LZ challenges athletes of today

Page 2’s LZ Granderson has an interesting today on African-American athletes on their interest, or lack thereof , in politics.

 Enjoy.

How’s Tiki feeling?

So, if you’re Tiki Barber, where’s your head at this week?

Just a season ago, Barber was the captain and leader of the Giants. He announced early on that the 2006-07 season, would be his last, so for the entire year it was an informal going away tour for him. Many felt he was just reaching his peak and had several years left in him. But, to Tiki’s credit, he had interests outside of the game and wanted to pursue them.

After being courted by ESPN, FOX and others, he landed with NBC as a correspondent on the Today Show, but most notably on NBC’s Sunday night Football in America show. Early on, he was criticized heavily by calling out some of his former teammates and airing their dirty laundry — something that’s against the code of NFL players.

But as the season progressed, he found his niche and along with Bob Costas, Jerome Bettis and Cris Collinsworth, formed a decent team.

But one has to wonder, with the Giants in the Super Bowl and the only way he’ll be involved is as a reporter, is Tiki a bit salty? Apparently not. He seems content with where he is and is proud and supportive of his former teammates.

Yeah right, you know it’s eating him up on the inside.

Philly Inquirer fires Stephen A.

Not that even matters, because he still has his national ESPN Radio show, he’s a regular on ESPN’s NBA Shootaround and for some reason is a new expert of politics, but for the sake of news, the Philadelphia Inquirer fired Stephen A. Smith today, months after stripping him of his column and demoting him to a GA reporter.

Some people think this is big news, partly because of their distaste for the outspoken, brash Smith. But to me, this is a non-issue. Sure, that’s one less black reporter/columnist in the newsroom, but if you think he’s worried about losing his little newspaper gig, you’re fooling yourself.

 He’ll be just fine.

Get well soon, Wilbon

I always get disappointed when PTI comes on and Wilbon is not there. But yesterday, with JA Adande pinch hitting, it appeared there was more to the story as co-host Tony Kornheiser said Wilbon has suffered some “chest pains” but was doing better.

Sure enough, courtesy of good friend, Roy S. Johnson, Wilbon indeed suffered a minor heart attack. 

I’m a big Wilbon fan and, as a young black sports journalists, he stands tall in my eyes. He is one of the few in today’s age of print media jumping to television and online, to continue to write on a regular basis. I can only imagine the wear and tear his body takes with obligations to ESPN/ABC, the Post and family.

 Here’s to a speedy recovery.

Obama for change!

                                                                                 SI Photo

I hope to keep politics out of this blog, but when I come across something fun and sports related, I have to pass it along. I was doing some reading on Barack Obama’s win this past weekend in South Carolina and in the process, I stumbled upon a piece Sports Illustrated’s S.L. Price did on the presidential hopeful back in December.

 Any politicians who rocks Jordans has my support.

 Enjoy.

Where are the black coaches?

Not sure how I missed this, but on Friday, AOL’s Sean Jenson had an interesting commentary on the hiring of black coaches, or the lack thereof.

After the celebration of last year’s Super Bowl with Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith, along with the more recent hirings of Mike Tomlin and Romeo Crennel, it appeared the Rooney Rule was definitely having a positive impact on race in the NFL.

But with several openings this offseason in the college and pro game, the lack of black head coaches is starting to rear its ugly head again.

A(nother) noose incident

 

According to the Washington Post, a noose was found on the building site of Washingtons Nationals new stadium in Southeast D.C. An unnamed worker of Truland Systems has been fired, the paper reported.

Seriously, this is getting old.

Reaching for Super Bowl stories?

For the first time since late July, there will no NFL this weekend. Men (and women) across the nation will collectively struggle to make it through the day on Sunday.

Whether its one or two weeks in between the conference championships and the big game there will always Super Bowl hype.

However this year, so far, the story-lines have been lackluster at best. Sure, the Patriots going undefeated is a big deal, but that’s been the talk of the league since beginning of the season and was really legitimized about Week 10. Then there’s Brady’s ankle (non) issue.

Last year’s Super Bowl, aka the Soul Bowl, gave members of the media a buffet of options leading up to Super Sunday. Of course, it started and ended with the Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith being the first black head coaches to lead a team to the Super Bowl. And, obivously, whoever won would be the first black coach to win a Super Bowl. So, from that perspective alone, last year saw a unique week of Super Bowl coverage. One that focused more on the social issues of the sport, just as much as the actual matchup between the Colts and Bears.

Oh yeah, it was Peyton Manning’s first Super Bowl also.

So unless someone makes a ridiculous guarantee or pulls a Eugene Robinson, we’ll see how well the journalists who descend on Glendale will do in trying to find and report different and unique stories.

Stephen A. has a blog!

 I’m late to the game on this, but nonetheless here it is. ESPN’s Stephen (Screamin’) A. Smith has decided to scratch his writing itch by starting a blog!

 Enjoy!

Do (black folks) expect too much from Tiger?

At the risk of beating this Golfweek-Kelly Tilghman-Tiger Woods saga to death, this (hopefully) will be the last post concerning the matter.

It’s been well documented that Woods and Tilghman are friends, having developed a professional relationship during Woods’ tenure on the PGA tour and Tilghman’s time on the Golf Channel. So, when Tilghman dropped the imfamous “lynch” bomb, Woods stuck up for Tilghman just like any friend would and should do. To him, it was a non issue.

But to members of the black community, and some in the black media, Woods’ perceived nonchalant response wasn’t enough. Many felt that, because they felt offended and upset Woods should feel that same way. They wanted him to stand up for what was right and “represent”

 Page 2’s Scoop Jackson challenged Woods to speak up, continuing the legacy of his late father Earl.  Predictably, Rev. Al Sharpton was ready to march.  

On the other hand, the WP and PTI’s Michael Wilbon, who is friends with both Woods and Tilghman, sides with Woods and says we should move on.

Unfortunately for Woods, he will always face this dilemma if and when something like this comes up. Although he only considers himself partially black, the black community thinks otherwise and views him 100-percent black. So when we don’t feel that his reaction equals the magnitude of the situation, he runs the risk of being ripped in the media and in public opinion.

Woods is entitled to his opinion and is by no means obligated to speak up on racial issues. One can only hope that the media and fan’s views of Woods aren’t clouded because he isn’t perceived as being black enough.

Whatever that means.