Watch your language
I made a rare visit this afternoon to a few Internet message boards related to the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets, just to see what the fans were thinking about Game 4 of their first-round playoff series.
I have come to a conclusion.
Some people are crazy.
I'm not saying that in a ''ha-ha'' sort of way. There is a lunatic fringe out there who think they can say anything about anyone while hiding beyond the Internet's shield of anonymity.
Don Imus was fired - and rightfully so - for saying poisonous and hurtful things about the Rutgers women's basketball team. But some of what I read today on these message boards makes Imus sound like a Rhodes Scholar. It's one thing to criticize Jerry Sloan and Jeff Van Gundy. It is another thing to call a person - any person - whatever vile names pop into one's mind.
It's one thing to complain about the production of Tracy McGrady, Andrei Kirilenko, Memo Okur, Yao Ming or the players on the Houston bench during an NBA playoff series. It's another thing to take off on a vulgar rant that has little to do with those players' job performance.
It's one thing to be a basketball fan who can't wait for your favorite team's next game. In fact, my job exists - on the most basic level - because of the public's interest in sports. But it's another thing to roar like a lion with a thorn in his paw, knowing there's nothing your prey can do about it.
I made a promise to myself a few months ago - when some sports-talk radio guys were giggling with sophomoric delight after Barbaro was finally euthanized - that I would never listen to that station again. I just didn't see the humor over the fact that an undefeated Kentucky Derby winner broke down on the race track, struggled against all odds to survive for eight months but finally succumbed to its injuries despite the 24-7 efforts by some of the most dedicated vets imaginable.
I have kept that promise to myself and, today, I made a similar vow. No more message boards. Who needs 'em, except those in search of the self-importance they must desperately need?
- Steve Luhm
I have come to a conclusion.
Some people are crazy.
I'm not saying that in a ''ha-ha'' sort of way. There is a lunatic fringe out there who think they can say anything about anyone while hiding beyond the Internet's shield of anonymity.
Don Imus was fired - and rightfully so - for saying poisonous and hurtful things about the Rutgers women's basketball team. But some of what I read today on these message boards makes Imus sound like a Rhodes Scholar. It's one thing to criticize Jerry Sloan and Jeff Van Gundy. It is another thing to call a person - any person - whatever vile names pop into one's mind.
It's one thing to complain about the production of Tracy McGrady, Andrei Kirilenko, Memo Okur, Yao Ming or the players on the Houston bench during an NBA playoff series. It's another thing to take off on a vulgar rant that has little to do with those players' job performance.
It's one thing to be a basketball fan who can't wait for your favorite team's next game. In fact, my job exists - on the most basic level - because of the public's interest in sports. But it's another thing to roar like a lion with a thorn in his paw, knowing there's nothing your prey can do about it.
I made a promise to myself a few months ago - when some sports-talk radio guys were giggling with sophomoric delight after Barbaro was finally euthanized - that I would never listen to that station again. I just didn't see the humor over the fact that an undefeated Kentucky Derby winner broke down on the race track, struggled against all odds to survive for eight months but finally succumbed to its injuries despite the 24-7 efforts by some of the most dedicated vets imaginable.
I have kept that promise to myself and, today, I made a similar vow. No more message boards. Who needs 'em, except those in search of the self-importance they must desperately need?
- Steve Luhm
5:21 PM
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1 Comments:
Don Imus was hired to be a professional. We jazzfanz pay to see these athletes play. Last time I checked...speech is free! Our opinions change on the hour anyways;)
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