Does anyone know if Manhattanville is a Nike or adidas school?
To the Editor:

Re Player's Protest Over the Flag Divides Fans

On the one hand patriotic Americans appear obsessed with the flag as a symbol of cherished freedoms. On the other hand, many opf the same Americans are angry and intolerant when Toni Smith exercises her right to practice the most fundamental of those fredoms.

Toni Smith, a senior guard on Manhattanville College's women's basketball team, turns her back to the flag during pregame playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" to silently protest America's potential involvement in a war on Iraq.

The rancor exceeds mere disagreement. The patriots are offended by Toni Smith's observance of a First Amendment right.

Because free speech is so fundamental to American notions of freedom, the act of protest is inherently patriotic, regardless of the point of view or substance. If that is not the case, it is immaterial whether the military has fought and sacrificed for the First Amendment freedom to protest.

MICHAEL HEILBRONNER
Portland, Ore., Feb. 26, 2003
The Athlete and the Flag, NYT, Editorials/Letters, 2/27/03, A30

Posted by kj at 9:08:41 PM

New Jersey Idle
Just got back from a fairly nondescript Nets game, a 29-point drubbing of a dozen or so guys Don Chaney apparently picked up at Port Authority, gave Knicks jerseys, and drove out to the Meadowlands with the promise of $20 and a bottle of Thunderbird if they could just remain upright for 48 minutes. Official Favorite Sub of The Donk Aaron Williams picked up seven points, six boards, and four assists for a triple...um...four.

The highlight was, of course, halftime, when Joe Piscopo (who I feel really bad about making fun of before now that I read he's recovering from thyroid cancer) emceed New Jersey Idol, basically four talentless folks singing off-key for about 15 seconds each. The winner sang — now get this — "New York State of Mind!" At a Nets/Knicks game! In the Meadowlands! Okay, he changed the last line to "New Jersey state of mind" but none of the other NY-themed lyrics so it didn't make any sense at all! The rest of the night kind of continued downhill after that...

Speaking of the Nets, I haven't plugged this in a while, but JoeNetsFan.com is a terrific fansite: hilarious, passionate, intelligent, etc. Go check it out.

Posted by Ken at 8:42:46 PM

"Wouldn't it be offensive if we cheered `Rah rah rah' for the Carolina Negros / With our beatbox cheer and our fake foam afros?"
Speaking of Indian mascots. one of the greatest performers in America today, Atom and his Package (it's just the one guy), has recorded a rockin' song on this very topic entitled "If You Own the Washington Redskins, You're a Cock," available from his site. And then you should probably buy all his CD's and maybe a bumper sticker.

Posted by Ken at 8:46:29 PM

Pete Gets Nominated for the Hall
"It was a tremendous honor just being nominated to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame."You know, somehow I don't quite believe Pete there, maybe because he probably hadn't heard of the place until about three months ago, or perhaps he finished in the voting behind Kirk "106-108 Lifetime Record" McCaskill.

So what's next for everybody's favorite degenerate gambler? Hey, he used to use those Mizuno bats, right? Well, how about the Japanese Hall of Fame?

Posted by Ken at 7:15:48 PM

Bill aims to ban American Indian mascot names
Natalie Stites is neither proud nor honored by school sports teams that take the field led by tomahawk-waving mascots while the crowd roars "Go Indians." "Mascot imagery is not accurate. It perpetuates stereotypes," said Stites, a member of the Cheyenne River Lakota tribe. "It's a basic civil rights issue," said Goldberg, D-Los Angeles. "We don't permit any other ethnic group to be caricatured as a part of sport." Article
Related: NATIONAL COALITION ON RACISM IN SPORTS & MEDIA: People Not Mascots

Posted by kj at 1:25:49 PM

You GOTTA love Mike Tyson
Tyson commenting on his hobbies: "I like doing other things. I like getting high, hanging out with my kids. I like drinking,'' Tyson said.

Posted by kj at 9:25:49 AM

Ah, Synergy! Koufax Cuts Ties to Dodgers Over Blind Item in New York Post
Actual Malice is reporting that

Koufax's decision to "no longer attend spring training at Dodgertown in Florida, visit Dodger Stadium or participate in any activities while they are owned by News Corp." was reportedly a reaction to a blind item that ran in the New York Post on December 19, 2002 that stated: "Which Hall of Fame baseball hero cooperated with a best-selling biography only because the author promised to keep it secret that he is gay? The author kept her word, but big mouths at the publishing house can't keep from flapping."

The question implied but not asked is did Sandy out himself?

Posted by kj at 5:44:31 PM

Versatility Index
KG is tops of the triple threats

Posted by kj at 10:18:16 AM

NBA News
Good trade for both teams. Giricek will make Orlando better and Orlando will be better (numberwise) for Gooden. Grizz get some more draft picks which will help their youth movement. Miller should love hanging out with fellow White Trash, Jason Williams.

Glenn Rice looked good yesterday... how many times will the Knicks shoot themselves in the foot over giving Allan Houston that albatross contract -- how many other trades have they tried to fix that mess-up... it must be totally frustrating if you are a Knicks fan.

related: NBA Clutch Time

Posted by kj at 8:29:59 AM

Topic of the Day: Why NJ Sucks ass!
1) The Nets -- You gotta root for 'em cause they've got an exciting team, and they've been down for so long. But..they are the cockiest S.O.B.'s I've encountered in quite some time in the sports world and I will bet you dollars to doughnuts they aren't making it to the finals this year. If you read their quotes daily in various metro area newspapers, you'll note that you can "...because we are so awesome." at the end of nearly every quote and the quote will make perfect sense. Example: Byron Scott before last nite's loss to the Grizzlies: "We should win the game, no doubt about it.. ...because we are so awesome."

R.J.: "I definitely don't think there were too many guys betting against us. There's no doubt we should have beaten Orlando, there's no doubt we should beat 95 percent of the teams we play. ...because we are so awesome."

There were some real gems in yesterday's N.Y.Times; I wish I had saved them. I'm getting pretty sick of their attitude and they're making far too many enemies far too fast for their own good.

2) The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. -- NJSEA has approved a plan that will turn the Meadowlands into family entertainment complex while displacing the Nets, Devils, Giants and Jets into lovely downtown Newark. And all without a little something called "public opinion"! Gee, I already feel like going to a Devils game, how 'bout you? The Nets get 6,000 fans a night...it ought to TRIPLE now!!

Posted by kj at 7:19:09 PM

The 49ers hiring dinosaur Dennis Erickson was the worst hiring decision I've seen since Ray Handley of the NY gints or maybe Rich Kotite.

Posted by kj at 7:17:57 PM

ESPN.com: Whether it's singing, acting, or wagering on the Super Bowl, Jennifer Lopez is a sure bet. According to the Las Vegas Sun, J-Lo placed a six-figure wager on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the MGM Grand on Sunday -- and won. Citing numerous sources, the newspaper reported that Lopez put $250,000 down on Tampa Bay to win Super Bowl XXXVII and took the money line at plus-160. That means she won $400,000 -- and also got her original investment back.

Posted by kj at 9:31:30 AM

So much for the collective bargaining agreement. The Yanks give a big fuck you to the rest of baseball. Anyway, the playoffs were dominated this past year by "small market" teams. Money doesn't always buy wins, just look at the Mets.

Posted by kj at 7:15:18 PM