Not that we’re surprised, but the NBA last week chose to throw the kind of look-away pass that made for a lost opportunity, the kind that would have made its All-Star Game actually count for something, for a change.
The hot new vulgar female rapper, Nicki Minaj, appearing on the Grammys, infuriated many to most Catholics and civil-minded folks of any and all beliefs by performing a dark, satanic number that included an elderly, white male escort dressed in full Papal regalia, apparently prepared to conduct an exorcism.
Designed to shock and create a stir, it shocked and created a stir. Ms. Minaj’s act seemed particularly tasteless and selfish given that it was performed on the night after Whitney Houston’s death, when even the most desperate scene-stealers and awards show vandals were moved to take this night off.
But just a few days later, here comes a press release from the NBA: The headline performer at this year’s NBA All-Star Game, live on TNT from Orlando, will be Nicki Minaj.
What a pity. The NBA could have issued Minaj a “never mind,” cancelled her appearance with a “maybe we’ll give ya a call next year,” plus a few words about how the “NBA values the sensitivities and dignity of all of its fans and employees,” and let Minaj and everyone else figure out the rest for themselves.
David Stern might have, could have, should have issued her what shows up on NBA final stat sheets as a “DNP (did not play) coach’s decision.”
But it seems some sensitivity and common public decency issues are more important than others. Sure, we all have feelings, but based on how and where the wind blows, some count more than others.
Besides, Nicki Minaj is a hot new rapper, likely to draw a good TV audience. What’s more important than that?
* How’s this for the open to a documentary? Manassas High School (Memphis, Tenn.) football coach Bill Courtney leans forward, toward his team, then says:
“Let’s see, starting right guard, shot, no longer in school. Starting middle linebacker, shot, no longer in school. Two players fighting right in front of the coach when he’s trying to make things work out. Starting center arrested for shooting someone in the face.
“For most coaches, that would be a career’s worth of [bleep] to put up with. But that about sums up the last two weeks for me.”
“The Undefeated,” a full-length documentary, opens this week in local theaters. It’s worth your time and money.
Cowardly Carton sidesteps Lin criticisms in chat
While we’re on the subject of basketball and religion, if WFAN’s Craig Carton wants to be a tough guy, then he should be a tough guy. His copout moments have become too frequent and too obvious for even his acolytes to excuse or ignore.
On Wednesday during his show with Weekday Boomer Esiason, Carton bemoaned the fact Jeremy Lin so often places God at the top when listing credits. Carton went on and on about how we don’t need another Tim Tebow, and how Lin should keep such things to himself.
Fine. He’s not alone.
But the next day, with Lin as a phone-in guest, it took quite a while for Carton to stop fawning long enough to bring up the religion issue — and then he completely removed himself from the equation, as if it were someone else’s issue.
“You have been compared, now, to Tim Tebow,” Carton said. Lin answered that he respects Tebow, is aware of his charitable deeds and is eager to meet him.
Whoa! The truth of the matter is that Carton had, just the morning before, compared Lin with Tebow — and in a highly negative manner. Carton, Mr. Tough Guy, failed to disclose that fact to Lin, nor to the audience that hadn’t heard his riff the previous morning.
To that end, Carton’s in the habit of copying the style popularized on WFAN by the discontinued team of Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, who would rip big shots before and after they interviewed them, but not during that interview.
Early in his WFAN career, Carton called for N.Y. Gov. David Paterson’s immediate resignation after Paterson admitted to an extramarital affair. Shortly thereafter, when Paterson was a guest, Carton was as sweet as pecan pie. Tough guy.
Jets include mailing fee with PSL invoices
So The Jets’ season subscriber, already having reached deep for three PSLs, last week received his 2012 invoice. His three end zone seats, at $125 each per game, cost $3,750 for 10 dates, including two exhibition games. Tack on another $250 for parking and the total comes to $4,000.
Ah, but the total came to $4,004 — a $4 mailing charge was tacked on.
Three PSL payments, two must-buy preseason games, $3,750 for three end zone seats, $25 per game to park and they couldn’t send the tickets without charging another $4? You know what Roger Goodell says, “It’s all about the fans.”
* Thursday we read four breaking Internet reports on the passing that afternoon of Gary Carter. But only one seized on that news for self-promotion. That’s right, ESPN’s.
The third paragraph of ESPN.com’s report read, “The Carter family has granted ESPN access to the family website to inform the public.”
Anyone and everyone — and all media — had access to that website, which was how the public was informed.
* The Knicks have signed J.R. Smith (below). Five years ago I moved to the Freehold, N.J., area where Smith grew up and still frequents. Seems everyone in town has a J.R. Smith story, none of them good.
Officially, some “highlights:” In 2007, while with Denver, he crashed a car belonging to Carmelo Anthony, with Anthony in it.
In 2009, he did time — and narrowly avoided a manslaughter charge — for blowing a stop sign and crashing into another car. One of Smith’s pals was ejected from his car and later died.
Before that accident, Smith had five driving suspensions and a pile of summonses for speeding. Since that accident, Smith has had several more driving suspensions and speeding tickets. And has missed court dates.
He also had his Twitter account suspended for writing what were identified to be Bloods gang messages. He also used Twitter to trash teammates. Fine fellow.