Truthfully, I didn't want to discuss it at all. However, beyond the double-standards that came about in regards to Serena Williams' outburst, previous experience in the music 'business' compelled me to write the post. There have always been musicians who have skirted, if not obliterated the line of public decorum; Kanye West isn't the first and certainly won't be the last. Yet, with all of the commentary about the recent spate of anger from some public personas, no one mentioned how the music world isn't exactly going to slap him on the wrist for being such a jerk. The lack of accountability in that so-called business is astounding, but society hasn't exactly demanded such from its artists, either.
And we're moving on...
Since this Scribe will be away all of Saturday and early Sunday, there will be little activity until Sunday night; in time for the NBC-broadcasted tilt between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. Because this is quite an interesting weekend in the sports world, here are a few quick thoughts to go along with one or two links of suggested reading.
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NYG in Big D: For some reason, the New York Beacon did not have this week's edition on the website. However, if you're not within the Boroughs to purchase it (or just haven't done so), here's part of the preview I wrote for that Sunday Night battle in Arlington. For those fantasy geeks, this might help you decide who to start or sit:
As mentioned, Dallas poses a different threat at running back with the trio of Marion Barber III, Tashard Choice and Felix Jones. Barber provides power and excellent pass catching ability while Jones – who missed most of his rookie season in 2008 with a broken foot – has blazing speed as a rusher and returner. Choice has a blend of both deceptive power and quickness. If it sounds familiar, they are likened to the two-year stretch of Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw and former Giant Derrick Ward.
In their 34-21 win in Tampa Bay, Dallas’ Tony Romo had a stellar game by throwing three touchdowns and 353 yards from just sixteen completions. Despite the passing fancy the Cowboys had, it’s easy to envision a greater emphasis on running the ball against the Giants. Barber had just 79 yards and the Cowboys had just 118 total; but they spent more time exploiting the Buccaneers’ secondary. Expect the ‘Boys to run plenty to not only test (linebackers Antonio) Pierce, Chase Blackburn and Danny Clark, but to give New York’s rotating defensive linemen few opportunities to get near Romo.
Read: Judy Battista, NYT - Lions Have Changed Everything So Far but the Mindset of Fans, Matt Bowen, National Football Post - Why the Friday practice is crucial in the NFL
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Fight Night: If you've seen the latest installment of 24/7, you probably know that Juan Manuel Marquez made a rather... unique (1:17)... addition to his training regimen over his last few fights. No matter how much of it he partakes or how much time off his opponent had taken in his retirement, the battle between Marquez and Floyd Mayweather Jr. is going to be a pretty solid fight.
The theme of this fight is Marquez's added weight and Mayweather's timing. The Money May camp has been pretty upfront about how the time away will affect him (not at all) while it is hard to determine what kind of affect the additional pounds of muscle will have on Marquez.
This is all stating the obvious to the fight fans, but Marquez is argualbly the best fighter Mayweather has ever faced. Mayweather is an overwhelming favorite in this bout, but as Kevin Iole pointed out in one of his preview pieces, Oscar De La Hoya was in the same position last year against Manny Pacquiao. A nearly similar situation presented itself then as well, with the naturally smaller Pac-Man absolutely destroying the active-inactive-active again Golden Boy.
Read: Fightnews.com - WWE's Triple H to walk with Mayweather
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Is 'Da U' back?: Usually, someone will make a claim that a certain sport is better when its most popular team is in contention, if not the frontrunner for a league championship. In college football, it has been believed for years that Notre Dame has been that program. Yet, with essentially 13 years of irrelevance, the sport has thrived without the Fighting Irish being the star pupil in the classroom. USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and Florida have been the marquee programs over much of the time, but there was something special when the Miami Hurricanes were at the head of the class.
To say that their 2-0 record against both Florida State and Georgia Tech is the beginning of the program's return to prominence is a big stretch, especially knowing that Virginia Tech and those Sooners are on deck for the next two games. Yet, watching the 'Canes for much of the previous two decades was like watching the first two rounds of the following year's NFL Draft. There was no question that most of those guys playing on Saturday would be running the fields on Sundays.
Read: Joe Drape, NYT - Earning Her Stripes in College Football ; Manny Navarro, Miami Herald - Could Canes be on path to national title in '09?
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Lock Out: It seems that the American sporting public is far more concerned about an impasse in labor negotiations in the NFL than in any other sport. Well, the reality has come about for the NBA as it is locking out referees.
If this story hasn't registered to you until now, don't worry. Beyond the basketball scribes, the tussle (no one brawls in baseball anymore) between the Yankees and Blue Jays essentially Kanyed actual sports news. Yet, this is a scary proposition because basketball referees are notorious for questionable officiating.
Has there ever been a day when one can appreciate the zebras for what they do? If both sides of the table can't come to an agreement by the start of the NBA season, that day will come in mere weeks.
Read: Jeff Fox, SLAM - 1996 NBA Draft Remix
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Finally, a baseball question: was there a point in releasing next year's preliminary schedules earlier this week? Beyond shuffling interleague opponents and alternating which teams in other divisions visit once or twice a year, you know who your favorite teams will play next year; the same ones they've played for decades.
Read: The Onion - Derek Jeter Honored for Having Fewer Hits than Harold Baines, Style Points - Moving out of the Metrodome and into the Technodrome
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