For those of you who read Newsweek, its cover story pointed out that ESPN's Page 2 Jemele Hill played a significant role in getting Don Imus's comments to a large audience. It's surprising to me that ESPN has been so under the radar in acknowledging this, especially with Page 2 being so quiet nowadays. Understandably, though, because of ESPN's ties to ABC, they probably don't want people thinking that their journalists are going around savaging hosts from the competition. (Imus worked for CBS radio and MSNBC TV, if I am not mistaken). Here's the exact quote:
"...Young black journalists were among the first to demand that Imus be ousted. Thursday evening, one day after Imus's comments, Jemele Hill, an ESPN reporter, posted the Media Matters link on the National Association of Black Journalists' e-mail list... In a matter of hours, black journalists in newsrooms across the country were clicking on it, and getting angry. The next day the NABJ demanded an apology from Imus, then called for him to be fired."
Read them for more of the surrounding text.
Also, I received a bit of notoriety here for my Gilbert Arenas SuperStars Be post. It's fair; if I'm going to write a post with strong opinions, I expect to get them back. But just to clarify; I love nerdiness and geekiness. I love late bloomers and underrated prospects. Just look at my Shay Doron post as an example.
Coming from anyone else, my post would be Gilbert-hating. Coming from me, it's excess affection that should make Gilbert double-lock his door as a precaution and hope that I'm not a big John Amaechi fan, ha.
Showing posts with label Page 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Page 2. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Women's Sports Week: Tall Girls Tall Girls Whatcha Gonna Do?
Apologies to http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Inner-Circle/Bad-Boys-Theme-From-COPS.html, of course.
LZ Granderson had an article titled "Big Girls Need Love Too" (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=granderson/070323&sportCat=ncw) He said the following and got similar quotes from his interviewees: "A life handcuffed by low self-esteem because she's taller than everyone else in class. A life so desperate to be liked that she'd rather be promiscuous than continue being alone...Basketball gives larger women a place to belong and often starts the healing process from years of psychological abuse."
Aside: Is it me, or has Page 2 suddenly improved? Frankly, since Whitlock left, they haven't had a good football writer. So October-February, I spent a lot of time clicking on the site, muttering about my wasted time under my breath, and departing. Much better now, though.
So what do you think? Is it really that bad, tall(er) females of the world? Do short girls have all the fun? My impression was that for females, tall is ok, fat is not in American culture. (Not saying it's right, by any means; I'm just saying that seems to be the cultural norm.) Personally, height is good: I like it when I can see eye-to-eye with a woman, literally. But maybe it is tough for tall females (and short males, which is an ENTIRELY different can of worms) out there. Look at this poor girl: I found this video linked to from CSTV.com.
Now some people are arguing as to whether the rim is really 10' or not; she makes it look so easy! But I'm more concerned about her as a human being. She just doesn't look that happy. Almost as if she's being exploited as some sort of freak show. At the end, I think she smiles. But it is worrisome.
Others, however, seem to be quite pleased with their height. This woman refused to have her growth stunted and is now a star volleyball player:
So anyway, blog readers, give me some feedback on this one, I want to know. In our American culture, do taller females have a harder time than shorter females when it comes to being appreciated and respected? And I mean, in general, not just sports. When it comes to sports, do you really think that sports will help taller females with self-esteem? Or that the athletic options just make things worse, and make the females feel exploited for their height?
LZ Granderson had an article titled "Big Girls Need Love Too" (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=granderson/070323&sportCat=ncw) He said the following and got similar quotes from his interviewees: "A life handcuffed by low self-esteem because she's taller than everyone else in class. A life so desperate to be liked that she'd rather be promiscuous than continue being alone...Basketball gives larger women a place to belong and often starts the healing process from years of psychological abuse."
Aside: Is it me, or has Page 2 suddenly improved? Frankly, since Whitlock left, they haven't had a good football writer. So October-February, I spent a lot of time clicking on the site, muttering about my wasted time under my breath, and departing. Much better now, though.
So what do you think? Is it really that bad, tall(er) females of the world? Do short girls have all the fun? My impression was that for females, tall is ok, fat is not in American culture. (Not saying it's right, by any means; I'm just saying that seems to be the cultural norm.) Personally, height is good: I like it when I can see eye-to-eye with a woman, literally. But maybe it is tough for tall females (and short males, which is an ENTIRELY different can of worms) out there. Look at this poor girl: I found this video linked to from CSTV.com.
Now some people are arguing as to whether the rim is really 10' or not; she makes it look so easy! But I'm more concerned about her as a human being. She just doesn't look that happy. Almost as if she's being exploited as some sort of freak show. At the end, I think she smiles. But it is worrisome.
Others, however, seem to be quite pleased with their height. This woman refused to have her growth stunted and is now a star volleyball player:
So anyway, blog readers, give me some feedback on this one, I want to know. In our American culture, do taller females have a harder time than shorter females when it comes to being appreciated and respected? And I mean, in general, not just sports. When it comes to sports, do you really think that sports will help taller females with self-esteem? Or that the athletic options just make things worse, and make the females feel exploited for their height?
Saturday, February 24, 2007
ESPN Page 2 Ombudsman: Pearlman and Buckheit
MC Bias started paying attention to sports on-line because of ESPN Page 2's launch, and read ESPN Page 2 almost exclusively for about 3 years. Crazy? Yes. But I go way back with them, and thus, I'd like to offer my services as an ombudsman. Hey, George Solomon is busy enough taking care of the ESPN TV blunders.
Good: Maybe it's simply the work I've seen, but most of Jeff Pearlman's work screams "I'm smarter than these dumb jocks", an attitude I abhor in sportswriting. He picks easy targets like Bonds, Rocker, and homo-hater athletes and hammers them as if he's providing society a courageous service. However, for once he has decided to show a deserving athlete some appreciation. His article gives Ken Griffey Jr. respect as the best clean hitter of his generation. Wonderful article, once you get past the Bonds-bashing. Ok, Jeff, we get it, you're smart and not easily taken in by Bonds' attitude...just like 90% of us. Get over yourself.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=pearlman/070222
Still, though, Jeff's Page 2 Profile pic looks a LOT like Ben from the Others. That may not be so forgiveable:
Bad:
After Mary Buckheit hints in an article that her sexuality is not purely hetero (apparently, her favorite letters in MCBias are the middle two), her bosses choose her to interview the previous "Page 2 Hottest Female Athletes." What a terrible idea, beginning with the fact that your favorite Biased Blogger wasn't chosen to lob softball questions at Jennie Finch.
Seriously, it's odd enough if it's the same gender interviewing women (or men) about how attractive they are. You wouldn't want to read Bill Simmons asking Tom Brady what makes him so attractive, would you? It's worse when each question asked makes you wonder "hetero Mary or homo Mary?". It's just confusing as can be not knowing which it is, and dreadfully awkward.
On the other hand, I appreciate the women themselves (Jennie Finch, Amanda Beard, and Heather Mitts) in the interviews. They are not only attractive but genuinely level-headed and charming. That's RARE for good-looking females (and males) to be socially adept, funny, and humble. (The obligatory PSA; if you are such a female and you are angry at my sterotypeing against the good-looking, call 1-800-MCBIASNOW. Really, I want to change my Biased ways, my stereotype is due to my upbringing, and only you can rehabilitate me. :-p )
Good: Maybe it's simply the work I've seen, but most of Jeff Pearlman's work screams "I'm smarter than these dumb jocks", an attitude I abhor in sportswriting. He picks easy targets like Bonds, Rocker, and homo-hater athletes and hammers them as if he's providing society a courageous service. However, for once he has decided to show a deserving athlete some appreciation. His article gives Ken Griffey Jr. respect as the best clean hitter of his generation. Wonderful article, once you get past the Bonds-bashing. Ok, Jeff, we get it, you're smart and not easily taken in by Bonds' attitude...just like 90% of us. Get over yourself.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=pearlman/070222
Still, though, Jeff's Page 2 Profile pic looks a LOT like Ben from the Others. That may not be so forgiveable:
Bad:
After Mary Buckheit hints in an article that her sexuality is not purely hetero (apparently, her favorite letters in MCBias are the middle two), her bosses choose her to interview the previous "Page 2 Hottest Female Athletes." What a terrible idea, beginning with the fact that your favorite Biased Blogger wasn't chosen to lob softball questions at Jennie Finch.
Seriously, it's odd enough if it's the same gender interviewing women (or men) about how attractive they are. You wouldn't want to read Bill Simmons asking Tom Brady what makes him so attractive, would you? It's worse when each question asked makes you wonder "hetero Mary or homo Mary?". It's just confusing as can be not knowing which it is, and dreadfully awkward.
On the other hand, I appreciate the women themselves (Jennie Finch, Amanda Beard, and Heather Mitts) in the interviews. They are not only attractive but genuinely level-headed and charming. That's RARE for good-looking females (and males) to be socially adept, funny, and humble. (The obligatory PSA; if you are such a female and you are angry at my sterotypeing against the good-looking, call 1-800-MCBIASNOW. Really, I want to change my Biased ways, my stereotype is due to my upbringing, and only you can rehabilitate me. :-p )
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