"taking a stand" - not of civil rights proportions,... but for one's self? Yea, you can do that. To dispute a metaphor is just weird. Using blurry, re-mixed videos to support an argument is lame. It's high school. He's a kid. He threw a ball. Everyone there who knew him, loved it. The ref bump? Imagine if people really went flying like that when brushed up against... picture a subway station... lol. He's been talked about for years, and was on the cover of basketball magazines before he hit grade 12. He was so hyped... i mistakenly told a friend recently "he's in college somewhere" - because I thought with all that hype (I read about years ago) he had to be by now.
Where's bishop when you need him? Once Mayo gets shot, arrested for something or other, and/or gets involved in an on-court melee he will show up. Every time I stay out, they pull me back in. YingYang, I actually believe kids like you are far worse than kids like OJ. Your statement above indicates ignorance and nothing more. This is what African Americans are referring to when they say racism still exists everywhere. You assuming that this kid, because he's Black, will eventually be shot, arrested or involved in some other form of unacceptable behavior (even when black men are shot it is due to there unacceptable behavior, see Sean Bell ) is the epitome of racism. Now I know from past experience that you or one of your rescuers will come along and say that's not how you meant it, that you meant "if" he gets involved in something Bishop will be along. However your statement is undeniable. OJ at his young age must be confident because he has to overcome kids (and adults) at his school just like you. The racists that assume he will end up something other than successful or the ones that say "yea your good, but know your place BOY". Some of those racists use to say the same thing about a young kid named Cassius Clay when he would proclaim "I MUST be the greatest". One fool said OJ was like T.O. and another said "he might end up like Maurice Clarett". WTF? Who here knows this kid personally? OK, I'll rephrase that, who here has ever been a 17 year old African American? Ahh a panel of experts I see. Why does OJ have an attitude? If he wants to be great, he's suppose to. "Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill." "It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself." "What's my name, fool? What's my name?" What Ali kept yelling while winning a 1967 decision against Ernie Terrell, who had insisted on calling him Cassius Clay. "Eat your words! Eat your words! I am the greatest." Muhammad Ali shouting at reporters who had dismissed him as a loudmouth and a fake before his fight with Sonny Liston. "It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am." "I am America. I am the part you won't recognize, but get used to me. Black, confident, cocky -- my name, not yours. My religion, not yours. My goals, my own. Get used to me." -Muhammad Ali (speaking for every Black child that has chosen sports to get out of the ghetto over selling drugs or being a rapper.)
Bishop you missed my point entirely. What I was refering to is your habit of stepping into threads only when one of the afore metioned instances happen (you've commented in threads involving all three). I was in no way assuming that Mayo is going to end up involved in those things because he is black, I said it because your past history indicates that you would be more likely to comment if he did. Here is what I should have put at the end of my previous comment. Once Mayo gets shot, arrested for something or other, and/or gets involved in an on-court melee he will show up. Sarcasm!
I must have missed the sarcasm tag, because it just seemed like you were calling Bishop out for doing nothing at all. Hopefully, I missed the <fake_smackdown> tag on Bishop's response. Also, the triply oversized "Sarcasm!" would be overwrought for Lady MacBeth.
Out! Out! Out damn sarcasm!
Bishop, Why would you in a round about way accuse Ying Yan of racism. Do you know him personally? Maybe I'm not all here but I did not read anything in his comments that even approached a racial overtone. The fact is he complimented OJ as much as he criticized him. I think you were the one that brought race into the picture. I don't think race has even been mentioned since this topic was listed a few days ago. I was under the impression that we were discussing a young and very talented high school basketball player and his statments made in regard to receiving cell phone calls, not the history of Muhammad Ali. By the way Ernie Terrell never did call him Muhammad Ali. That said I want to thank you for your definition of a champion. I noticed the quotation marks around the statement and was womndering where you got it? would you please advise. I would like to pass it on to my team of young African American and Caucacian basketball players. it was truly profound.
sportsnut, I did a search of quotations and couldn't find anything on that. However, i did find a T. Alan Armstrong quote which goes like this....."Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character."
Why does OJ have an attitude? If he wants to be great, he's supposed to. Probably true, but it's nice to see the occasional superstar athlete who retains a little humility. If I had Mayo's skills I'd throw the ball in the stands after every basket and make my college coach do my laundry.
I think you were the one that brought race into the picture. No, race was in the picture long before Bishop joined the thread.
I just hope OJ Mayo doesn't end up like OJ Dingo.
By the way Ernie Terrell never did call him Muhammad Ali. After that fight, he didn't have to. The only thing he was concerned with was why he couldn't remember his own name. He was brutally put in his place for his transgression. From that moment on, every time Ernie went to the store, the mall, the doctors office to get his lumps checked, how many times do you think someone said, DAMN you should have said his name. I can picture him now, sitting in the locker room after the fight, with his head hung low whispering, "at least I didn't say his name", and then someone suggesting, "maybe you should have". Maybe I'm not all here but I did not read anything in his comments that even approached a racial overtone. When a person suggests that a African American teenager will "sooner or later" end up arrested, shot, or be involved in some sort of disorderly conduct, and you come along and say you don't find any racism in that, there is no need for me to attempt to explain why an African American would find jail, guns, or violence references racist. Most stereotyping=racism. Get it? All the " " in my previous post were from Ali.
Bishop we have had several arguements. I just want to make it clear to you that I am not racist, not now or in the past. I do understand that sometimes I may word my comments in such a way that it can lead to assumptions, but I always try to clarify it.
Bishop, we have had some arguments in the past. I just want to make it clear to you I am the world's greatest lover, Olympic sprinter and the actual Kennedy assassin.
