Jim Gray, asshole

Some NBA news, since even though my Sacramento Kings, as currently constructed, will not win a championship, I still am a fan of the whole hoop thing.

ESPN.com: Page 2 - White Magic in the NBA:

"...It seems the only one who cares that Larry Bird is white, is Larry.

No. 3, and somehow most disquieting: A couple of days before, in the run-up to Game 2 in L.A., Iceberg Jim Gray, who is a colleague of mine, a long-time acquaintance, was asking Shaquille O'Neal questions about the Finals and the Laker season, questions that don't get nearly as much media mileage as "Does the NBA lack enough white superstars, in your opinion?" Near the conclusion of Gray's interview with O'Neal, Gray asked O'Neal to characterize the Laker season; and O'Neal did, with the last word he used being "enigmatic."


Good word. O'Neal seemed to try to humorize his use of it by smiling and saying Jim might not feel the use of such a word was appropriate -- if, in fact, he knew what it meant. O'Neal was sort of diffusing his own use of the word, as if Jim would take it as inappropriate, not as a word -- it was exactly the proper word -- but inappropriate for Shaq to use.


The word seemed to throw Jim Gray, who said to Shaq, "Spell that."


I was stunned. Almost as stunned as when O'Neal almost defiantly spelled it perfectly. He's lucky Shaq responded. Responded? He's lucky Shaq didn't drill him. Luckily for Iceberg Jim, Shaq's not that type. Spell that? What is that supposed to prove?


Wait. Don't answer that. Somehow I think it's going to lead to a question about race. Iceberg Jim is not so innocent here; but then again, few of us are. I do wish we'd stop infecting others, though. The moral here, if we can find one under the pile of horsecrap: Don't ask people if they think there should be more white superstar ballers (when they are right under your nose) without asking if there should be more black superstar lawyers, doctors, and sports interviewers who can spell "enigmatic."


Good freaking word, Shaq. Thank you"

I'm with you Wiley, what an inflammatory fucking question to ask. Shaq may be an athlete, and a black one too, but this doesn't mean that he is ignorant. I would have cheered if Shaq had slapped Jim Gray in his smug face, or more appropriately for Shaq, if he walked off the set right then. Read the rest of article here for more about Larry Bird's comments about white players vs. black players, and the serendipitous 'arrival' of Luke Walton. I am a long time "Laker hater", but even I was impressed by young Luke.