More than 30 years in the business, half that on major pro beats, lurker for years, and finally prompted to register one MINUTE before the Imus-Whitlock thread got locked for reasons irrelevant to the Whitlock column of debate.
So I'll settle for here.
Do you guys not actually grasp the genuineness of that "KKK" column? Yes, the parallel is shocking. It's supposed to be. Comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable, dammit.
No, I won't ever support inane Whitlock vs Bledsoe or other nonsense. Not professional.
But don't get lost here.
This guy is taking a stand, and in my mind he has to feel he's gambling at least a little bit that 2007 white America doesn't try to use it against his 'people.'
No, he's no Rosa Parks. Again, shock can get people's attention.
This is a guy with a bully pulpit, and he's trying to use it for a damned important purpose.
My guess? He is willing to concede many African-American missteps, and he hopes white America can do the same. Is that a bad thing?
Of course, I'm just an old white guy.
I covered the NBA for many years, I've seen a lot of true role models there, and I've also seen too many vapid All-Star weekends (and a few Freakniks, too, which were much better-behaved. No worse than Daytona Beach Spring Breakers, anyway).
But, what do I know?
I know, I gotta fetch some beers for some old-timers here...