So, a few weeks back Jemele Hill, a Page #2 Sportswriter for ESPN.com posted the following article, and I disagreed, and wrote the E-mail scripted below.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/080320&sportCat=nba&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1
There are a lot of white morons, and a lot of black morons getting paid handsomely to racially polarize any culture. I'll use two of three examples you cited in your article:
1.) Jack Nicklaus - In 1994, Jack Nicklaus said there weren't more African-Americans in golf because "blacks have different muscles that react in different ways."
- I imagine Mr. Nicklaus, regrets having made such foolish statements 14 years ago, when it is an obvious thought that Tiger Woods either is already or is becoming the greatest golfer ever.
2.) Michael Irvin – Phenomenal receiver, average commentator. Correct me if I'm wrong, and I quite often am, and you are in the published media forum, not I, but wouldn't he have been reprimanded or chastised, off air of course, for making such a declaration?
Michael Irvin, Tim Legler, Stupid A. Smith, Mike Ditka, Deon Sanders and Charles Barkley all seem to be involved in commentating in their respective sports due to their "shock factor." I absolutely adore the charisma Charles Barkley brings to the TNT program, and that's because he says some things "off the cuff" that are straight forward and probably leave Producers scrambling for their mute buttons. Truth be told, Charles, Kenny and Ernie just got a raise not too long ago didn't they? And if that's the case, people eat up the controversy he and others convey, NOT because "Chuck" is black or because "Ernie" is white.
Again, I don't feel this Vogue cover is so much of a racial portrait as a "Beauty and the Beast" shocking contrast. You seem quite respectful of LeBron's personal presentation; I however, think he's anugly 40 year old man. Kobe Bryant, Antonio Daniels, Caron Butler, and Dwayne Wade those men are handsome. For however LeBron carries himself off the court, nothing he achieves on the court is graceful, beautiful or lovely. He's an extremely talented 250 pound fullbackbarreling through the lane and isn't going to ever be considered forhis finesse a la Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, or Kobe Bryant; he simply doesn't exude grace and beauty. The fact that it was are nowned, thick, muscular, heavily tattooed black dude and an unhealthily thin, gorgeous haired, white chic makes the contrast obvious; which is to say, Vogue does beauty, not brawn. If the combination was Brian Urlacher and Halle Berry, would you have flipped your argument to be that all media portrays black women as unhealthily thin, curvaceous, sultry sex symbols?
LeBron and his team of H.S. buddies felt this cover picture was worth their pay and the exposure. They also agreed, as anyone does going into a photo shoot for major media that the magazine is going to post whichever of the many shots taken is the most provocative. And you know what? it worked. Now you and I are babbling on about a magazine that never gets sports exposure, because I happened to see your article on espn.com.
There are a lot of white morons, and a lot of black morons getting paid handsomely to racially polarize any culture. I'll use two of three examples you cited in your article:
1.) Jack Nicklaus - In 1994, Jack Nicklaus said there weren't more African-Americans in golf because "blacks have different muscles that react in different ways."
- I imagine Mr. Nicklaus, regrets having made such foolish statements 14 years ago, when it is an obvious thought that Tiger Woods either is already or is becoming the greatest golfer ever.
2.) Michael Irvin – Phenomenal receiver, average commentator. Correct me if I'm wrong, and I quite often am, and you are in the published media forum, not I, but wouldn't he have been reprimanded or chastised, off air of course, for making such a declaration?
Michael Irvin, Tim Legler, Stupid A. Smith, Mike Ditka, Deon Sanders and Charles Barkley all seem to be involved in commentating in their respective sports due to their "shock factor." I absolutely adore the charisma Charles Barkley brings to the TNT program, and that's because he says some things "off the cuff" that are straight forward and probably leave Producers scrambling for their mute buttons. Truth be told, Charles, Kenny and Ernie just got a raise not too long ago didn't they? And if that's the case, people eat up the controversy he and others convey, NOT because "Chuck" is black or because "Ernie" is white.
Again, I don't feel this Vogue cover is so much of a racial portrait as a "Beauty and the Beast" shocking contrast. You seem quite respectful of LeBron's personal presentation; I however, think he's anugly 40 year old man. Kobe Bryant, Antonio Daniels, Caron Butler, and Dwayne Wade those men are handsome. For however LeBron carries himself off the court, nothing he achieves on the court is graceful, beautiful or lovely. He's an extremely talented 250 pound fullbackbarreling through the lane and isn't going to ever be considered forhis finesse a la Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, or Kobe Bryant; he simply doesn't exude grace and beauty. The fact that it was are nowned, thick, muscular, heavily tattooed black dude and an unhealthily thin, gorgeous haired, white chic makes the contrast obvious; which is to say, Vogue does beauty, not brawn. If the combination was Brian Urlacher and Halle Berry, would you have flipped your argument to be that all media portrays black women as unhealthily thin, curvaceous, sultry sex symbols?
LeBron and his team of H.S. buddies felt this cover picture was worth their pay and the exposure. They also agreed, as anyone does going into a photo shoot for major media that the magazine is going to post whichever of the many shots taken is the most provocative. And you know what? it worked. Now you and I are babbling on about a magazine that never gets sports exposure, because I happened to see your article on espn.com.
You cited David Beckham as not likely having been portrayed in such a fashion, when in fact, he's arguably the most renown male sports athletes in the world, and certainly one of the most aesthetically pleasing. Should Vogue have placed "Becks" on the cover, they may have gone for something more gritty or sexy, like say, the August 2007 cover of W Magazine. Athletes are revered, and you participate in that portrayal, as are musicians for their "art". These folks aren't respected for their minds.
Even "Good 'Ol Boy Brett Favre" has never been considered the smartest in his field; he was known as a reckless "gun slinger" for most of it.
But I digress, I have to agree with your closing comments, of that if LeBron wants to bring additional respect to his race, and not only focus on his million dollar empire, he'll need to take a few notes from Michael Jordan (who even w/ the gambling issues won the hearts of the world and transformed all sports), Kobe Bryant (who chased awayone of the best Center's of all time, probably did something extra explicit with a hotel worker and yet has still won the heart of millions with his suits and smiles) or even Sean Carter (who as you pointed out is so excepted as a "black man" who brags about exploiting women, dealing drugs and earning millions, that he's been dating the black sweetheart of the world in Bootyance). But, LeBron is a 23year, High School graduate, so he's going to make some really bad decisions as he grows into his goal of being a "Global Icon", and I don't feel that race will dictate those decisions, money will.
But I digress, I have to agree with your closing comments, of that if LeBron wants to bring additional respect to his race, and not only focus on his million dollar empire, he'll need to take a few notes from Michael Jordan (who even w/ the gambling issues won the hearts of the world and transformed all sports), Kobe Bryant (who chased awayone of the best Center's of all time, probably did something extra explicit with a hotel worker and yet has still won the heart of millions with his suits and smiles) or even Sean Carter (who as you pointed out is so excepted as a "black man" who brags about exploiting women, dealing drugs and earning millions, that he's been dating the black sweetheart of the world in Bootyance). But, LeBron is a 23year, High School graduate, so he's going to make some really bad decisions as he grows into his goal of being a "Global Icon", and I don't feel that race will dictate those decisions, money will.
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