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Saturday, January 11, 2003
One billion strong and growing
I guess it's only fitting that the overblown Shaq-Yao comments story would come out the day I actually see Yao in action. First off, I was stunned to see two diehard Hawks fans in the stands -- I didn't think they actually existed. However, one of them was sitting directly behind me and pretty much throwing out Asian slurs and other stuff of that ilk while ripping on Yao (fine, the Hawks kept him bottled up for the most part) as well as the large throngs of Asian fans that came out to the game (I didn't stick out as much usual) and make Philips Arena at least look a little less empty. I kept my mouth shut and didn't bother turning around -- no need to start up anything -- although my friend, who's Chinese-American considered doing something but figured better of it as well. I don't think it would've bothered me that much had the guy sounded like Shaq or a Sportscenter anchor -- just some cringing if it's a bad pun. I got a bit annoyed since the guy had that redneck voice that made things sound much worse than it probably should've been, like he's never seen Asian people before. Plus, he ripped a ref for having an Asian wife, what the hell is that about?
As for Shaq's comments, he was just trying to be funny, knowing the way he is. Sometimes he hits, sometimes he misses. No big deal. Sometimes I wonder if some Asians now are trying a bit too hard in protesting anything that may joke about the people or culture, trying to make up for all the lack of action of years ago. African-Americans and other minorities sometimes lots of pressure over racist depictions and undertones, and Asians hadn't for a long time, so this is the time to strike back (like the AsianWeek reporter). I usually don't mind the joking and silly stuff like that (ex. Abercrombie and Fitch). Oddly enough for me, I'm more troubled when the uneducated keep using the slurs (much like the guy at the Hawks game) as opposed to the learned and powerful, working on the assumption that the elite have others around them to tell them when they're wrong and seem genuine (think Trent Lott, I guess). The others won't really learn, don't intend to, and could cause trouble to those trying to change ways or just point things out.
Oh yeah, while Yao didn't play well, I got the biggest kick out of his getting a technical after doing some trash talking following a big dunk. Although this happened one play after Theo Ratliff rattled everyone with a crazy dunk off a missed shot.
posted at 2:04 AM
Thursday, January 09, 2003
Here's your Hall pass
Tim does a good job in breaking down the Baseball Hall of Fame voting. I'm with Tim in that I don't have a problem with the "first ballot" factor. The writers who select the Hall are a tough sell, and you've got to really wow them to get in right away. That's why you've got 15 years -- gives time for people to reflect on their careers, etc. Sometimes it helps (like Gary Carter), other times it doesn't (think of all the pitchers now passing Bert Blyleven on the all-time strikeout list).
Ryne Sandberg was one of my favorite baseball players growing up behind Don Mattingly (who I'd vote for, but know he probably doesn't belong in the Hall), but I think he sullied his candidacy when he returned from retirement. He got the all-time record for homers by a second baseman in his second tour of duty, but he was so mediocre in the mid-'90s that some voters have that lasting image of him flailing away. I saw too many substandard Sandberg games at Wrigley when I was in college that at times it was painful (even more than normal for a Cubs game). He's got too many other good credentials, though, that he'll get in eventually. Maybe next year or 2005. BTW, if you're a very good but not all-time great player, ending poorly will do a number on your Hall of Fame chances. That's what's hurting Dale Murphy, who couldn't get to 400 homers despite a short stint in Colorado. If you're going to fail miserably trying to extend your career, you'd better have sealed up your Hall pass a long time ago like Mays or Steve Carlton.
Eddie Murray helped himself with his longevity and consistency. It's still hard to believe he's in the same class as Hank Aaron and Willie Mays with 3,000 hits and 500 homers. If he doesn't reach those milestones, he's in the same boat as Andre Dawson. The milestone factor is what will get Paul Molitor into Cooperstown next year. As for Gary Carter, it's about time he got in considering he was about as good as Fisk except that he didn't have the arm-waving thing in '75 (although he makes up for that by actually winning a World Series) or that games-played record (woo-woo). While he became very well known after joining the Mets, I'd like to see Carter with an Expos cap on his plaque.
Speaking of caps on the plaque, Lee Smith may eventually get in, but probably after Dennis Eckersley does. For better or worse, Eckersley revolutionized the closer position and will be rewarded thusly. With his prior career as a starter, Eckersley will be the baseball equivalent of George Blanda. Then I guess Smith would be Jan Stenerud. The question is which cap would Smith would wear, given that he pitched for nearly as many teams as Mike Morgan. Put the blank cap on him, like Catfish Hunter has on his plaque. Problem solved. (Or maybe sell the rights to Rolaids? Nah.) I'm still perplexed as to why Bruce Sutter got more votes than Goose Gossage, though. Maybe the "hanging on too long at the end" also played a part. Sutter fizzled quickly at the end, Gossage seemed to pitch for everyone in the late '80s.
A number of people tout Alan Trammell for the Hall of Fame when Ozzie Smith got in. I don't see it. The numbers are very good, but for the most part, he's being compared to the least common denominator in terms of players already in. A couple of things hurt his candidacy: He got overshadowed by Cal Ripken. He wasn't played off him like ARod-Nomar-Jeter (and now Tejada), instead he was touted part of a pair with Lou Whitaker. And when Whitaker retired one year before Trammell, that screwed them both. I could see this coming from a mile away when Whitaker called it quits. Voters had to think of them separately, not as a pair. While it might've taken them a few years, they might've slowly gained support with people voting for them both at the same time. Instead, Whitaker was off the ballot in one year and Trammell is lingering on the fringes now.
Another favorite part of the Hall process is reading the back half of the voting, and which players got token votes. Craig hit it on the head as to why I think Danny Tartabull got a vote -- it was for his Seinfeld appearance. Whoever voted for him probably also voted for Keith Hernandez ("I'm Keith Hernandez."). Who in the world voted for Mark Davis? I guess the Darren Daulton voter also voted for Lenny Dykstra (but decided against honoring Mitch Williams). And no offense to Darryl Kile, at least he got a few nice pity votes at the end, but we won't have to argue his candidacy in the future (like there was one).
The upcoming classes don't look as good until 2007, which means players like Sandberg and Smith should find their way in pretty soon. However, it will be just a funny to see if anyone decides to vote for Tom Pagnozzi, Jimmy Key (What is he? 45? I can hit him), Jeff King or Stan Javier in future years. Albert Belle probably won't get in, but it will intriguing to see his vote totals.
Very early guesses for upcoming elections:
2004: Sandberg, Eckersley, Molitor
2005: Smith, Boggs
2006: Dawson, Pete Rose (he gets reinstated soon but doesn't get the honor of a first-ballot vote)
2007: McGwire, Gwynn, Ripken
posted at 12:35 AM
Wednesday, January 08, 2003
Food, gruesome food
Yes, the majority of Americans are overweight, and we're not in good shape, and we need to exercise and lose weight. And we know it's not just for vanity but for our health. We all accept that and try our best to better ourselves -- some better than others. We also know there are plenty of different ways to achieve those goals, although some advocate one way or another that's better. However, you know this whole health/weight crisis is in deep trouble when the fruits/vegetables lobby is fighting the dairy lobby over stealing ad ideas and advocating they're the best. What's next, the tobacco companies and the gunmakers fighting over which kills more people?
posted at 11:50 PM
You suck, too
Hey, I'm talking about real current events, sorta. Check out this list -- equal-opportunity cruelty.
posted at 11:34 PM
22,000 big ones
More adventures in late night TV: Thank goodness for Nick at Nite, as I stumbled across it at the best time for one of my favorite Cheers episodes. However, Alyson brought up an interesting point that any episode where Alex Trebek appears as himself is usually a bad one since it's very gimmicky -- and that pity speech to Cliff at the end was a bit cheesy, if funny. "He scares me."
posted at 2:07 AM
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
Plenty of great seats available
It was good seeing the Nets win their 10th straight, but you have to wonder how bad it is attendance wise when I can walk up five minutes before the game and get a 10th row seat at midcourt. I had almost as good seats as this guy, who got the biggest ovation the entire game.
posted at 12:03 AM
Monday, January 06, 2003
Black and white issues
Tim Rutten brings up an interesting point about the lack of coverage about the successes of African-Americans in all fields -- government, business, sports, entertainment. As part of an organization that encourages increased coverage of a minority group, I can definitely see the frustration in not seeing them covered.
However, I would argue that the media did a good job of hyping the fact that African-Americans won both Best Actor and Actress Oscars. Regarding Tiger Woods, I think those stories have been done to death, and even Eldrick himself likes to use the Cablinasian term instead of identifying with any one race. Of course, his canoodling with the latest blonde du jour doesn't help things. The Williams sisters have so dominated tennis for a couple of years now that the race thing hardly seems significant anymore.
Now with folks like Condolezza Rice, Colin Powell and Richard Parsons, it's harder to figure out why the coverage isn't there. Saying the achievements are "ordinary" seems wrong. It's just that those achievements are harder to sound important without sounding condescending yet still being relevant to African Americans. Unfortunately, for many African-Americans, the road to success (at least as projected in the mainstream) is via sports or entertainment. However, there are plenty of ways to success, especially in the government and big business.
And maybe one other reason these achievements don't get as much publicity is that it goes against the politics of many of the more well-known and vocal African-American leaders (read: Democrat). There was already that hubbub with Harry Belafonte and "Uncle Tom" Powell. And think about all the abuse Clarence Thomas gets. Big business leans conservative as well, despite the politics of the individuals. Sometimes people get accused of becoming "less black" when they hit the big time in business, politics, whatever. It's as if to be considered a "successful" African-American, you've got to sound or look like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson (in politics) or otherwise be a big sports/entertainment star. If you don't make noise or draw attention to yourself for your race, it can be overlooked. And that's a bad thing in so many ways.
posted at 7:09 PM
Car song
Slate finally caught up with me on the review of the new VW convertible ad. It pretty much hit what I had to say before, just done a little better. Plus, I like his point about bringing back ELO, although the Gap did the same type of unhip-it's-hip thing with the music.
posted at 6:14 PM
Ho, ho, hosed
It's nice to see someone call out the media on those Christmas shopping stories. Granted, I didn't buy much this year, but there are reasons for that other than the economy. Still, when local TV and radio stations do traffic reports at the parking lots at local malls, you've got to wonder who those people are and if they're spending.
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