For a couple days now, Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari has been teasing fans with a #44 jersey, asking them to figure out where he’s sending it. If it were a recruiting ploy, it would be fantastically popular - and, of course, riotously illegal in the NCAA’s eyes. So that wasn’t it. Who’s getting el double cuatro, then?
(Um, Mr. Calipari, you may want to “vacate” this decision.)
Oh, him. Yes, Barack Obama is our President, and how you feel about his job thus far probably directly coincides with your party allegiance. And unfortunately for Calipari, he now coaches in the middle of Kentucky, and if there’s one thing they hate, it’s some Barack Obama. Commence Internet meltdown!
From the LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, Calipari quickly learned why you never, ever mix sports and politics:
Apparently enough fans objected to the gift that the UK coach felt compelled to post an explanation on his Facebook page.
“Folks — I think everyone is missing my intention of sending a jersey to the President,” Calipari wrote. “There was NOTHING political about it — it was simply a way of spreading the word of Big Blue Nation into the White House! I apologize if I offended anyone — that was not my intention. I know politics and sports don’t mix, but a friend offered to give [Calipari’s book] “Bounce Back” to the President and we figured we could send along a jersey as well.”
In case your memory’s sharp, you’ll recall this isn’t the first time Obama’s affiliation to sports has caused a rift, though this time Obama didn’t even have to do anything.
The tone of protests on Calipari’s website and Facebook page got so negative that Calipari had to start erasing comments, which always goes over as well as a fart in church. Even Calipari’s web staff had to step in.
Two hours after his apology, Calipari made another post explaining why critical fan comments had been removed from the Web site. David Scott, the editor of CoachCal.com, said fans used “bad language” in their postings.
When asked if the fan objections could be linked to racial or political factors, Scott said, “You can probably draw your own conclusions. There’s a lot of opinion out there.”
Ahem, Cats fans. You should probably be thankful Scott refused to sell you out, because we’re pretty damn sure he’s directly referring to the dreaded Neutron Bomb, which you never, ever drop if you want to be taken seriously. It’s worse than Godwin’s law (another point of decorum that seems to have gone out the window as of late).
And look. As a friend’s bumper sticker once said, “I don’t have to like the President to love my country.” By that same token, you don’t have to like the President to respect the Presidency. There’s a basketball fan in the White House now, and the Kentucky coach is making a polite gesture to him. There’s nothing inherently bad about that. Let’s just chill and worry about things that, y’know, matter.
12:22 pm on September 8th, 2009
It never fails, the same people who are probably calling the president the “N” word are the same one’s who will be cheering the players on the team who looks like him. Hypocrisy is as American as, well we all know!!
2:02 pm on September 8th, 2009
Manster,
What? I’m half Korean and Black and I disagree with O’s views. Typical…so if you don’t agree with him you must be a racist…who is stereotyping people now?!?! You caught me, I hate my other half…WOW!
4:05 pm on September 8th, 2009
^ - definitely racist
12:32 am on September 9th, 2009
Dude. Don’t use Hines’ name like that. And genuine disagreement with policies does not preclude rampant racism, which does not preclude extreme partisanship. There are plenty of reasons to disagree with Obama. But it’s pretty clear a large portion of those disagreements, such as the birthers, are completely consumed by race and the fear of losing America to minorities.
1:22 am on September 9th, 2009
You’ve got to be kidding me! Why is this small segment of the population allowed to wreak havoc in every sphere of our society. The man is President of the United States. So what if he was sent a uniform? My God, the man can’t even tell kids to stay in school or get a uniform without these morons sticking there heads up and screaming. These are the same inbreds that showed up at Sarah Palin rallies.
2:53 am on September 10th, 2009
Kris G:
But it’s pretty clear a large portion of those disagreements, such as the birthers, are completely consumed by race and the fear of losing America to minorities.
JohnnyCakes:
These are the same inbreds that showed up at Sarah Palin rallies.
Why on the Left is there the constant need to label peoples and call them names. Does it make them feel better by doing so? I don’t know.
And…….
It’s people like that there is the continuing problem we have in regards to race discomfort. We as a country can only and finally move on when we stop the labeling, grouping and name calling.
We are the UNITED States of America. We can’t continue with the infighting. It’s a small miracle that we’ve made it this far. It sure is a good thing that this Democractic Republic we share has such amazing resolve.
12:34 pm on October 23rd, 2009
Maybe it’s not ‘the left’, but just a bunch of open-minded people that know racism when they see it. It doesn’t have to be political for me to defend someone from crazy, angry bigots. And before you say there is no racism involved, I AM FROM TENNESSEE!!! Remember all of the TN GOP’s openly racist acts? “Barack the magic negro” and the pic of the presidents with floating eyes in black space for Obama? Is there REALLY any debate as to whether that is racism or not? No, only denial.
I hope some of these black kids realize ‘the commonwealth’ is no Memphis when it comes to welcoming black people. You do know that recruits read the news, right? Have fun in KKK land, coach Cal! Do you really want to play for these kind of fans, Mr. Wall?
7:35 pm on October 23rd, 2009
Neale,
The Tennessee GOP’s racist acts??? Ahh, another left wing liberal that thinks he can call racism just because someone dares to disagree with all of the crooked ass left wingers throughout this country who ply the race card up as much as possible over small incidents but then use it to their advantage when they feel like being racist by saying “minorities are incapable of being racist”. Sounds to me like you’re the racist. What’s a matter Neale and Kris G? Why are you so openly racist to white people for simply trying to stick up for themselves in a world of racism towards anything non minority?? Pooor minorities, so mistreated……go f*** yourself you anit white crack smoking c***s.