Right Truth

Tale of Two Athletes: Collins Praised, Tebow Panned

Via Tammy Swofford:

Jeff Croeure is a professional colleague.  I have linked to his latest commentary.  I also have a commentary on Collins in my journalism queue which I will post next week.

Click here for link

I am grateful for Jeff's level-headed analysis as my piece will reside in the realm of satire.  Cross-pollination of ideas is a wonderful thing! -- Tammy Swofford

 

Below is a short excerpt from the Jeff Croeure article, go read it all.

It seems Tebow is controversial for no other reason than he is a strong Christian. He does not cause problems with other teammates or get into trouble with the law. He sets a great example for youngsters and has the type of values that should be welcomed in every locker room.

Hopefully, at least one NFL team will have the courage to sign an athlete with tremendous heart, unquestionable talent and a track record of success. Hopefully, at least one NFL team will not be intimidated by the politically correct environment that discriminates against people of faith.

If only NFL executives were in tune with the American people. According to a recent Nielsen survey, Tebow, who boasts 2.2 million followers on Facebook, has been named by Americans as the pro athlete who holds the most influence with the public. He was rated as “influential” by 29 percent of those surveyed, topping the list. Ironically, this “influential” athlete has no NFL team to call his own. If Tebow is still without a team by the start of the next football season, there will be no doubt that discrimination exists today in the world of professional sports; however, it is not directed against gay athletes, instead it is directed against devout Christians like Tim Tebow.

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Ramming it down our throats

Hyscience reports on Super Awesome Redskins QB Robert Griffin III (RGIII), who blasts the 'tyranny of political correctness'.  Political correctness and the loss of the meaning of words is killing us here in the United States -- killing our way of life and our future.

Since  NBA player, Jason Collins announced he is and always has been Gay we have heard nothing but praise for his bravery.  The President of the United States called him personally to tell him how proud he is of him for coming out. 

The President has failed to call the parents of those killed in Benghazi Libya as he promised to do.

 

Over at Twitchy: Late last year, ESPN's Rob Parker blanched at the idea that Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III might be a "cornball brother," aka a black Republican. So, we can only imagine what Parker's thinking after seeing this tweet from Griffin:

Robert Griffin III
@RGIII

In a land of freedom we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness
4:41 PM - 30 Apr 2013

2,862 RETWEETS 1,118 FAVORITES ReplyRetweet

As you might expect, the Lefties are all freaked out and have their panties all in a wad.  (Hyscience)

 

Via The Right Scoop:

Obama couldn’t be prouder to pander to the gay community using Jason Collins

OUTRAGEOUS! Benghazi whistleblower says US has identified terrorist behind 9/11 attack but refuses to capture him

 

Via Drudge:

 

WIRE: Athletes out of the closet but prejudice lingers...

Football preparing ground for first gay players...

NHL ready for arrival...

ESPN stands by reporter after controversial comments...

Jason Collins' Ex-Fiancee -- I Had NO IDEA He Was Gay....

 

And so it begins...

We heard the pleas for professional football players to 'come out' of the closet and let the world know they are Gay.  Now we have the first NBA player, Jason Collins, says "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay."

 

I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.

My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.

Read the full article at Sports Illustrated. 

The NFL was quick to respond:

The NFL distributed a document to its teams Monday reiterating its anti-discrimination policy on sexual orientation.

It includes a section on questions teams cannot ask prospective draft picks and free agents. After the NFL combine in February, three players said officials posed questions relating to their sexual orientation.

Examples given of prohibited queries include: "Do you like women or men? How well do you do with the ladies? Do you have a girlfriend?"

The document also says "any jokes, comments or pranks" about an employee's sexual orientation constitute harassment. Examples are "giving someone a sexual gag gift" or hiring a stripper for an employee's birthday party. "Offensive or degrading words or phrases" and posters or screen savers of a sexual nature are also harassment.  (MyFox)

Drudge:

NBA PLAYER COMES OUT AS GAY... DEVELOPING...
NFL warns teams about discrimination due to sexual orientation....

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NFL Goes Wimpy and PC

The National Football Leage (NFL) will no longer allow players to lower their helmets.  The NFL is also making home visits to perform drug tests, watching players pee in the cup at their own homes.  Additionally, the NFL has been warned against inquiring into the sexual orientation of prospective players.

A rule proposed by the NFL’s competition committee would make it a foul for a ball carrier to smash into a defender with the crown of his helmet in open space.

It would be the first rule in American football history limiting a runner’s contact with a defender, outside of egregious acts such as punching a tackler, or grabbing his facemask while stiff-arming.

Owners vote next Wednesday at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix on whether to approve this and five other proposed new rules, announced Thursday by the competition committee on a conference call with NFL writers. (continue reading Slam-NFL, hat tip Drudge)

 

Emmit Smith thinks the NFL has lost it's mind:

It’s an attempt to make the game safer – but the league’s all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, thinks the NFL should have its own head examined.

“If I’m a running back and I’m running into a linebacker, you’re telling me I have to keep my head up so he can take my chin off?’’ Smith said Thursday in an exclusive interview with Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan. “You’ve absolutely lost your mind.’’...

 “As a running back, it’s almost impossible (to not lower your head),’’ said the Dallas Cowboys legend. “The first thing you do is get behind your shoulder pads. That means you’re leaning forward and the first part of contact that’s going to take place is your head, regardless.

“I disagree with the rule altogether. It doesn’t make any sense for that position. It sounds like it’s been made up by people who have never played the game of football.’’  (continue at CBSLocal)

 

Do you have a girfriend, do you like girls?

The National Football League has been warned against inquiring into the sexual orientation of prospective players and urged to do more to make sure teams do not ask those questions, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said today.

"Employment discrimination is ethically wrong and illegal no matter who the employer is," Schneiderman said.

Three players at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, Le'veon Bell of Michigan State, Nick Kasa of Colorado and Denard Robinson of the University of Michigan, said in interviews that were asked whether they had girlfriends or whether they liked girls.

"They ask you 'Do you have a girlfriend, are you married, do you like girls,'" Kasa told CJ and Kreckman of ESPN Radio in Denver.

The questions appear to have been asked in the wake of the fake girlfriend hoax involving Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o. Te'o, however, has said he was not asked those questions in his combine interviews. He denied to Katie Couric on the ABC show "Katie," however, that he was gay. (continue at ABC)

 

The NFL has apparently been headed this way for some time, headed toward flag football???..

What are your thoughts?

Watcher’s Council Nominations – Vacation Edition!!

It’s simply heartwarming.It’s been just over a whole month since the fun loving Obama family enjoyed their last luxury vacay, a 17-day jaunt in Hawaii. And now it’s time to play again!

President Obama latest vacation was a golf weekend at an exclusive club called the Floridian, where his partner was no less than Tiger Woods.

The tab for Air Force One, his stay, the greens fees. his special Secret Service Detail ( one of whom actually had the privilege of being caddy) a few lessons from the club pros..oh, just under a million taxpayer dollars. By a hair.

Oh and let’s not forget the presidential consort. Michelle and her entourage n’aime pas le golf scene, and decided that skiing in Aspen was more their thing. No figures on that one, but Mrs. Obama, her two daughters, their friends, their entourage, and their Secret Service detail pretty much took over an entire resort during the President’s Day long weekend..so I’m sure it was as much if not more than President Obama’s tab.

A pity they couldn’t agree on just one family vacation instead of two. It certainly might have been a tad more economical, but I’m sure they had their reasons.

And whose counting, anyway, what with the economy doing so well, gas prices so low, unemployment negligible and that nasty debt problem a thing of the past? Happy days are here again, and we lowly villeins ought to be happy and grateful to pick up the bill for the excitement the presidential couple bring into our dreary lives. It’s like having our own royal family…right?

Right?

Super Bowl - Boomer Esiason: This is not Ray Lewis' personal Super Bowl

The comment by Boomer Esiason caught my attention, and the reasoning behind it.  "This is not Ray Lewis' personal Super Bowl."

Boomer Esiason accused Ray Lewis of withholding information about the murder case he was involved in 13 years ago, during CBS' live pregame show. Lewis discussed the case in response to a question asked by Esiason's broadcast partner, Shannon Sharpe during a pre-taped interview. [snip]

Sharpe had asked Lewis about the financial settlement he made with families of the two victims. Like he did with the question about the killings, Lewis didn't directly address the question. He acknowledged the settlement but elaborated to that he has paid thousands of families to help children.

Esiason also was dismissive of Lewis after the network aired his pregame speech to his Ravens teammates. The CBS analyst suggested the 49ers would want to prove the Super Bowl didn't belong to the Ravens linebacker, try as he might to make it about him.  (Detroit Free Press)

 

From The Sun:

RAY LEWIS will make history at the Super Bowl – as the first murder suspect ever to appear in the NFL’s $450million showpiece.

...almost 13 years ago to the day, the record-breaking linebacker was a prime suspect in the murder of two men stabbed to death outside an Atlanta nightclub.

 

Prosecutors decided to charge him only with obstruction of justice if he testified against the two friends with him that night, and Lewis walked away with 12 months’ probation and a $250,000 NFL fine.

The Sun goes into details of what happened, how some family members of those that were murdered say they will never let this go.  I'm not a big football fan, so this is all news to me.

 

A "reworked" National Anthem at the Super Bowl?

via Ricochet:

Alicia Keys will sing our national anthem at the Superbowl on Sunday, and she has said it is actually a brand new song in the style that she'll deliver it.  We don't know what that means, if lyrics will be left out, changed, or if it's just a publicity leak, as if the game needs any more publicity.  (continue reading at Ricochet and read comments)

 

Who is responsible for the hoax involving Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o

Not only who is responsible, but what consequences will they experience for perpetrating this hoax?

Manti Te'o insisted he had no role in the bizarre hoax involving his "dead" girlfriend and told ESPN on Friday night that he was duped by a person who has since apologized to him.

In an off-camera interview Friday with ESPN, Te'o said Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, a 22-year-old acquaintance who lives in California, contacted him two days ago and confessed to the prank. Deadspin.com first exposed the scheme on Wednesday and indicated Tuiasosopo was involved in it.

"I wasn't faking it," ESPN quoted Te'o as saying during the 2 1-2 hour interview. "I wasn't part of this. When they hear the facts they'll know. They'll know there is no way I could be a part of this."  (continue at AP)

This is a very weird story, but there is much that we do not know yet.  What I can't figure out is, if he was so in love with this girl, why did he not visit her, why did he not want to meet her in person?

Catfishing is a very dangerous thing, and I believe those who perpetrate these events should be prosecuted.

A catfish is someone who pretends to be someone they're not using Facebook or other social media to create false identities, particularly to pursue deceptive online romances.

More.

RGIII and Rob Parker

As most of you know, I'm not a football fan, but I can't help but comment on the baffoon race-baiter Rob Parker and his continuing comments about RGIII, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III.  RGIII is apparently a good quarterback, a good person, who wants to be known for who he is, not for the color of his skin, which happens to be Black. RGIII said he didn’t want to solely be defined by his race.   But it seems that certain other Blacks can't allow that.  

RGIII continued to play in the game against the Seahawks until his knee buckled midway through the fourth quarter, trying to do everything he could to help his team win, which after all is the goal of the game - to win.

Rob Parker asked:  "Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother?”  Honestly, I had never heard that term and had no idea what it meant.  Parker went on to apologize, sort of.

It’s ESPN. It’s a giant platform.

Parker was suspended six days later.

Many asked a simple question: “Why would Parker question RGIII’s blackness?’

Parker insists that was not his intent or overall point.

“I wasn’t saying that he wasn’t black enough,” Parker said. “And so when people say that…it’s just not true…I was saying these are the conversations that take place once a guy pushes away. So, it was never aimed at him or I was calling him that. I’m saying these are the conversations that take place.”

What Parker didn’t detail was exactly how RGIII has ‘pushed away’ from ‘being black.’

We’re still waiting.

Continue reading at the Grio, and be sure to read the comments.

We don't know the extent of the damage to his knee, whether he will be able to come back and play again, details of what we do know here.

Rush Limbaugh had a great segment on RGIII here, Not So Long Ago in America, RGIII Would be Portrayed as a Hero, Not a Liar.   Go read it.

A Baby By Any Other Name....

Hubby and I are always commenting on the strange names some sports figures have, especially in football.  It's not just sports, but Hollywood, politics and many times your next door neighbor. Makes me wonder what the parents were thinking, were they still under the influence of hospital drugs when they picked their baby names?

I'm talking about first names, not last names, especially not cultural names like Fuamatu Ma'afala or Ikponmwosa Igbinosun, although Pat Angerer of the Colts is a really good name for a football player. 

We have no choice about what last name we inherit, but our parents hold full responsibility for the names they choose to saddle their offspring with.  I'm also not talking about the nick-names bestowed upon an individual, like 'refrigerator', 'pork chop', 'boss'.

D'Brickashaw Ware, Guy Whimper, Demarcus Faggins, Meweld Moore, Vontaze Burfict, BenJarvis Green-Ellis, come to mind, along with Johnny Cash's song, A Boy Names Sue.  As you watch College football and Pro football games today, be sure to notice the first names of the players.

For some it is the combination of first and last name that makes us smile, like  Fair Hooker, De'Cody Fagg, Foxy Foxworth, Ben Gay, Richie Rich, Uranius Johnson, YourHighness Morgan.

The list of the most unusual baby names of 2012 was just published, and as Business Insider points out: parents today are getting more creative than ever before in their choices for baby names.  I have to wonder what were the parents thinking???  See the names below the fold, leave any names that make you smile in the comment section.