Friday, December 12, 2014

My Favorite Thing Tarnished




Culturists, I am a bit pissed and heartbroken.  The basketball team I have loved all my life - the Los Angeles Lakers - have worn "I can't breathe" shirts.  They have taken a stand against law and order.

I can cut Kobe Bryant some slack, he took a lot of heat for refusing to join in bashing Zimmerman and lauding Trayvon. He always promotes patriotism at the Olympics. But, not every team wore "I can't breathe" shirts.  They did so under Kobe's leadership.

Perhaps I can just see them as trendy misguided youth.  But, it does take the mystique out of THE LAKERS to see them as just another group of half-wit leftist idiots, who happen to wear the greatest uniform of all sports.  And, if they are a group united against me politically . . . well, it is complicated.

www.culturism.us

8 comments:

midnight rider said...

Respectfully have to disagree with you here old friend.

This was a free speech matter and non-disruptive (unlike New York which was still ok as it was peaceful assembly) or Ferguson (which most definitely was not).

What happened to Eric Garner was far different than what happened to Michael Brown.

In Garner's case I disagree completely with the Grand Jury. In Ferguson I do not.

You don't have to agree with James or the other players but they have a right to their opinion and making it known as long as it is peaceful.

Charles Krauthammer put it better here:

Always On Watch said...

When I attend an apolitical event or activity, I want that apolitical event or activity to remain apolitical.

For example, I recent went to a lecture given by author Stephen King. I was dreading what political/societal matter he might decide to discuss. Relief! Not a political reference of any kind; he did what I was hoping he would do, i.e., discuss the craft of writing.

Epaminondas said...

Professional basketball - NEARLY ALL crybaby spoiled thugs, irrespective of race, nationality, or religion. I don't know why.

I can watch college ball, but after 1969-72 Knicks ( 2 great guards, a Rhodes Scholar, future senator, and TWO valedictorians- one with eidetic memory) it just went all downhill for me with this sport until the strike, which saw some these goons complaining about not being able to maintain pmt on their CAR COLLECTIONS

Anonymous said...

Midnight Rider, No problem on disagreeing. And, I disagree with you on the Eric Garner decision. It was not an intentional homicide.

The thing is that they are not commenting on the specifics with those shirts. They are approving the narrative wherein white cops are harassing innocent black youth. They will not wear shirts about the CIA leak next. They are identifying with black victims only, at the hands of whites.

Always on Watch, I agree. Otherwise, as with me, you alienate 1/2 your audience. If they came out with 'I am Darren Wilson" shirts, it would be just as obnoxious. I'd support it. But others, . . .

Epa, I am going your way more and more.

Thanks for your work guys / gals and Happy New Year!!

Culturist John

Anonymous said...

If Mitt would have stuck to his guns with the 47% speech, that would have been great! He may have lost, but at least he would have stirred conversation.

Right now we have only one narrative coming out of the media and the politicians - white privilege and victimology for all else.

I hope one of the candidates in the next cycle leaves the platitudes behind for a moment.

Perhaps that is all we can ask for!

Anonymous said...

You're still watching sports?

Unknown said...

Well, I only watch one team, The Lakers. And, I justify it as a stabilizing force in my international life as well as being a sport I play regularly, so I am not just a couch potato. Truthfully, I just watch game highlights as games aren't available in Korea. Still, yes, it takes some justifying. And, I do watch sports.

Pastorius said...

When I was in my 30's, I went back to college and got a second degree. At the time I was a Sales Manager for the Western Region of the United States. Full time job, travel and 9 units a semester in classes.

AND I NEVER MISSED A SINGLE LAKER GAME IN FOUR YEARS OF SCHOOL AND WORK.