- The Columbus Blue Jackets missed a golden opportunity. Their star, Rick Nash, demanded a trade. Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson made a bad decision not trading the unhappy Nash. I won't say Nash will quit on the team, he doesn't appear to be that kind of player. However, New York Rangers GM, according to a twitter post by WFAN's Brian Monzo, offered Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, J.T. Miller, Christian Thomas, and a first round draft pick. Those are some very nice pieces for the Blue Jackets to build around. Now, he is stuck with a disgruntled forward for the rest of the year on a team that is going nowhere.
- Remember when Joel Zumaya wowed the baseball world with his 100 MPH fastball? If you don't, you have good reason. Zumaya burst onto the scene in 2006, pitching to a 1.94 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and recorded 93 strikeouts in 83.1 innings. Then the injuries started and he never appeared in more than 31 games in any season, the 31 came in 2010. He missed all of last season and, his 2012 campaign is already over after 13 pitchers. He will need to have Tommy John surgery, or elbow ligament replacement surgery. He is now mulling retirement according to an ESPN.com report. Zumaya has had a myriad of issues with his health. It's not like it has been one area. He has missed time with elbow, foot, shoulder, and finger issues. He once hurt himself moving boxes in his father's attic. He also played the video game Guitar Hero so much that he suffered an injury and missed the 2006 American League Championship Series. This guy is not very lucky.
- Terry Francona needs to keep his mouth shut. He is no longer the Red Sox manager and he needs to stop undermining new manager Bobby Valentine. Valentine recently banned beer in the Red Sox clubhouse, something he has done at other managerial stops in the past. Francona then goes "Mike and Mike" on ESPN radio and says it is a PR ploy and could backfire. The only thing that backfired Terry was the Red Sox last year. You are no longer the manager, so just shut up, accept the fact you were at the helm of one of the worst collapses in baseball history and oversaw what appears to be a dysfunctional clubhouse. Be thankful you were lucky enough to get a gig commenting on baseball but don't abuse that gift, and that's really what it is, by badmouthing your replacement. There was no reason for him to say anything. Why not say something about the 19 other teams around the league that have a similar policy? Oh, he didn't get fired by any of them.
- So let me get this straight, Ryan Braun is clean because his triple-sealed drug test was in one place for too long, showed no evidence of being tampered with, and I'm supposed to believe this guy was clean all along? Color me skeptical. OK, so the guy had the test for too long, yet doctors say that wouldn't affect his test. Temperature wouldn't affect his test. I might be jaded by the fact that everyone seemed to be doing steroids or some other performance enhancer at the turn of the century but Braun's reasoning that an STD forced him to take something that spiked his testosterone just doesn't seem to hold water. Now, he has to stay clean the rest of his career and keep producing at the level he was in order for me to believe him. This is what these players have done to themselves. Just because you got off on a technicality doesn't mean anything, nor does your willingness to take a retest 3 months after the positive test.
- How does Nicki Minaj keep getting the chance to do events. If I recall correctly she put in a poor performance at the Super Bowl, made the entire world scratch their heads during the Grammy's and was still invited to perform at the NBA All-Star game. I'm willing to bet she doesn't get another invite to a sporting event though.
- Speaking of the NBA All-Star game, ummm, yeah, so apparently they played it and the West won. I am beginning to think the only All-Star game worth a damn is MLB's and even then it isn't great but at least they know how to celebrate the game and it means something even if it shouldn't. The second best All-Star game is the NHL's where the skills competition had star power and skill on display. The NFL and NBA don't even rank anywhere close to the other two.
- The Nationals signed star third-baseman Ryan Zimmerman to a six-year extension. These ain't the expos anymore folks. The Nationals are supported by their fanbase and the team is investing in that fanbase by keeping star players around. It should be fun to see Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon, and a slew of others in the next few years. Zimmerman could be a National until 2020. I don't think I ever remember that kind of stability from the franchise formerly known as the Expos.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Some Crazy (or not) Baseball Predictions for the 2012 Season
Spring Training is under way. The warm rays of the sun are beaming down
upon our favorite teams as they ready themselves for the 2012 baseball
season. Here are some of my predictions
for this upcoming season:
-
Manny Ramirez will not finish the season
in the Major Leagues.
-
Clay Rapada will see time in the Majors
this season with the New York Yankees.
-
Michael Pineda will win 17 games for the
Yankees.
-
The Mets will finish with one more win
than the Cubs with 72 wins. They will be
third worst team in the National League.
-
Johan Santana will make an appearance at
Citi Field this year. He will also spend
a significant amount of time on the DL.
-
Mark Teixeira will hit .280.
-
C.C. Sabathia will win 20 games for the
Yankees.
-
Phil Hughes will win the fifth starter
spot, go on the DL, and win 12 games while showing he still has talent.
-
The Washington Nationals will be in the
race for a playoff spot. They will win
the Wild Card.
-
Curtis Granderson won’t hit 40 homers
again this year but 37 homers isn’t a huge drop-off.
-
The Texas Rangers still have plenty of
offense and will make the playoffs but get bounced out in the first round.
-
The Boston Red Sox will fail to make the
playoffs for a second straight year.
-
Prince Fielder will find that his new
home digs are not as friendly as Miller Park.
He will hit over .300, 30 homers, and drive in 118. He will finish second in the MVP race.
-
Jose Reyes will stay healthy for most of
the season, leaving Mets fans to lament that he would be healthy for another
team only to hurt his hamstring in September and miss the team’s playoff run. The Marlins will fall short and the Phillies
will pass them.
-
Bryce Harper will be in the Majors this
season, flash some power but show he isn’t quite ready for the Big-Time
yet.
-
Stephen Strasburg will headline a
rotation of Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman, John Lannan, and Edwin Jackson
which will be one of the best in baseball surprisingly.
-
Justin Verlander will not win a second
Cy Young and he won’t win his second MVP.
-
Jacoby Ellsbury will not hit 30+ homers
again, and will struggle to hit .300.
-
Raul Ibanez will hit 20 homers for the
Yankees while having an OBP lower than Mark Teixeira’s batting average.
-
The Atlanta Braves will make the
playoffs. They will win the NL
East. The Phillies will actually finish
third in the division behind the Nats and they will make the playoffs under the
new format. The Braves and Nats make the
statement that this is now their division.
-
Mike Stanton of the Marlins will hit 40
homers.
-
Josh Johnson of the Marlins will look
like a Cy Young contender but his health will sabotage him.
-
A.J. Burnett will win 15 games for the
Pirates and strike out 190-210 batters leaving Yankee fans scratching their
heads.
-
Buster Posey will be a force this season.
-
Joe Mauer will make people question his
future behind the plate.
-
The Houston Astros will lose 103 games.
It is not going to be pretty.
-
I will not be the next owner of the
Dodgers and neither will you.
-
Adam Wainwright will be the reason the
Cardinals make the playoffs again this year.
-
Pitching at PETCO Park will make Huston
Street look like the best closer in baseball.
At least for a month or two.
-
Madison Bumgarner will win more games
for the Giants than Tim Lincecum. So
will Matt Cain.
-
Jim Thome will still put up very nice
offensive numbers but his play at first base will show teams why he has been a
DH/pinch hitter for the last few years.
-
The Reds are a team on the rise. They will flirt with the playoffs and could
make them if Adam Wainwright falters in his comeback.
-
Alex Rodriguez will hit 31 home runs,
drive in over 100, and hit .278.
-
Derek Jeter will hit .308. He will score 117 runs.
-
Albert Pujols will get off to a slow
start then hit .322.
-
Miguel Cabrera will not enjoy his move
to third base. The Tigers won’t either.
-
Matt Kemp will put up better numbers
than he did last year. He might even win
the MVP this time.
-
Jose Bautista will crack 50 homers
again, the last year he does it.
-
Ryan Braun will move past the whole
steroid thing and put up very nice numbers but not monster numbers like last
year leaving many to speculate whether he misses Prince or PED’s.
-
Starlin Castro will continue to impress
people. He will also continue to baffle
them with his lackadaisical play.
-
Carl Crawfod will play better but his
numbers will still pale to those he put up in Tampa leading many to wonder
about his future in Boston.
-
The Angels will be one of the best teams
in baseball. It won’t be all Pujols
either. Their rotation is among the best
in the game.
-
Jason Bay will hit 20 homers.
-
R.A. Dickey will lead the Mets with 13
wins. Johan will win 10, Pelfrey 11.
-
The Mets will trade Jon Rauch before the
trade deadline.
And that’s all I got for now.
Friday, February 24, 2012
This and That and the Other Thing
- Is there anyone more respectable than Duke Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski? I mean seriously, is there? How can you not root for the guy? There are no recruiting scandals to speak of. No players getting into trouble with the law. A nationally ranked team almost every year he has coached and players that tend to graduate one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Sports Illustrated was right to have named him and Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt "Sportspeople of the Year." We are talking about two class individuals who focus on their players/students more than they do on winning. Winning is secondary to them yet seems to come so easily. I can think of no one other than Coach K to lead our Men's Olympic basketball team. The guy is total class, and all he knows is winning. He represents all that is good in the game of college basketball. Even people who hate Duke have to respect what Coach K has done.
-Ryan Braun was found to be innocent of using performance enhancing drugs. For me, there are a lot of unanswered questions. Among them are, what caused the spike in testosterone levels? Was it mishandling of the evidence or something else? How did this story leak to the media when the results of these tests are supposed to be private until MLB confirms them? Why is that nobody seems accountable on any end of this story? My personal opinion, I am glad Braun was found innocent, yet I find myself hoping he really is and didn't get off on a technicality. Hopefully MLB learned from this mess and it, it's fanbase, and the players can move forward.
- Speaking of performance enhancing drugs, has Manny Ramirez tested positive yet?
- How popular is Jermey Lin? He made the cover of Sports Illustrated for the second straight week. To be honest, I don't think that has ever happened before. If it has please correct me. He is the first Knick to grace the cover since 2002 when Othella Harrington was being posterized by the Wizards Michael Jordan and the first Knick since 1999 to make the cover as something other than a stooge when Latrell Sprewell made the cover. I don't know about you but I find that amazing.
- According to ESPN.com, teams are engaging the St. Louis Rams in talks regarding the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 Draft. The Rams, not in the market for a QB would be wise to trade down if offered the right package. The Rams are a team with lost of holes and if they can obtain extra draft picks to fill them then they would be wise to do so. It is speculated that teams engaging the Rams in talks are those in need of a quarterback who want the chance to draft Robert Griffin III, who some believe to be the next Cam Newton. I say "some" because I need to see more out of the Heisman winning QB. The talent is there in Griffin but I still have questions. Hell, I have questions about every QB in every draft so take that for what it's worth.
- A lot has been made of Jeremy Lin and his receiving attention because he is Asian. Personally, I don't find race to be an issue. I don't care if you are even from this planet. When you put up numbers like Lin has in your first few games as a starter everyone should take notice. Floyd Mayweather, however, thinks he speaks for all black athletes when he criticized all of the attention being paid to Lin. I personaly called him a racist on Twitter and told him I couldn't wait until he got knocked out. There was no response. Mr. Mayweather, you are a boxer, not a spokesperson for NBA players and not a spokesperson for the African-American community. throw some punches then shut up, period. It seems in recent years everyone is all too eager to throw around the "racism" line when someone disagrees with someone of another race. This is the United States of America. We may not have the most spotless past but we can determine our future and as long as we identify as races, religion, or even heritage first we will never survive as a country. It is time to think of ourselves as American first and be happy for everyone who meets with success, regardless of race, religion, heritage, or sexual orientation. Stop the stupidity, start with the unity!
- It is hard to believe Danica Patrick will only be 30 years-old next month. It feels like she has been around forever in racing. It probably feels like it has been forever since Danica is featured in just about every sports magazine, from story to advertisement and everywhere in between. Not even the best NASCAR drivers have the kind of endorsements she has. Some may say it is based on her being a woman. I say it is because she is an attractive woman who happens to race. Are my comments sexist? Maybe slightly, but sex sells. It also doesn't hurt that she is the "underdog" in a sport dominated by men. Americans love the underdog and she will remain the underdog until she wins a NASCAR race.
- Roy Oswalt announced yesterday that he is willing to pull a Roger Clemens an sign with a contender in mid-season. I find it hard to believe that there isn't one team out there that is willing to take on a pitcher with Oswalt's track record. Sure, he has some injury history but he has to be worth a shot, right? My bet it he signs with Texas after one injury to Texas' starters or an ineffective beginning to one of their back end guys.
- Speaking of Texas, the Rangers announced that Yu Darvish isn't here to "play around." No kidding!?!?! You mean he will take his job as a starting pitcher seriously? Wow!
- That sound you heard last night was the Los Angeles Kings getting better. They acquired C Jeff Carter from the Columbus Blue Jackets for D Jack Johnson and a first-rounder. Johnson is a good defenseman who can help on both sides of the puck but Jeff Carter can, if on his game, become an elite scorer out west. Good trade for both teams. Carter makes a ton of money but should give the Kings the bump they need into the playoffs and become a threat once there. I don't think they stand a shot of getting in the way of the Red Wings or Canucks but they could do some damage.
- It will be interesting to see if the Carter trade has any impact on the Blue Jackets desire to trade Rick Nash. I think they will still trade him and continue the rebuilding process but only if they get a decent package in return.
- Staying with the NHL, my NHL MVP, or Hart Trophy winner, is Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. He also happen to be my Vezina Trophy winner for best goaltender. He is the best Rangers goalie I have seen in my lifetime and that covers Mike Richter and John Vanbiesbrouck, both of whom won Stanley Cups, albeit Beezer won with the Panthers.
- There is no truth to the rumor that the new his and her scents from the New York Yankees will mirror how well the team is playing. Nothing says die-hard like smelling like crap when your team is playing like it. I am a die-hard Yankees fan but won't be lining up to buy this unless it smells good. Even then I don't think I would buy it. When I think about a sports related scent I immediately think sweat and locker room. Then again, I could be wrong. However, I am skeptical since the only thing from the old Yankee Stadium not to show up on Steiner Sports were the bathroom accoutrements. I hope the Yankees didn't use them in this new cologne/perfume. Nothing says "I love my team" like smelling like their bathrooms!
- That's all folks. Working on my MLB 2012 predictions, or, as I like to call them...my 2012 I'm wrong predictions.
-Ryan Braun was found to be innocent of using performance enhancing drugs. For me, there are a lot of unanswered questions. Among them are, what caused the spike in testosterone levels? Was it mishandling of the evidence or something else? How did this story leak to the media when the results of these tests are supposed to be private until MLB confirms them? Why is that nobody seems accountable on any end of this story? My personal opinion, I am glad Braun was found innocent, yet I find myself hoping he really is and didn't get off on a technicality. Hopefully MLB learned from this mess and it, it's fanbase, and the players can move forward.
- Speaking of performance enhancing drugs, has Manny Ramirez tested positive yet?
- How popular is Jermey Lin? He made the cover of Sports Illustrated for the second straight week. To be honest, I don't think that has ever happened before. If it has please correct me. He is the first Knick to grace the cover since 2002 when Othella Harrington was being posterized by the Wizards Michael Jordan and the first Knick since 1999 to make the cover as something other than a stooge when Latrell Sprewell made the cover. I don't know about you but I find that amazing.
- According to ESPN.com, teams are engaging the St. Louis Rams in talks regarding the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 Draft. The Rams, not in the market for a QB would be wise to trade down if offered the right package. The Rams are a team with lost of holes and if they can obtain extra draft picks to fill them then they would be wise to do so. It is speculated that teams engaging the Rams in talks are those in need of a quarterback who want the chance to draft Robert Griffin III, who some believe to be the next Cam Newton. I say "some" because I need to see more out of the Heisman winning QB. The talent is there in Griffin but I still have questions. Hell, I have questions about every QB in every draft so take that for what it's worth.
- A lot has been made of Jeremy Lin and his receiving attention because he is Asian. Personally, I don't find race to be an issue. I don't care if you are even from this planet. When you put up numbers like Lin has in your first few games as a starter everyone should take notice. Floyd Mayweather, however, thinks he speaks for all black athletes when he criticized all of the attention being paid to Lin. I personaly called him a racist on Twitter and told him I couldn't wait until he got knocked out. There was no response. Mr. Mayweather, you are a boxer, not a spokesperson for NBA players and not a spokesperson for the African-American community. throw some punches then shut up, period. It seems in recent years everyone is all too eager to throw around the "racism" line when someone disagrees with someone of another race. This is the United States of America. We may not have the most spotless past but we can determine our future and as long as we identify as races, religion, or even heritage first we will never survive as a country. It is time to think of ourselves as American first and be happy for everyone who meets with success, regardless of race, religion, heritage, or sexual orientation. Stop the stupidity, start with the unity!
- It is hard to believe Danica Patrick will only be 30 years-old next month. It feels like she has been around forever in racing. It probably feels like it has been forever since Danica is featured in just about every sports magazine, from story to advertisement and everywhere in between. Not even the best NASCAR drivers have the kind of endorsements she has. Some may say it is based on her being a woman. I say it is because she is an attractive woman who happens to race. Are my comments sexist? Maybe slightly, but sex sells. It also doesn't hurt that she is the "underdog" in a sport dominated by men. Americans love the underdog and she will remain the underdog until she wins a NASCAR race.
- Roy Oswalt announced yesterday that he is willing to pull a Roger Clemens an sign with a contender in mid-season. I find it hard to believe that there isn't one team out there that is willing to take on a pitcher with Oswalt's track record. Sure, he has some injury history but he has to be worth a shot, right? My bet it he signs with Texas after one injury to Texas' starters or an ineffective beginning to one of their back end guys.
- Speaking of Texas, the Rangers announced that Yu Darvish isn't here to "play around." No kidding!?!?! You mean he will take his job as a starting pitcher seriously? Wow!
- That sound you heard last night was the Los Angeles Kings getting better. They acquired C Jeff Carter from the Columbus Blue Jackets for D Jack Johnson and a first-rounder. Johnson is a good defenseman who can help on both sides of the puck but Jeff Carter can, if on his game, become an elite scorer out west. Good trade for both teams. Carter makes a ton of money but should give the Kings the bump they need into the playoffs and become a threat once there. I don't think they stand a shot of getting in the way of the Red Wings or Canucks but they could do some damage.
- It will be interesting to see if the Carter trade has any impact on the Blue Jackets desire to trade Rick Nash. I think they will still trade him and continue the rebuilding process but only if they get a decent package in return.
- Staying with the NHL, my NHL MVP, or Hart Trophy winner, is Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. He also happen to be my Vezina Trophy winner for best goaltender. He is the best Rangers goalie I have seen in my lifetime and that covers Mike Richter and John Vanbiesbrouck, both of whom won Stanley Cups, albeit Beezer won with the Panthers.
- There is no truth to the rumor that the new his and her scents from the New York Yankees will mirror how well the team is playing. Nothing says die-hard like smelling like crap when your team is playing like it. I am a die-hard Yankees fan but won't be lining up to buy this unless it smells good. Even then I don't think I would buy it. When I think about a sports related scent I immediately think sweat and locker room. Then again, I could be wrong. However, I am skeptical since the only thing from the old Yankee Stadium not to show up on Steiner Sports were the bathroom accoutrements. I hope the Yankees didn't use them in this new cologne/perfume. Nothing says "I love my team" like smelling like their bathrooms!
- That's all folks. Working on my MLB 2012 predictions, or, as I like to call them...my 2012 I'm wrong predictions.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Only Battle of Camp
Now that Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez are in the fold for the Yankees, there remains only one true positional battle for an open roster spot, the last reliever slot. The Yankees can go with several options here. Adam Warren, David Phelps, and D.J. Mitchell are pretty much Major League ready. They could give Joe Girardi innings out of the bullpen. However, it is more likely that a second lefty will be joining Mariano Rivera, David Robertson, Rafael Soriano, Cory Wade, and Boone Logan. The Yankees had signed Hideki Okajima to a minor league deal but he failed his physical, voiding the contract. That leaves Rule 5 Draftee Cesar Cabral, a lefty who has spent most of his career as a starter, Clay Rapada, a lefty specialist recently signed to a minor league deal from the Orioles, and Mike O'Connor to battle it out to accompany Boone Logan north. We have to assume that whomever loses the fifth starter battle between Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia will end up in the pen. My money is on Garcia to lose the battle and be the reliever.
There is no guarantee that the spot goes to a left-hander. The Yankees have viable relievers all over the place. George Kontos, who injured an oblique muscle and will be out for either a few days or weeks dependeing on who you talk to, is an option. Adam Miller, once considered a top pitching prospect in the Indians organization is an intriguing possibility. As is former Red Sox Manny Delcarmen. I don't think the Yankees would mess with their young starters like Warren, Phelps, or Mitchell, for a few months of the regular season, not to mention waste on of their options in the process. Instead, I think the Yankees will place someone who has minor league options left in that spot, giving the team flexibility moving forward.
Flexibility is going to be key. Joba Chamberlain and the recently signed David Aardsma, formerly a closer for Seattle, will be back from their Tommy John surgeries at some point in August, give or take a month. Injuries will happen of course and there is always the chance that Cory Wade implodes or Garcia or Hughes don't perform well. Bullpens are finicky like that.
Going forward, I would place my money on Adam Miller. There is talent there and Larry Rothschild should be able to get something out of Miller. I could be wrong and the Yankees see the second lefty as a necessity in which case Cabral will be given every chance to win the job. If he can't Clay Rapada has a good enough track record against lefties that he should be able to walk away the winner. In a year where almost everything is set in stone going forward, the last roster spot in the bullpen will be the only fight worth watching. The Garcia/Hughes undercard isn't as exciting because whoever doesn't win that spot is bullpen bound.
There is no guarantee that the spot goes to a left-hander. The Yankees have viable relievers all over the place. George Kontos, who injured an oblique muscle and will be out for either a few days or weeks dependeing on who you talk to, is an option. Adam Miller, once considered a top pitching prospect in the Indians organization is an intriguing possibility. As is former Red Sox Manny Delcarmen. I don't think the Yankees would mess with their young starters like Warren, Phelps, or Mitchell, for a few months of the regular season, not to mention waste on of their options in the process. Instead, I think the Yankees will place someone who has minor league options left in that spot, giving the team flexibility moving forward.
Flexibility is going to be key. Joba Chamberlain and the recently signed David Aardsma, formerly a closer for Seattle, will be back from their Tommy John surgeries at some point in August, give or take a month. Injuries will happen of course and there is always the chance that Cory Wade implodes or Garcia or Hughes don't perform well. Bullpens are finicky like that.
Going forward, I would place my money on Adam Miller. There is talent there and Larry Rothschild should be able to get something out of Miller. I could be wrong and the Yankees see the second lefty as a necessity in which case Cabral will be given every chance to win the job. If he can't Clay Rapada has a good enough track record against lefties that he should be able to walk away the winner. In a year where almost everything is set in stone going forward, the last roster spot in the bullpen will be the only fight worth watching. The Garcia/Hughes undercard isn't as exciting because whoever doesn't win that spot is bullpen bound.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Just Stuff
- Greg Oden, the number one pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, underwent surgery yesterday. Apparently, the surgery was to clean up debris in his left knee when the doctor found more damage and Oden underwent his third microfracture surgery. He hasn't played since the 2009-2010 season and since the 2008-2009 season has played in exactly 82 games. This guy was supposed to be the best big man in the NBA since David Robertson, or some such nonsense. Instead, he has made the Blazers pine for the days of Sam Bowie. You can't help but feel bad for the guy. Here was a man who was supposed to be the next big thing and the only thing he has done is break everything. The drafting track record of the Portland Trailblazers is unique in the sports landscape. In 1972, they chose LaRue Martin #1 overall. Martin played just 4 seasons before retiring and never averaged more than 5.3 points per game or 4.6 rebounds per game. Who did they pass on? Bob McAdoo, Paul Westphal, or some guy named Julius Erving. Then, in 1978 they drafted Mychal Thompson from the Bahamas #1 overall. Thompson wasn't awful but the Blazers could have had Larry Bird who was drafted #6 overall by the Celtics.Then, we all know about the 1984 draft where the Blazers had the #2 overall pick and chose Sam Bowie instead of some dude named Michael Jordan. Now, add Greg Oden to the list of failures. The guy chosen right after Oden? Kevin Durant. Talk about wanting to kick yourself. Had the Blazers picked right We could have seen Michael Jordan and Larry Bird play together. The lineage of going from Dr. J to Larry to Michael to Durant. Wow. If only Portland had competent people at the helm at any point in their franchises history and we could be talking about the greatest franchise in history here.
- As compensation for Theo Epstein, the Red Sox received Chris Carpenter, a hard throwing pitcher who can't find the strike zone as often as needed to be what scouts would call successful in the Major Leagues. Carpenter was once drafted by the Yankees but didn't sign. He now joins Daniel Bard, who was also drafted by the Yankees but didn't sign, and Yankee castoffs Alfredo Aceves, and Mark Melancon in the Red Sox bullpen. Should be an interesting year in Fenway and Yankee Stadium.
- The rumors surrounding Rick Nash and the New York Rangers are becoming a bit overplayed. Nash is a very good player but if I'm the Rangers I don't give up Brandon Dubinsky or Michael Del Zotto, or Ryan McDonaugh with Chris Krieder or a first rounder. I would trade Dubinsky and a second rounder for Nash but I don't think the Blue Jackets would bite. The best thing that can happen to the Rangers is Dubinsky finds his scoring touch and Brad Richards finds his as well. Then, there is no need for Nash. I wouldn't complain about having Nash on the team, it would just have to be at the right price and I'm not giving up Krieder.
- Manny Ramirez signed a minor league deal with the Oakland A's. I am still angry at Major League Baseball for reducing his suspension from 100 to 50 games. Manny chose to retire instead of face his suspension. That was his choice. His retirement should not count as time served at all. Here is a guy who has failed two drug tests in the past couple of years and also technically failed the "secret" drug test that led to MLB's current testing policy. It is a sham. Manny is a sham. He has been a joke in this game for years, from his antics to his performance enhancing drug use. He has spit in the face of MLB, it's fans, and the history of the game. I am shocked any team would take a flyer on him. I have the over/under for his next suspension at 40 games...if he makes the A's.
- The Yankees signed Raul Ibanez to a 1-year contract. What, was Andre Dawson too busy? Ibanez will be 40 years-old on June 2nd. His on-base percentage was .289 last season. This should be interesting.
- Mariano Rivera hinted at retirement yesterday but didn't come out and say he would directly. I am going to pretend I didn't hear that. Every time I hear Mariano and retirement I am just going to stick my fingers in my ears and yell, "La-la-la, I can't hear you, la-la-la." Maybe if we ignore Mo he will be forced to rethink his decision and stay for a few more decades. I don't ever want to see Mo leave the mound.
- Last night Deron Williams proved he was the best point guard in the New York area by splashing 38 points down on the Knicks. Jeremy Lin played well, as he has done almost every night since getting the starting job. He should be a fixture on this Knicks team for a few years. Carmelo Anthony looked rusty and lost and Tyson Chandler's wrist needs rest. Still, despite that injury, Chandler played his usual game and played nice interior defense and played hard all night. The Knicks lucked out when they got Chandler. If this team can stay healthy and develop an offensive flow and play a little defense they might have a shot at making the NBA Finals.
- Coming soon will be my outrageous 2012 MLB predictions. Stay tuned.
- As compensation for Theo Epstein, the Red Sox received Chris Carpenter, a hard throwing pitcher who can't find the strike zone as often as needed to be what scouts would call successful in the Major Leagues. Carpenter was once drafted by the Yankees but didn't sign. He now joins Daniel Bard, who was also drafted by the Yankees but didn't sign, and Yankee castoffs Alfredo Aceves, and Mark Melancon in the Red Sox bullpen. Should be an interesting year in Fenway and Yankee Stadium.
- The rumors surrounding Rick Nash and the New York Rangers are becoming a bit overplayed. Nash is a very good player but if I'm the Rangers I don't give up Brandon Dubinsky or Michael Del Zotto, or Ryan McDonaugh with Chris Krieder or a first rounder. I would trade Dubinsky and a second rounder for Nash but I don't think the Blue Jackets would bite. The best thing that can happen to the Rangers is Dubinsky finds his scoring touch and Brad Richards finds his as well. Then, there is no need for Nash. I wouldn't complain about having Nash on the team, it would just have to be at the right price and I'm not giving up Krieder.
- Manny Ramirez signed a minor league deal with the Oakland A's. I am still angry at Major League Baseball for reducing his suspension from 100 to 50 games. Manny chose to retire instead of face his suspension. That was his choice. His retirement should not count as time served at all. Here is a guy who has failed two drug tests in the past couple of years and also technically failed the "secret" drug test that led to MLB's current testing policy. It is a sham. Manny is a sham. He has been a joke in this game for years, from his antics to his performance enhancing drug use. He has spit in the face of MLB, it's fans, and the history of the game. I am shocked any team would take a flyer on him. I have the over/under for his next suspension at 40 games...if he makes the A's.
- The Yankees signed Raul Ibanez to a 1-year contract. What, was Andre Dawson too busy? Ibanez will be 40 years-old on June 2nd. His on-base percentage was .289 last season. This should be interesting.
- Mariano Rivera hinted at retirement yesterday but didn't come out and say he would directly. I am going to pretend I didn't hear that. Every time I hear Mariano and retirement I am just going to stick my fingers in my ears and yell, "La-la-la, I can't hear you, la-la-la." Maybe if we ignore Mo he will be forced to rethink his decision and stay for a few more decades. I don't ever want to see Mo leave the mound.
- Last night Deron Williams proved he was the best point guard in the New York area by splashing 38 points down on the Knicks. Jeremy Lin played well, as he has done almost every night since getting the starting job. He should be a fixture on this Knicks team for a few years. Carmelo Anthony looked rusty and lost and Tyson Chandler's wrist needs rest. Still, despite that injury, Chandler played his usual game and played nice interior defense and played hard all night. The Knicks lucked out when they got Chandler. If this team can stay healthy and develop an offensive flow and play a little defense they might have a shot at making the NBA Finals.
- Coming soon will be my outrageous 2012 MLB predictions. Stay tuned.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
This, That, and the Other Thing...Hypocrisy Abound
Just a few blurbs from around sports:
- Major League Baseball recently denied the Houston Astros request that would allow the Astros to wear their original team uniform. That uniform, from what they were the Colt .45's, features a pistol, the Colt .45, under the word "Colts" with the "C" looking like smoke coming from the barrel. Major League Baseball doesn't want kids to see an image of a gun so the Astros will have to alter their old uniform to not feature the pistol. Ummm, okay. Does Major League Baseball really think that kids don't know what a gun is? I have seen five year-old children play Call of Duty, a popular video game on Playstation, Xbox, and the PC, which features people shooting other people. It makes no sense for Major League Baseball to deny it's history. History is what it is and you can't hide from it. Are parents supposed to tell their children that the franchise was originally named for a malt liquor? Or are they going to tell their children that the Colt .45 is a famous pistol that helped win the West? This is Texas people. I am of the opinion, you either honor history or you don't. You can't alter it. For crying out loud, the Washington Wizards used to be called the Washington Bullets in one of the most dangerous cities in North America, Washington, D.C. Did the Wizards name change reduce violence in that city? Nope. Washington, D.C. still has one of the highest murder rates in the country. Also in that same city, there is a certain football team called the Washington Redskins. The Redskins refused to change their name like St. John's University who changed their name from the Red Men to the Red Storm. Do we honestly think that people become racist because of a team name, no matter how insensitive it is? No, we don't. MLB needs to chill out. The Astros are probably going to lose 90 or more games this year and will probably not make it onto any national broadcasts. The only people seeing these uniforms will be in Texas, where it is legal to carry a concealed firearm. Someone should tell MLB that it is a Constitutional right to carry firearms in this country and that a gun in the correct hands is a useful tool that defends freedom, protects citizens, and enforces the law. By making it seem like a gun is only used by criminals and that guns are bad only adds fuel to the fire. Guns are not bad. People are bad. Maybe I shouldn't have said that because now MLB might soon ban human beings from appearing at their games.
- ESPN recently posted a headline on their mobile site that said "Chink in the Armor." I bet you can't figure out who they were talking about? That's right, Jeremy Lin and his 9 turnovers as the Knicks lost for the first time since Lin began starting. Seriously, ESPN? You didn't know that "Chink" is an offensive word used to describe Chinese people? What? No headline from them after Ryan Braun won the MVP saying "Jew the Man!"? Oh, that would be offensive. Well, ESPN, allow me to tell you, it's the same thing. ESPN has become a joke. They suspended Paul Anzinger for political comments critical of Barack Obama on his personal Twitter account saying it violated their social media policy. Azinger said "Facts: POTUS has played more golf this month than I have: I have created more jobs this month than he has: #Marthasvineyard." ESPN believes political commentary is best left to those in that field. But, if Azinger hadn't been critical of the President would he have been suspended? Nope. This same organization invites Barack Obama to fill out his NCAA brackets on air. That is political commentary, even if it isn't on social media. On June 11, 2011 ESPN personality Kenny Mayne said on Twitter "he almost rammed a car with Palin bumper sticker, with intent." Oh, he never got suspended for saying he almost committed a violent act because he saw someone with a differing political opinion but Paul Azinger can make a statement and get suspended. Oh, so political commentary only goes one way at ESPN. Sadly, there are more examples. Stephen A. Smith can go on a show and call 2008 Presidential hopeful Rudy Guiliani "a dictator as far as I'm concerned." Let me be fair for a moment, Craig James, who is considering a run in politics is a Republican but has never, as far as I have seen, crossed the line. Peter Gammons, on Dec. 22, 2000, used politics in a column, a quote from an average Joe in Boston, and was not reprimanded for it. Those words didn't have to be included in the quote. Want to read it? Here's Gammon's article. Politics didn't have to be mentioned but they were, innocently. ESPN has featured stories that center around political figures from Sarah Palin, John McCain's wife, Barack Obama's brother-in-law, and several others. I thought their policy was to leave politics aside, to let political outlets handle politics? What happened to sports and politics don't mix?
Lou Holtz had to issue an apology for making a statement that many people misconstrued. Mark May said, "you have to have leaders in the locker room to get the team and the young players to buy into what the coach is teaching you." Holtz then said, "Let's remember that Hitler was a great leader, too. There are good leaders and bad leaders." Now anyone with a brain would tell you that Holtz was not comparing Hitler to a great leader, merely that many people thought he was. Holtz was trying to say that the lesson the coach is tying to teach needs to be a good, sound one. It was about leading in the right direction. Instead of ESPN publicly backing Holtz they made him apologize on air because people misinterpreted his comments.
ESPN is a world of hypocrisy. Several of their on-air personalities have been charged with sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and sexual assault and other misdeeds. That gets swept under the rug for the most part. ESPN also scripts their debate shows. Around the Horn producers have, according to Dan Shanoff, who made several appearances on the show, given the lowest ranking (or newest) guys or gals the unpopular opinion to defend. This means that Shanoff was basically pressured into saying something he didn't believe to foster debate. John Kruk has also admitted he was told by producers what to say on Baseball Tonight when he picked the Pirates to win the NL Central one year. Originally he said he was told to pick the Yankees, who were trailing the Red Sox by a large margin at one point and he said no so a deal was made that he would say the Pirates would win the NL Central. Great to see journalistic integrity, or even integrity, is something ESPN holds dear. Or not.
- Major League Baseball recently denied the Houston Astros request that would allow the Astros to wear their original team uniform. That uniform, from what they were the Colt .45's, features a pistol, the Colt .45, under the word "Colts" with the "C" looking like smoke coming from the barrel. Major League Baseball doesn't want kids to see an image of a gun so the Astros will have to alter their old uniform to not feature the pistol. Ummm, okay. Does Major League Baseball really think that kids don't know what a gun is? I have seen five year-old children play Call of Duty, a popular video game on Playstation, Xbox, and the PC, which features people shooting other people. It makes no sense for Major League Baseball to deny it's history. History is what it is and you can't hide from it. Are parents supposed to tell their children that the franchise was originally named for a malt liquor? Or are they going to tell their children that the Colt .45 is a famous pistol that helped win the West? This is Texas people. I am of the opinion, you either honor history or you don't. You can't alter it. For crying out loud, the Washington Wizards used to be called the Washington Bullets in one of the most dangerous cities in North America, Washington, D.C. Did the Wizards name change reduce violence in that city? Nope. Washington, D.C. still has one of the highest murder rates in the country. Also in that same city, there is a certain football team called the Washington Redskins. The Redskins refused to change their name like St. John's University who changed their name from the Red Men to the Red Storm. Do we honestly think that people become racist because of a team name, no matter how insensitive it is? No, we don't. MLB needs to chill out. The Astros are probably going to lose 90 or more games this year and will probably not make it onto any national broadcasts. The only people seeing these uniforms will be in Texas, where it is legal to carry a concealed firearm. Someone should tell MLB that it is a Constitutional right to carry firearms in this country and that a gun in the correct hands is a useful tool that defends freedom, protects citizens, and enforces the law. By making it seem like a gun is only used by criminals and that guns are bad only adds fuel to the fire. Guns are not bad. People are bad. Maybe I shouldn't have said that because now MLB might soon ban human beings from appearing at their games.
- ESPN recently posted a headline on their mobile site that said "Chink in the Armor." I bet you can't figure out who they were talking about? That's right, Jeremy Lin and his 9 turnovers as the Knicks lost for the first time since Lin began starting. Seriously, ESPN? You didn't know that "Chink" is an offensive word used to describe Chinese people? What? No headline from them after Ryan Braun won the MVP saying "Jew the Man!"? Oh, that would be offensive. Well, ESPN, allow me to tell you, it's the same thing. ESPN has become a joke. They suspended Paul Anzinger for political comments critical of Barack Obama on his personal Twitter account saying it violated their social media policy. Azinger said "Facts: POTUS has played more golf this month than I have: I have created more jobs this month than he has: #Marthasvineyard." ESPN believes political commentary is best left to those in that field. But, if Azinger hadn't been critical of the President would he have been suspended? Nope. This same organization invites Barack Obama to fill out his NCAA brackets on air. That is political commentary, even if it isn't on social media. On June 11, 2011 ESPN personality Kenny Mayne said on Twitter "he almost rammed a car with Palin bumper sticker, with intent." Oh, he never got suspended for saying he almost committed a violent act because he saw someone with a differing political opinion but Paul Azinger can make a statement and get suspended. Oh, so political commentary only goes one way at ESPN. Sadly, there are more examples. Stephen A. Smith can go on a show and call 2008 Presidential hopeful Rudy Guiliani "a dictator as far as I'm concerned." Let me be fair for a moment, Craig James, who is considering a run in politics is a Republican but has never, as far as I have seen, crossed the line. Peter Gammons, on Dec. 22, 2000, used politics in a column, a quote from an average Joe in Boston, and was not reprimanded for it. Those words didn't have to be included in the quote. Want to read it? Here's Gammon's article. Politics didn't have to be mentioned but they were, innocently. ESPN has featured stories that center around political figures from Sarah Palin, John McCain's wife, Barack Obama's brother-in-law, and several others. I thought their policy was to leave politics aside, to let political outlets handle politics? What happened to sports and politics don't mix?
Lou Holtz had to issue an apology for making a statement that many people misconstrued. Mark May said, "you have to have leaders in the locker room to get the team and the young players to buy into what the coach is teaching you." Holtz then said, "Let's remember that Hitler was a great leader, too. There are good leaders and bad leaders." Now anyone with a brain would tell you that Holtz was not comparing Hitler to a great leader, merely that many people thought he was. Holtz was trying to say that the lesson the coach is tying to teach needs to be a good, sound one. It was about leading in the right direction. Instead of ESPN publicly backing Holtz they made him apologize on air because people misinterpreted his comments.
ESPN is a world of hypocrisy. Several of their on-air personalities have been charged with sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and sexual assault and other misdeeds. That gets swept under the rug for the most part. ESPN also scripts their debate shows. Around the Horn producers have, according to Dan Shanoff, who made several appearances on the show, given the lowest ranking (or newest) guys or gals the unpopular opinion to defend. This means that Shanoff was basically pressured into saying something he didn't believe to foster debate. John Kruk has also admitted he was told by producers what to say on Baseball Tonight when he picked the Pirates to win the NL Central one year. Originally he said he was told to pick the Yankees, who were trailing the Red Sox by a large margin at one point and he said no so a deal was made that he would say the Pirates would win the NL Central. Great to see journalistic integrity, or even integrity, is something ESPN holds dear. Or not.
Friday, February 17, 2012
NASCAR Turns Down 'General Lee'
NASCAR recently turned down plans to have golfer Bubba Watson drive the iconic 'General Lee' of "The Dukes of Hazzard" fame at a March 4th Sprint Cup Series event in Phoenix. NASCAR spokesman, David Higdon, according to ESPN, believes that, "The Confederate flag is not something that should play an official role in our sport as we continue to reach out to new fans and make NASCAR more inclusive." That's all well and good Mr. Higdon, but showcasing one of America's most iconic cars, which the 'General Lee' is, is not exactly making the Confederate flag an "official" part of NASCAR.
NASCAR has basically bowed to public ignorance over what the Confederate flag actually stands for. It doesn't stand for slavery. It stands for state's rights which is what the Civil War was actually fought over. Slavery just happened to be the issue that put the federal government and the slave-holding states at odds with each other. A quick history lesson would clarify that. However, since the South was made up of slave-holding states, many people assume that the Confederate battle flag is actually a symbol of hatred, racism, and intolerance on the scale of the Nazi flag. This is simply not true.
The evolution of the Confederate battle flag is an interesting one. The one emblazoned on top of the 'General Lee' is actually the third adaptation of the Confederate States flag. The original featured two red bars separated by a white bar and a blue field to the left (like the American flag) that featured stars representing each state in the Confederacy. The flag was prominent on battle fields all the way up until May of 1863.
Here is a little known fact, several thousand slaves and free blacks served under that flag in various capacities. From cooks, laborers, teamsters, musicians, personal attendants to high-ranking officers, and other non-combatant roles. While there is no evidence in the form of official muster rolls and other paperwork that would make African-Americans "officially" having served under arms for the Confederacy, there are reports from journals and diaries kept by Confederate and Union soldiers around that state that at least several hundred probably did take up arms against Union forces throughout the war. Many of them joined up with guerilla units, served as scouts, and in other roles. The notion of enlisting African-Americans came up for debate several times in the Confederate Congress but was never passed for fear of alienating the white soldiers currently fighting for the South. Enlisting slaves and free-blacks might have caused many of the white soldiers, who were from a mostly agrarian society and depended on slave labor to keep production up on their farms. Too late, towards the very end of the war, did the South reverse this policy in 1865.
Please don't misunderstand me, I am not advocating slavery or defending it in any way. I am sure some of you might be reading this and be programmed to think I am a racist. I assure you, that is not the case. I come from a lineage that predates the Civil War in this country and my ancestors fought on the side of the Union. Please understand that this is not an advocacy for slavery. Okay, now that the disclaimer is done I can continue.
Today, it is easy to confuse the Civil War as the fight for freedom of the slaves. However, that simply isn't true. It wasn't until 1862, after the Battle of Antietam, that President Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation that said all slaves in states participating in rebellion against the United States government were hereby free. It is important to note that only the slaves in the states that had taken up arms against the United States government were free but that slaves in the "border states" were still to be held as slaves. Interesting that Lincoln wouldn't free them all? Technically, slavery was allowed in the Union during the war. However, does the United States flag get banned at sporting events because of its association with slavery? Let us not forget that from 1776, when the United States declared itself independent from Great Britain, until 1861, when Southern states began to separate from the Union, the United States of America was a country built on slavery. Does this make the United States flag any worse than the Confederate one? It shouldn't. History is filled with evolution. Slavery will forever be a black-eye in the history of this great country. However, what makes this country truly great is that our system of government allows us to correct oversights and unforeseen circumstances that our Founding Fathers never anticipated.
Slavery was abolished for good in the United States with the 13th Amendment which became law on December 6, 1865 after being passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864 and passed by the House on January 31, 1865. Technically, because of Lincoln's Proclamation, slavery was legal in the United States long after it was made illegal in the South. And, since the Confederacy dissolved in April of 1865 and slavery wasn't officially abolished until December of 1865 in the United States, the United States actually allowed slavery to exist longer than did the Confederacy.
The Confederate battle flag is a part of our nation's history, a pivotal part. It marks the only time that states seceded from the Union against a federal government that they saw as overreaching. After the Civil War, veterans of the Confederacy adopted their old battle flag as part of the symbology in groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. This is where the Confederate flag begins to be seen as a symbol of hatred. However, in later years, as the Civil War veterans died off and were replaced by their descendants and others, the American flag also began to be flown at KKK rallies. Yet, there are no court cases seeking to ban the American flag from sporting events as a symbol of hatred or division.
Can the Confederate flag be interpreted as a racist symbol? Yes. Just like anything else. Hitler and the Nazi's turned the swastika, a symbol that is over 3,000 years old, into a symbol of racism, intolerance, and hatred. The swastika did not stand for the things that Nazi Germany represented before it's implementation in the 1920's, 1930's, and 1940's as a national symbol for Germany. Now, because of that, the mere appearance of the swastika automatically means Nazi whereas for thousands of years in places as diverse as China, India, Europe, and was even used by the United States Army 45th Division in its shoulder patch for its positive connotations.
Today, the Confederate flag is beginning to take its place alongside the Nazi symbols as purely racist, purely evil. There have been court cases that have sought the banning of the flying of the Confederate flag outside state capitols, courthouses, and have sought it's removal from state flags.
Getting back to my original point, NASCAR has bent to the popular belief that the flag represents a divisive symbol. I believe, as do many Americans, that it is a symbol of our history of our nation. A symbol for states rights and sacrifice just like our American flag with it's thirteen red and white stripes and fifty white stars against a blue background. For most Southern Americans, the Confederate flag is about heritage and roots, not about racism. NASCAR's decision to keep the 1969 Dodge Charger 'General Lee' from participating in their event is short-sighted and adds fuel to a fire that has burned wildly in this country. The more we make the flag a symbol of hatred, the more those who believe in racial inequality will use it. It is akin to putting bullets inside of a gun, you are giving them the ammunition to use instead of denying them that ability. If the Confederate flag had been left alone and not recognized as anything more than a part of our nation's history we wouldn't be having this discussion. Instead, groups like the ACLU and NASCAR allow the flag to be used as a symbol of hate instead of history.
"The Dukes of Hazzard" was not a television show based on racism. It was a show about two Southern boys fighting a corrupt system, something many Southerners feel the Civil War was actually fought over. The car became as much a part of American popular culture as "Daisy Dukes" shorts on women in the 1970's. Are we to think that "Daisy Dukes" are now a symbol of racism and hate? C'mon. The Confederate flag plays a prominent role in every NASCAR race without NASCAR's sanction because of the massive Confederate flags that fly from the RV's in the infield. Yet, where is the movement to ban those flags? There isn't one and there shouldn't be. NASCAR originated from bootleggers souping up their cars to outrun the law, kind of like the Duke boys from the show. The 'General Lee' isn't a symbol of racism but a symbol of the origins of NASCAR.
Sports evolves along with society. African-Americans weren't allowed to play Major League Baseball until 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and opened the door to an entire race of people to pursue their dreams the same as anyone else. During one game the entire St. Louis Cardinals team threatened to sit out a game rather than play on the same field as a black man. Only because the commissioners office intervened did the game actually take place. Yet, the Cardinals pennant isn't associated with racism.
The more we allow certain symbols to be completely taken over by hate groups the more we limit our own freedoms and surrender ourselves to their hate. Instead of slinking behind the glass shield of political correctness, NASCAR should have explained why they would allow the 'General Lee' to take part in pre-race festivities. NASCAR should embrace their roots and embrace the fans that have vaulted the sport to the national spotlight. Instead of shying away and letting the Confederate flag become a symbol associated with racism, NASCAR should have stood up for itself, it's rights, it's fans, and sought to educate the public. All in all, we should be, as a nation, denying the hate groups these symbols and educate ourselves, and others, as to their original meanings.
NASCAR has basically bowed to public ignorance over what the Confederate flag actually stands for. It doesn't stand for slavery. It stands for state's rights which is what the Civil War was actually fought over. Slavery just happened to be the issue that put the federal government and the slave-holding states at odds with each other. A quick history lesson would clarify that. However, since the South was made up of slave-holding states, many people assume that the Confederate battle flag is actually a symbol of hatred, racism, and intolerance on the scale of the Nazi flag. This is simply not true.
The evolution of the Confederate battle flag is an interesting one. The one emblazoned on top of the 'General Lee' is actually the third adaptation of the Confederate States flag. The original featured two red bars separated by a white bar and a blue field to the left (like the American flag) that featured stars representing each state in the Confederacy. The flag was prominent on battle fields all the way up until May of 1863.
Here is a little known fact, several thousand slaves and free blacks served under that flag in various capacities. From cooks, laborers, teamsters, musicians, personal attendants to high-ranking officers, and other non-combatant roles. While there is no evidence in the form of official muster rolls and other paperwork that would make African-Americans "officially" having served under arms for the Confederacy, there are reports from journals and diaries kept by Confederate and Union soldiers around that state that at least several hundred probably did take up arms against Union forces throughout the war. Many of them joined up with guerilla units, served as scouts, and in other roles. The notion of enlisting African-Americans came up for debate several times in the Confederate Congress but was never passed for fear of alienating the white soldiers currently fighting for the South. Enlisting slaves and free-blacks might have caused many of the white soldiers, who were from a mostly agrarian society and depended on slave labor to keep production up on their farms. Too late, towards the very end of the war, did the South reverse this policy in 1865.
Please don't misunderstand me, I am not advocating slavery or defending it in any way. I am sure some of you might be reading this and be programmed to think I am a racist. I assure you, that is not the case. I come from a lineage that predates the Civil War in this country and my ancestors fought on the side of the Union. Please understand that this is not an advocacy for slavery. Okay, now that the disclaimer is done I can continue.
Today, it is easy to confuse the Civil War as the fight for freedom of the slaves. However, that simply isn't true. It wasn't until 1862, after the Battle of Antietam, that President Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation that said all slaves in states participating in rebellion against the United States government were hereby free. It is important to note that only the slaves in the states that had taken up arms against the United States government were free but that slaves in the "border states" were still to be held as slaves. Interesting that Lincoln wouldn't free them all? Technically, slavery was allowed in the Union during the war. However, does the United States flag get banned at sporting events because of its association with slavery? Let us not forget that from 1776, when the United States declared itself independent from Great Britain, until 1861, when Southern states began to separate from the Union, the United States of America was a country built on slavery. Does this make the United States flag any worse than the Confederate one? It shouldn't. History is filled with evolution. Slavery will forever be a black-eye in the history of this great country. However, what makes this country truly great is that our system of government allows us to correct oversights and unforeseen circumstances that our Founding Fathers never anticipated.
Slavery was abolished for good in the United States with the 13th Amendment which became law on December 6, 1865 after being passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864 and passed by the House on January 31, 1865. Technically, because of Lincoln's Proclamation, slavery was legal in the United States long after it was made illegal in the South. And, since the Confederacy dissolved in April of 1865 and slavery wasn't officially abolished until December of 1865 in the United States, the United States actually allowed slavery to exist longer than did the Confederacy.
The Confederate battle flag is a part of our nation's history, a pivotal part. It marks the only time that states seceded from the Union against a federal government that they saw as overreaching. After the Civil War, veterans of the Confederacy adopted their old battle flag as part of the symbology in groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. This is where the Confederate flag begins to be seen as a symbol of hatred. However, in later years, as the Civil War veterans died off and were replaced by their descendants and others, the American flag also began to be flown at KKK rallies. Yet, there are no court cases seeking to ban the American flag from sporting events as a symbol of hatred or division.
Can the Confederate flag be interpreted as a racist symbol? Yes. Just like anything else. Hitler and the Nazi's turned the swastika, a symbol that is over 3,000 years old, into a symbol of racism, intolerance, and hatred. The swastika did not stand for the things that Nazi Germany represented before it's implementation in the 1920's, 1930's, and 1940's as a national symbol for Germany. Now, because of that, the mere appearance of the swastika automatically means Nazi whereas for thousands of years in places as diverse as China, India, Europe, and was even used by the United States Army 45th Division in its shoulder patch for its positive connotations.
Today, the Confederate flag is beginning to take its place alongside the Nazi symbols as purely racist, purely evil. There have been court cases that have sought the banning of the flying of the Confederate flag outside state capitols, courthouses, and have sought it's removal from state flags.
Getting back to my original point, NASCAR has bent to the popular belief that the flag represents a divisive symbol. I believe, as do many Americans, that it is a symbol of our history of our nation. A symbol for states rights and sacrifice just like our American flag with it's thirteen red and white stripes and fifty white stars against a blue background. For most Southern Americans, the Confederate flag is about heritage and roots, not about racism. NASCAR's decision to keep the 1969 Dodge Charger 'General Lee' from participating in their event is short-sighted and adds fuel to a fire that has burned wildly in this country. The more we make the flag a symbol of hatred, the more those who believe in racial inequality will use it. It is akin to putting bullets inside of a gun, you are giving them the ammunition to use instead of denying them that ability. If the Confederate flag had been left alone and not recognized as anything more than a part of our nation's history we wouldn't be having this discussion. Instead, groups like the ACLU and NASCAR allow the flag to be used as a symbol of hate instead of history.
"The Dukes of Hazzard" was not a television show based on racism. It was a show about two Southern boys fighting a corrupt system, something many Southerners feel the Civil War was actually fought over. The car became as much a part of American popular culture as "Daisy Dukes" shorts on women in the 1970's. Are we to think that "Daisy Dukes" are now a symbol of racism and hate? C'mon. The Confederate flag plays a prominent role in every NASCAR race without NASCAR's sanction because of the massive Confederate flags that fly from the RV's in the infield. Yet, where is the movement to ban those flags? There isn't one and there shouldn't be. NASCAR originated from bootleggers souping up their cars to outrun the law, kind of like the Duke boys from the show. The 'General Lee' isn't a symbol of racism but a symbol of the origins of NASCAR.
Sports evolves along with society. African-Americans weren't allowed to play Major League Baseball until 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and opened the door to an entire race of people to pursue their dreams the same as anyone else. During one game the entire St. Louis Cardinals team threatened to sit out a game rather than play on the same field as a black man. Only because the commissioners office intervened did the game actually take place. Yet, the Cardinals pennant isn't associated with racism.
The more we allow certain symbols to be completely taken over by hate groups the more we limit our own freedoms and surrender ourselves to their hate. Instead of slinking behind the glass shield of political correctness, NASCAR should have explained why they would allow the 'General Lee' to take part in pre-race festivities. NASCAR should embrace their roots and embrace the fans that have vaulted the sport to the national spotlight. Instead of shying away and letting the Confederate flag become a symbol associated with racism, NASCAR should have stood up for itself, it's rights, it's fans, and sought to educate the public. All in all, we should be, as a nation, denying the hate groups these symbols and educate ourselves, and others, as to their original meanings.
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