Million Dollar Arms

Some of you may have heard about the two Indian pitchers who were signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. What you may not realize is exactly what they went through to get there.

This makes me curious to see how the sport carries over in India and abroad. For the most part, the sport is only on the radar in the western hemisphere. In any case, it's a good story and I wish these two guys the best.

Barkley supports the NBA dress code

It appears that Charles Barkley, one of my favorite opinionated people, supports the NBA’s new dress code. The dress code has not fallen into favor with many NBA players, including Marcus Camby, Stephen Jackson, and Allen Iverson. Iverson even went as far to say, “If you put a suit on a murderer, he’s still a murderer.”

While A.I. may have a point on that matter, Barkley had some even better points on Wednesday’s “Tonight Show with Jay Leno”.

"Young black kids dress like NBA players," he said. "Unfortunately, they don't get paid like NBA players. So when they go out in the real world, what they wear is held against them.

"See, these players make $10 to $15 million a year, so nobody cares how they dress. But regular black kids go out into the real world and how they dress is held against them.

"If a well-dressed white kid and a black kid wearing a do-rag and throwback jersey came to me in a job interview, I'd hire the white kid," he said. "That's reality. That's the No. 1 reason I support the dress code.

"From the NBA perspective, they've got a product to sell. They've got to make it as attractive as possible to fans, viewers and corporate sponsors.

"Dr. J [Julius Erving] told me years ago that we, the players, are the caretakers of the game. I think too many players today have lost sight of that."

He hears that Marcus Camby of the Denver Nuggets wants a stipend to buy clothes to adhere to the dress code, and Barkley cringes.

"Guys like that have lost perspective," he said. "What's he make, $8 million a year? It's like when Latrell Sprewell said he needed more than $14 million a year so that he could feed his family. Give me a break."

I personally agree with everything Barkley has to say on this matter. Years ago, Barkley had a commercial where he declared that he is not a role model. Obviously, he has seen the light on this issue. While he was right in saying that parents should be role models, kids do look up to athletes and celebrities and will often imitate what they do. Therefore, they hold the responsibility to not only dress right, but also act right off the court.

When I look at the incidents with Kobe Bryant, Jayson Williams, and Ron Artest, I often wonder what the public thinks of NBA players. I love the NBA, I love the game, and I know that 99% of these guys are not looking for trouble and are all around good guys. Still, people do judge. They see a young black man in a do-rag, a t-shit, jeans, and a few chains and the instant thought on most people’s brains is “thug”.

Allen Iverson has made his money off that image. If he wants to, he can still make his commercials in that image if he likes. But here’s a thought: I work in a grocery store, make $7.25 an hour, and I have to wear a shirt and tie to work. Why shouldn’t a professional athlete who makes millions a year have to? Either way, we’re both showing up to work.

B.E.Z.

I can't even predict myself sometimes

OK, here I am, I'm this big Cowboys fan like I was as a kid, and I'm rootin' hard for the Cowboys as they play the Eagles... a game the 'Boys won in blowout fashion. Only a few days later, I happen to catch Real Training Camp: Seattle Sonics on NBA TV and suddenly I'm back into my old Northwest mode, like the teams I rooted for when I lived in Florida no longer existed.

Sometimes, I wish I didn't live all over the country so that I could settle down on one set of teams. Not that it's that big of a deal, but, it would save me a lot of money on apparel.

This time, like other times, I say I'll stick with my teams. I even wore my Washington Huskies hat this past Saturday... the Huskies came in to Saturday at 1-4 and were 16 point underdogs to Oregon. Oregon eventually kicked the Huskies ass to send them to 1-5 going into their meeting with the almost invincible USC Trojans. YAAAAYE!!! But, this is an example of the dedication I have for this at this point in time.

All this from the same person that committed to stop smoking cold turkey when he was 17 that sent him into a week long bout with shakes and migranes. I guess if I can make it through that, then a third consecutive dismal Huskies football season is nothing right? Of course, since the Seahawks are whoopin ass.

B.E.Z.

NCAA bans use of Native American mascots

On August 5, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) made a decision to ban Native American mascots by any member university, calling the names "hostile and abusive". One of those universities is Florida State who bares the nickname the Seminoles, named after the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

The following was on the Florida State university website in response to this decision:

STATEMENT FROM FSU PRESIDENT T.K. WETHERELL

Florida State University is stunned at the complete lack of appreciation for cultural diversity shown by the National Collegiate Athletic Association's executive committee, which announced today a policy banning schools using Native American names and symbols from hosting NCAA championship events. That the NCAA would now label our close bond with the Seminole Tribe of Florida as culturally "hostile and abusive" is both outrageous and insulting.

On June 17, the Tribal Council of the Seminole Tribe of Florida spoke unequivocally of its support for Florida State University in its use of the Seminole name and related symbols. Accordingly, I intend to pursue all legal avenues to ensure that this unacceptable decision is overturned, and that this university will forever be associated with the "unconquered" spirit of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

National surveys have shown in recent years that an overwhelming majority of Native Americans are not offended by the use of Native American names and symbols. In making its decision, the executive committee has been swayed by a strident minority of activists who claim to speak for all Native Americans. It is unconscionable that the Seminole Tribe of Florida has been ignored.

The rules as we understand them would have us cover the Seminole name and symbol as if we were embarrassed, and any committee that would think that is a proper and respectful treatment of Native Americans should be ashamed.

I have a problem with this view. First of all, what about the Seminoles that live outside of Florida, for instance in Oklahoma? How do they feel about this? What is comes down to is that if these names offend anybody, then they should be removed.

We had a similar issue with the confederate flag flying over public buildings throughout the South. People took up issue with this because of the racial condentation involved with the flag. Even though the states involved said that this was nothing more than saying "We're proud to be southern", a lot of people did not see it this way, therefore the flag was removed in most places.

The only problem I have with the NCAA policy is that it only applies to postseason tournaments. This is where FSU and universities using names like them could have some manuverability in the court system.

Still, this was a bold step in the right direction by the NCAA.

B.E.Z.