In 2024, I very much want to do what’s right by society and humanity. If only I had a copy of the plan, the instructions manual.
As our nation continues to plummet into a conflagration of senseless divisiveness, our most authoritative leaders feed the dissent with a pile of hypocritical, pandering, and often gutless decisions and messages that best serve blind wishfulness.
And there’s no greater misdirected, faux populist, transparent frightened fool than the NFL’s $70 million-plus a year flip-flopper Roger Goodell.
Thursday, the NFL draft opened with a now common Goodell additive: two national anthems, the unofficial “black national anthem,” a pretty song that has no nationalistic or patriotic content, followed by the official U.S. national anthem, which from its start celebrates the second survival of the nascent United States from tyrannical British rule.
So how can one possibly not conclude that Goodell supports racial segregation in the form of two, distinct national anthems — one for black Americans, the other for mostly white Americans.
How does that, as Goodell’s conspicuous annual end zone messages declare, “End Racism”? It only divides our races, a return to water fountains designating race among the thirsty and “separate but equal” legislation that furthered segregation.
It only serves to put a fresh coat of pain on a house divided.
In-stadium or out, Goodell should at least provide some practical guidance as to how the two national anthems are designed to be heard and observed — at least before the drunken brawls and excessive on-field brutality begins.
For example, should white folks stand for the black national anthem? Or would they be accused of appropriating a song now specifically assigned to be sung and respected by blacks?
But then would it be disrespectful for whites to not stand for the black version. Help all of us on this, Roger. This is where you have placed us.
And what of the opening verse of the War of 1812 version, the one once presumed to belong and be sung by us all? Is that now for whites only? If blacks stand during it, let alone sing it, do they risk being called Uncle Toms or supporters of Jim Crow laws?
Guide us on this, Roger. Seriously. Do I remove my cap for both? You are allowing it to be sustained. And for how long? Which one is whose national anthem?
For protesters, which knee should whites take, which should blacks take? Or are all knees created equal?
Put it this way, Rog, the day is coming when I’ll be at a game or event and have to figure out what to do, how to act to not hurt the feelings of anyone.
Maybe I’ll just float around in the corridors until the anthem or anthems are over.
Giants arm themselves with LSU wide receiver
Having been told by ESPN/ABC and the NFL Network that Giants first-round pick, LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers, was an across-the-board A-plus selection, I hardly expected any of those drum-bangers to mention Nabers’ arrest at age 19 for carrying a gun in his waistband as he walked Bourbon Street.
The charge was dropped on the condition that the gun not be returned to Nabers — gee, that’s a harsh penalty! — and according to the Orleans Parish DA’s office, “based on the lack of a previous criminal background and the individual currently being enrolled in college.”
And as we all know, LSU football is a no-nonsense, academics-first program, no need to even know why a star receiver was carrying a gun in his waistband.
Last year another 19-year-old LSU footballer, running back Treyvion Antwan Holly, was charged with attempted second-degree murder after the shooting of two people on a public roadway.
He was indicted for the lesser charge of felony possession of weapons. He claims total innocence and is currently suspended from the team.
Regardless, LSU football annually donates more than its fair share to NCAA arrest totals.
Smooth sailing, Malik Nabers. I wish you well with the Giants. But I don’t like chasing stories that already come with a warning.
There is a new New York Lottery commercial airing that features all the fun stuff that can be witnessed when traveling the NYC subway system.
It begins with a shady-looking dude on a subway throwing and kicking karate moves, followed by a bunch of freaky freaks. Clever, eh?
It’s supposed to appear comical, even clever, but one is left to ask whether the producers of this ad know what the hell’s going on here.
With the 76ers down two games to zip in the playoffs Thursday night, why did Sixers star Joel Embiid, start to finish, appear so eager to be ejected for rotten conduct? His behavior would have been mind-blowing if it were not unexpected in big NBA and NFL games.
College tennis has global flavor
There may be no money to pay the profs, heat the dorms or buy a mop to clean the classroom floors, but there’s always a pile of dough for sports — even those that don’t produce revenue.
Watching the Kentucky-South Carolina SEC men’s tennis championships on ESPN on Saturday, I was drawn to the teams’ rosters in search of rooting interests, perhaps a local player.
Among South Carolina’s crew was one each from Brazil, Australia, England, Wales and Scotland. Kentucky had three recruits from Montreal, one from Ontario, one from New Zealand and one from Scotland.
The venue in Baton Rouge, La., was mostly empty.
How long before Juan Soto’s self-affectionate, home-plate posing — the kind annually indulged and even excused by Aaron Boone — will cost the Yankees a game or two. “He thought it was out” is now a legitimate defense.
I’ve wondered how Nike execs feel when everyone from “Death to America!” demonstrators to illegal migrants to murder suspects in perp walks are seen with Nike swooshes across their chests. Why do I feel that based on their marketing campaigns — and unless the garb are knock-offs — they’re quietly thrilled.
If you ever need to kill some time, tune to MLB Network and watch the daily scroll of freshly disabled pitchers.
Texas defensive end T’Vondre Sweat, projected by some to be an early draft pick, was arrested this month for DWI. Timing is everything.
A quick shot on goal during Thursday’s Hurricanes-Islanders on ESPN2 was completely hidden behind one of those absurd power-play name plates that ESPN has mindlessly added. In other words, what normally would have been tough to see became impossible to see. But that’s ESPN!
Given that Trevor Immelman has added almost nothing to CBS’ golf coverage, one wonders if he’d have been hired had he not had a South African accent to replace Nike Faldo’s British accent.
So recently departed Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh made good on this promise to have a 15-0 tattoo burned into his arm if the Wolverines finished 15-0. Reader Vinny Mooney: “I guess, ‘Three years probation’ wouldn’t fit.”