has now become a synonym for "lying." Never mind that the real "Swift boaters" were ex-military men raising legitimate points about the military record of former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Bryant Gumbel, on his HBO "Real Sports" program, said that he wouldn't watch the Winter Olympics. Gumbel said, "Try not to laugh when someone says these are the world's greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention." Gumbel, too, finds soccer boring because he knows "that in soccer they score about as often as Ann Coulter makes sense."

When then-Gov. and GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin attended a hockey game in Philadelphia, The New York Times posted a story from a hockey blogger, who wrote, "Palin ... was greeted by resounding (almost deafening) boos from the Flyers crowd." Really? The Associated Press wrote: "The Alaska governor and self-described 'hockey mom' heard a few boos when she walked onto the ice, but that soon turned to polite applause. ... Palin waved to the crowd and smiled as she dropped the puck to applause and cheers." (Maybe Palin attended two different games.) At least the Times quickly pulled down and replaced its post with a more accurate version.

Norman Chad, a syndicated sports columnist, bemoaned the dearth of black sports editors and staff. He asserted, "We're whiter than Newt Gingrich's Fourth of July barbecue."

Maxim magazine asked NBA basketball superstar LeBron James, "If there was one guy on the planet you could dunk on, who would it be?" James responded: "If it doesn't have to be a basketball player, George W. Bush. I would dunk on his ass, break the rim, and shatter the glass." Bush's sport was baseball. Wouldn't former prep-school baller President Barack Obama present a bigger challenge?

Popular television sports analyst and former NBA star Charles Barkley said, "I was a Republican until they lost their minds." He also offered that only two presidents in his lifetime -- Clinton and Carter -- had ever done anything for black people.

Nation magazine's sports editor, Dave Zirin, condemned Limbaugh's interest in purchasing an NFL team as "having somebody in an NFL owner's box who (players) know views them with naked and open contempt because of the color of their skin."

John Salley, former NBA player and co-host of Fox Sports' "Best Damn Sports Show Period," said in an appearance on a podcast: "I have a question: Do you hate Obama? Why are so many people -- who now hate him -- after just 266 days they loved him? (sic) All of white America. Not all of 'em but the majority." So, opposition to policies equals "hate."

New York Times sports columnist Selena Roberts, when it became increasingly clear that Duke lacrosse players were innocent of rape, channeled her inner Dan my-facts-are-wrong-but-my-point's-valid Rather: "What happens if all the charges are dismissed? There is ... the irrefutable culture of misogyny, racial animus and athlete entitlement that went unrestrained that night." Hey, they were falsely accused, but, well, let's examine the big picture.

Now then -- if it's not too much to ask -- how did the Yanks do last night?

[the invisib1e hand]

Now then -- if it's not too much to ask -- how did the Yanks do last night?

This is tongue-in-cheek, right? Since obama can't be trusted to throw out the first pitch, they had to figure out a way to get his wife on the field, so the concocted this bizarre photo op complete with a wounded vet (God bless him). It amazes me that some 20-somethings actually sat around in a room somewhere and conconcted this...

yeah! That's it! A wounded vet. OK, what kind of wound? YES! A hook where his hand should be! They'll all notice that! And then we can run ads about active michelle and whats-her-name are in helping disable vets get back into "normal" American life! Perfect!

Wretch.

Even CBS radio had talking points:

...The Yankees haven't won a world series with a republican in the white house since Grover Cleveland...

A beautiful season has been ruined. I have next to no interest in the world series now.

And it's not just because phillies fans are animals.

[Doogle]

.."arggg, they lost, and any more questions about the yanks today and we leave a present on your bed...and it ain't gonna be a mint"

[LibLieSlayer]

The only two televised professional sports that still love America are NASCAR and Wrestling. Pity.

LLS

[scooby321]

I have not looked it up but I think the Yankees won under Dwight D. Eisenhower. I bet I am right.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Another reason that I’m glad I watch/follow/read about absolutely no sports whatsoever (except NHB fighting and MMA).

[Nakota]

The Yankees won the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-3. Don Larsen pitched a perfect game 5 for the Yankees.

[Nakota]

The Yankees won the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-3. Don Larsen pitched a perfect game 5 for the Yankees.

[Condor51]

*** I have not looked it up but I think the Yankees won under Dwight D. Eisenhower. I bet I am right. ***

Aw c'com. That's a sucker bet.
In 1956 the AL only had Eight Teams so naturally the Yankees would, "win a lot" ;-)

an aside: IMO, That's when Baseball was Baseball and real rivalries existed. For us White Sox fans it was the NY Yankees, 'prolly' because they were 'the best' (we got em all in '59 though).

There's rumors that there was a NL too and a team called the Cubs. But since I never saw it or them in person, I can't verify it :-)

[Puppage]

Since obama can't be trusted to throw out the first pitch, they had to figure out a way to get his wife on the field

And, they sent her out there with Yogi Berra so there wouldn't be a huge "BOOOOOOO" when she walked to the mound.

Smart idea I must say.

[relictele]

Hell the NY Daily News took pipsqueak Mike Lupica from the sports and gave him a politics-only column where he could recite lefty talking points.

[LibLieSlayer]

Typical lying, non researching, state owned media.

LLS

[murdoog]

The Yankees haven't won a world series with a republican in the white house since Grover Cleveland

Wasn't Grover Cleveland a democrat?

[Christian4Bush]

Even CBS radio had talking points:

...The Yankees haven’t won a world series with a republican in the white house since Grover Cleveland...

---

On the converse...my Lakers have done quite well in that department...of their 10 Los Angeles titles, 7 were won under Republican presidents (Nixon, one; Reagan, four, Bush43, two)

Actually they could have said, the Yankees haven’t won a title since that carpetbagging Sack of S (wait...that’s not what SoS means?) carpetbagged her way into a Senate seat in New York, joining Chuck U. Schumer, after being co-president for eight years.

[a fool in paradise]

Rush Limbaugh was not blacklisted because of his conservative views. He was blacklisted by a liberal assault that MADE UP BOGUS QUOTES and attributed them to Rush.

This is worse than anything that the rotten Reds claim that Joe McCarthy engaged in. THIS is a political witchhunt.

And the media laughs and high fives one another for a job well done.

[BluesDuke]

There's rumors that there was a NL too . . .But since I never saw it or them in person, I can't verify it :-)

You must have slept during the 1959 World Series. When a little team known as the Los Angeles Dodgers held up a "Stop" sign to the Go-Go Sox in six.

[BluesDuke]

The Yankees won the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-3. Don Larsen pitched a perfect game 5 for the Yankees.

The Yankees won a lot of World Series during the Eisenhower years. (Four, to be precise.) They won quite a few under Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover as well. But they were truly a bipartisan empire: they won lots of World Series under FDR, Truman, Kennedy, Carter, and Clinton. That's 5-4, Democratic versus Republican presidents, if you're scoring.

[Condor51]

*** You must have slept during the 1959 World Series. When a little team known as the Los Angeles Dodgers held up a "Stop" sign to the Go-Go Sox in six. ***

Yep, after the first game I went to sleep. LOL
(I trust you knew I was kidding and being 'a tad' sarcastic)

BTW, I checked your Profile Page. We have some things in common.

When I saw one of your 'Latest Albums Listened To' being: Riding with the King (B.B. King, Eric Clapton) my eyes kinda popped, that's one of my faves too. I Listened to it Tuesday. I also play guitar and the Blues (plus R&R and C&W). And that door sign: "Quiet! Genius Playing With Mental Blocks!" is a keeper, I'll have to make one.

Gotta go now. Its my usual time to pull out a guitar and jam for a while.
Yesterday I restrung one and set the intonation, today I'll see how the new strings sound.

Later, and have a good one.

[BluesDuke]

(I trust you knew I was kidding and being 'a tad' sarcastic)

I trust you knew I figured that one out on my own! ;)

And that door sign: "Quiet! Genius Playing With Mental Blocks!" is a keeper, I'll have to make one.

I wish I could remember where I found that one.

(I play the blues, too. When I'm not committing radio comedy in Las Vegas, that is . . . Lately I play an Epiphone Dot. Good semihollow for a guy on a budget. )