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ESPN Sucks 3rd Version
- Thread starter KOAB
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Tom Jackson Is Leaving ESPN
"Apparently, ESPN only re-signed Trent Dilfer after it appeared that Jackson was taking off."
"Apparently, ESPN only re-signed Trent Dilfer after it appeared that Jackson was taking off."
Mr. S£im Citrus
Representing Blacks Without Soul since 1975
LeBatard talked on the show today about Delle Donne coming out, which transitioned nicely into what I thought was an interesting conversation about male athletes coming out. Naturally, Michael Sam came up, which led to a sub-discussion about whether Sam made it easier or harder for male athletes to come out.
Unsurprisingly, Stugotz's hot take was that, if you're supremely talented, like a LeBron James, it doesn't matter whether you're gay or not. And, while that may be true, the larger point that LeBatard was trying to make, and which I agree is a more interesting conversation, is whether being supremely talented should have to be a prerequisite to getting an opportunity in sports, if you're an openly gay man? I mean, I'll stick to basketball, here, since I can't really speak intelligently about other sports, but I think we all can agree that, if Anthony Davis had come out as gay while he was still at Kentucky, he would have still been drafted. Looking back at the 2012 draft, he probably still would have gone #1 overall. But, what if Kyle O'Quinn had come out as gay while he was a senior at Norfolk State? Does he still get drafted? Can an openly gay, marginally talented male athlete get drafted to play a professional sport in the United States, or would it have to be a guy who was projected as a superstar?
LeBatard's timeline was full of guys talking that noise about "If Michael Sam were any good, he'd be in the league," or some variation thereof. But, I'm like, there are benchwarmers on every team, in every league, in every sport in the world... Are you confident enough to stand behind the idea that all of those guys are good enough that being openly gay wouldn't have been a roadblock to them making it? Because I'm not. Like, question for the footbaw fans on the board (which is, basically, everybody besides me): think about the practice squad guys for your favorite team. How many of them do you think even get a tryout if they're openly gay?
Unsurprisingly, Stugotz's hot take was that, if you're supremely talented, like a LeBron James, it doesn't matter whether you're gay or not. And, while that may be true, the larger point that LeBatard was trying to make, and which I agree is a more interesting conversation, is whether being supremely talented should have to be a prerequisite to getting an opportunity in sports, if you're an openly gay man? I mean, I'll stick to basketball, here, since I can't really speak intelligently about other sports, but I think we all can agree that, if Anthony Davis had come out as gay while he was still at Kentucky, he would have still been drafted. Looking back at the 2012 draft, he probably still would have gone #1 overall. But, what if Kyle O'Quinn had come out as gay while he was a senior at Norfolk State? Does he still get drafted? Can an openly gay, marginally talented male athlete get drafted to play a professional sport in the United States, or would it have to be a guy who was projected as a superstar?
LeBatard's timeline was full of guys talking that noise about "If Michael Sam were any good, he'd be in the league," or some variation thereof. But, I'm like, there are benchwarmers on every team, in every league, in every sport in the world... Are you confident enough to stand behind the idea that all of those guys are good enough that being openly gay wouldn't have been a roadblock to them making it? Because I'm not. Like, question for the footbaw fans on the board (which is, basically, everybody besides me): think about the practice squad guys for your favorite team. How many of them do you think even get a tryout if they're openly gay?
Mickey Massuco
wipeoff
I agree with that in theory, but the thing with Michael Sam is that he couldn't even cut it in the CFL.
Mr. S£im Citrus
Representing Blacks Without Soul since 1975
That's still looking at it on the micro level, rather than the macro level. Like, what's the demarcation point? What's the lowest level of talent a player would be allowed to have to be openly gay and play in the league?
That's why I specifically asked about the practice squad players on your favorite team: I'm not qualified to argue whether or not Michael Sam is talented enough to "cut it" in the NFL, or even the CFL, and whether Michael Sam is or not is kind of besides the point. I presume that we're all in agreement that the star of the team could be gay, and still in the league; what about Towel-Waver-Guy, though?
That's why I specifically asked about the practice squad players on your favorite team: I'm not qualified to argue whether or not Michael Sam is talented enough to "cut it" in the NFL, or even the CFL, and whether Michael Sam is or not is kind of besides the point. I presume that we're all in agreement that the star of the team could be gay, and still in the league; what about Towel-Waver-Guy, though?
Mickey Massuco
wipeoff
That's what I'm saying, if Michael Sam were straight he still wouldn't be good enough to make the NFL. But yes, odds are if practice squad players came out as gay that would make things harder, and in some situations they might not make the team when they otherwise would have as a straight man.
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A lot of coaches wouldn't want to deal with the media circus depending on the player's talent level as well. If somebody who were gay (or even bisexual) but was backup talent probably would have a harder road to get drafted nevermind stick on a 53 man roster. I still think Sam could've made a practice squad for an NFL team if he were straight and didn't have the media circus around him but I don't think he could've stuck in the NFL more than a couple years at most.
I think we (LGBT community) legit would need a superstar or at least a very obvious starter level caliber player to come out and stick on a team before lesser caliber players can do so. See the NBA and Jason Collins as well for an NBA comparison to Michael Sam.
I think we (LGBT community) legit would need a superstar or at least a very obvious starter level caliber player to come out and stick on a team before lesser caliber players can do so. See the NBA and Jason Collins as well for an NBA comparison to Michael Sam.
Mickey Massuco
wipeoff
wow espn really desperate for those ratings.
wasn't this guy on wwe?
wasn't this guy on wwe?
Baby Shoes
Baby Shoes
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he was but they didn't let him have the shitty haircut ESPN does
plus his most memorable moment in wwe was melting down on an internet exclusive show
plus his most memorable moment in wwe was melting down on an internet exclusive show
Mickey Massuco
wipeoff
Barnwell goes through history from the early 20th century to the present, anointing various athletes throughout history as the 'best american athlete champion'. Even came up with a belt!
http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/17303175/best-american-athlete-championship-belt-best-athlete-sports-history-michael-jordan-michael-phelps-babe-ruth-tiger-woods-united-states
respect to giving Randy Moss a title run in 2007. But I gotta say, the steroid rule is dumb considering a lot of the guys he picked were probably on roids.
http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/17303175/best-american-athlete-championship-belt-best-athlete-sports-history-michael-jordan-michael-phelps-babe-ruth-tiger-woods-united-states
respect to giving Randy Moss a title run in 2007. But I gotta say, the steroid rule is dumb considering a lot of the guys he picked were probably on roids.
Mr. S£im Citrus
Representing Blacks Without Soul since 1975
ESPN got me with the okey-doke yesterday: when I found out that they were going to have an all-female episode of Sports Reporters, I was intrigued. When they introduced the host and speakers at the beginning, and they all mentioned a topic relevant to women's sports, I was like Papi LeBatard in this piece: ¡Sí, sí, I'm very intrigued!
Then they spent the next thirty minutes talking about football...
Then they spent the next thirty minutes talking about football...
Mickey Massuco
wipeoff
why do you hate football anyway? I don't think you've ever explained.
Byron The Bulb
Byron the bulb
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First episode of Skip's new show did a .09. Lol.
Mickey Massuco
wipeoff
post/av
Mr. S£im Citrus
Representing Blacks Without Soul since 1975
Second time this week that LeBatard has used "Glorious!" as his rejoin music.
As to the football question... I don't really feel like typing up a big wall of text that describes the thirty-odd years of history that goes into why I hate football, so let's just pretend that I did, and skip to the tl;dr answer:
Because.
As to the football question... I don't really feel like typing up a big wall of text that describes the thirty-odd years of history that goes into why I hate football, so let's just pretend that I did, and skip to the tl;dr answer:
Because.
Mr. S£im Citrus
Representing Blacks Without Soul since 1975
Eh, fuck it, I'll allow it. It was sorta funny.
That said, I wouldn't watch women's football, either.
That said, I wouldn't watch women's football, either.
JHawk
Thank You, Fuck You, Bye!
Right, because that's the problemMFer said:
Star Ocean 2
Star Ocean 2
The ESPN LA station is dumping Dan Le Batard's show for a new Keyshawn Johnson morning show. Between this and Kellerman gone, there is now no reason to listen to 710. Guess I gotta listen to the podcasts in my car now!
Mickey Massuco
wipeoff
White Sox wins don't count for Cubs fans.