Another wit from the GOP fold

[callmeslick]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/minn ... 3Aansfox11
I keep waiting for the GOP to have a large-scale seminar urging these clowns to just stop posting to FB, Twitter, etc. Until then, they just slowly make the party even more marginal.

[Will Robinson]

Well he isn't smart as a politician for putting that out there but he might be technically correct.
NBA athletes get a pass from being arrested often, most of the same teams are irrelevant to the playoff picture every year so if the members of those teams suddenly lost their job as NBA player would they get a pass from the criminal activity they engage in? Would they suddenly become law abiding characters?

You are right, he's a dummy for saying it but he's probably right on target in a literal sense.

[woodchip]

While the existing players have enough money, if suddenly 70% less players were drafted, those kids who thought they were golden boys would find they had no skill for any meaningful work.

[callmeslick]

...and this differs from other sports, how?

[woodchip]

Trying to deflect again?

[Tunnelcat]

Sports player is one of those glorified careers that pays people way too much for the work effort they put out. It tends to attract people who aren't motivated, or smart enough, to find some real hard work, for the usual less pay.

[callmeslick]

Trying to deflect again?

nothing to deflect, that I read. The guy made yet another stupid remark online, the GOP looks bad again, for no real reason beyond sheer lack of self-control, and you're trying to rationalize what NBA players would do if not playing pro sports. Thus, might I add, ducking the whole issue of why this clown, elected to represent his district with some level of honor and dignity, chooses to make a public, and rather bigoted, fool of himself.

[Spidey]

Hummm, this kinda reminds me of how you guys are all slamming Woody for saying those students and faculty are racist…here is a guy that said something about a particular sports franchise and look at all of the racist accusations…no he wasn’t talking about black people…he was talking about the NBA.

[Top Gun]

...which is like 95% black. Nice try.

[Will Robinson]

...and this differs from other sports, how?

I'm not sure any comments made depend on there being a difference...but in reality the NBA does seem to be home to more of a selfish type player. In part the nature of the game has evolved to a point where young guys can become bigger than their team and are allowed to do so.
The Michael Jordan personality is very rare. The instant easy money ego maniac compensating for insecurity is the norm.
Coupled with the lack of veteran mentors like Magic Johnson who at one time were there to take these young punks under their wing and show them how to behave like they deserve to be in the limelight and you end up where we are today.

So yea, unlike the NFL where they at least try to maintain some pride in character, the NBA is much more mercenary.

What is sad to me is not that some politician put his foot in his mouth. That is no loss to anyone really.
What is sad is there is so much truth to what he said! It is a symptom of how far we have slid into the gutter culturally.

[Spidey]

...which is like 95% black. Nice try.

So what? Nice try.

[Top Gun]

...you really need to have the insinuation in the original quote spelled out in text for you? Come on and pull your head out of the sand already.

[Spidey]

I don't know...his explanation didn't sound contrived, and there is plenty of context on that page.

[Will Robinson]

For TopGun, and far too many other people, it no longer matters if the comment or action is born of prejudice or not.
It only matters that if, in any way, black people can take offense at the event, and the source of the event was a non liberal, then they must be racist.
It's a grand escape clause, any uncomfortable topic can be completely swept aside and marginalized by simply crying 'racism'.

This politicians comments were clearly derogatory to the NBA culture. His own personal feelings toward black people is not contained in the comment one way or the other. Sure he could be a racist peckerwood to the umpteenth degree, but it isn't evident from his words.
However, since the NBA is largely black and he, a republican, said something bad about the NBA of course he is a racist...
Life is just that simple when you are a simpleton.... or lead them...

[Top Gun]

Dude...it would take a willful act of mental contortion to get any other implication out of this quote. It's established that the NBA is mostly comprised of African-American players. The idea of African-Americans being associated with higher crime rates is a DECADES-old stereotype. You don't make a comment like that unless you are batshit ignorant of society as a whole...or unless you actually feel that way.

[Will Robinson]

Dude...it would take a willful act of mental contortion to get any other implication out of this quote. It's established that the NBA is mostly comprised of African-American players. The idea of African-Americans being associated with higher crime rates is a DECADES-old stereotype. You don't make a comment like that unless you are **** ignorant of society as a whole...or unless you actually feel that way.

The problem with your mental gymnastics is you are assuming the person who indicts the criminal element of the NBA players is doing so because they are black instead of because they are, in fact, often engaging in criminal activity!

Just because it could be his frame of mind doesn't mean it is. What right do you have to find him guilty without any evidence when he could simply have been venting as a disgruntled NBA fan who is sick of seeing players getting in trouble with the law?

You are being extremely prejudiced towards him and I seriously doubt you would be so vocal about the same comments if they were made by a liberal. If Bill Mahr said it you would find it clever. In fact I believe Bill Mahr did say a similar thing recently. Why? Because it is a trending problem....not the players being black...their being punks...

[Spidey]

JFTR I am simply giving a person the benefit of the doubt, because when asked to explain himself, gave a reasonable response, and because I reject living in the world of absolutes some seem to be so comfortable in.

[vision]

As someone who knows nothing about the NBAs arrest rate and marijuana use, I did not find the tweet racist, and I was very confused why street crime would increase of 70% of the teams folded.

[snoopy]

Sports player is one of those glorified careers that pays people way too much for the work effort they put out. It tends to attract people who aren't motivated, or smart enough, to find some real hard work, for the usual less pay.

I think you're joking. I think that's why you're winking.

You have to be incredibly driven & you have to work very to really "make it" in professional sports... even with loads of talent. You have to be one in a million to make it without some level of work ethic.

But... driven & high work ethic in sports means running, working out, etc... skills which don't exactly translate all that well to the business world. Professional sports also doesn't take the "trouble" out of people - if anything if promotes it because everyone around enables the trouble because they hope the kids will "make it big." If you take away the carrot and the highly structured schedule I can see the worst in a lot of athletes coming out...