“And when they had those young men up there barely dressed doing their measurements and what not…well, you see where I’m going here. Never before had that imagery so quickly attached itself to that collective memory you speak of. I can’t ever look at it the same.”

Exactly SD, gives me terrible chills just thinking about it.

Thanks for nailing that down because it was I who brought up Rhoden’s book. LOL And of course, he addresses that point fully in his book.

I was at this sports bar this summer and although I had seen the combine briefly in pictures and videos before, now that the vast cable spectrum and 24/7 news cycle exist you can watch all of the combine and much of it in real time. And when they had those young men up there barely dressed doing their measurements and what not…well, you see where I’m going here. Never before had that imagery so quickly attached itself to that collective memory you speak of. I can’t ever look at it the same.

“As for the slavery deal…im not pushing the slavery deal. I didnt bring it up. I just think thatwhile we bemoan the state of affairs for professional athletes we need to steer clear, ESPECIALLY those of us who are Black, of throwing around that metaphor…cause at the end of the day…its about choice for us…it wasnt for our ancestors.”

I don’t think there is a disconnect between the two states of being. Sure, there is are huge differences, but there are also huge similarities regarding race, power, status, abuse of power and perception that make the plantation analogy useful. We all share a collective experience and a collective memory and the very fact that the way the league treats it’s players reminds many of us of a plantation system is proof enough to me of the illustrative nature of the analogy.

Let’s wait and see. I’m not asking for no “black glove fist” protest, just being man enough not to duck your head every time these devils come around looking for drama.

Charles oakley …”pimpin ain’t dead hoe’s is just scared”

Anybody getting kicked in the ass and don’t fight back, deserves to be kicked in the ass…EVERYDAY!

It aint right, but it is what it is. We can talk about the palnation like atmosphere of professional sports, but it carries little weight if the people directly affected don’t straigten up and act right.

As for Portis… Expect some steppin and fetchin, it’s the price of being for sale!

Article re: Clinton Portis

It’s funny. I always thoughts the Pats were lucky as hell with their roster full of Steeler rejects. I guess they weren’t so lucky after all. There was one drill I saw them do (on ESPN) which I’m not sure is done across the league – linebackers catching passes fired at close range to improve their hands/reaction time. Over the years, the Pats LBs seem to have caught more balls (especially in the Red Zone) than any team I can remember. I’ll give ‘em a little cred – but not much.

My bad, y’all. I posted that as a joke and meant to address it – but got a phone call. That was hours ago. Sorry about that.

Anyway, y’all should know Fox ain’t doin’ nuthin’ like that anytime sooooon.

I think Mike and Dog were just trying to point out the irony in Strahan being elected captain after missing the entire training camp because, at best, he obviously would be more effective for the first 2 to 3 games of the season had he reported on time or at least with enough time to work himself into “football shape.” Strahan put his personal interests ahead of the team (which, by the way, is fine by me, particularly in the NFL where contracts are not guaranteed), yet he was still elected a position of leadership on the team. It is worthy of discussion.

But, the real irony is how Dog always kills every athlete and other sports people about their work performance and accountability, yet he is the first one to show up to work after a big game and freely admit that he didn’t watch the game, listen to Mike’s analysis, and then give opinions for the next 5 hours without having even watched the game!

Lastly, in fairness, they have both devoted a lot of their show this week to Everett.

I guess Mark Cuban and Daniel Synder are nice Pimps. They are the type that actually treat their h@#s with respect. You know the type of Pimps that would marry the ho# that made them the most money and who always had their back.

the CURRENT fanbase would love to slash the salaries to 200K a year for all of them and be done with it.

THink im lying..ask around.

As for the slavery deal…im not pushing the slavery deal. I didnt bring it up. I just think thatwhile we bemoan the state of affairs for professional athletes we need to steer clear, ESPECIALLY those of us who are Black, of throwing around that metaphor…cause at the end of the day…its about choice for us…it wasnt for our ancestors.

I’d like to think you’re wrong, and that the fans wouldn’t take replacement players. That enough fans are bright enough to know the players go through some shit and deserve guaranteed dough. But, the more diehard, barely literate fans you talk to….

Bun in the end, I think you’re correct on that part.

But I think you’re pushing the slavery thing too far in relation to the players. Almost all of us are forced to sell out for a price, the truly principled among us tend to be pretty poor. We all sell out in different ways, and no I’m not selling my body and shortening my life to work now. I did, however, sell my freedom, and right to any self determination for four years to get money for college and a ticket out of New Mexico.

The whole slavery metaphor falls down when you get to the dotted line.

No one individual or even small selection of individuals can afford to just walk.

The cold reality is that the NFLPA wont push for guaranteed money because they KNOW the NFL will just go to their trump card…

replacement players.

So they smile when told and occasionally kick rocks when no one is looking…but they know the deal.

The fault lies in the fanbase…Not US, per se…but the fan base at large.

Just as folk are willing to put Americans outof work and their own children at risk to enjoy the Wal-Mart style capitalism this country “thrives” on in the 21st century…Folk would rather watch Division II level football in NFL uniforms before accepting a prolonged strike that would eat into the DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP pockets of the NFL. Remember…the Fans didnt REALLY care about free agency.

These gentlemen ultimately have a curious and revealing choice to make.

Make millions and be treated like property….or not.

Its one thing to be kidnapped and transported in slavery…

its somewhat another to sign yourself into it for a price.

Do tell about the interviews on Fox. Thanks.

I AM convinced it’s the only way. It’s hard to break dysfunctional relationships.