Your Black Politics: Did Tiger Woods Pave Barack Obama's path?

Did Tiger Woods pave Barack Obama's path? Are you joking?
By: Dave Zirin
Originally Appeared In NY Daily News

It's always dangerous, but never boring, when a newspaper sports columnist uncorks a political thesis. Enter Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel. Bianchi thinks that there are some unsung heroes who deserve credit for helping put a black man in the White House - and they are athletes. "If you're searching for tangible reasons why it became possible for Barack Obama to make his historic run at the presidency ... look no further than the golf course, basketball court or football field."

Bianchi believes that, since sports have conditioned white America to accept African-Americans as heroes and leaders, black sportsmen deserve a pat on the back. He wonders: "Where else but sports can you go to Amway Arena and see 15,000 mostly white fans cheer and celebrate the accomplishments of a team that is mostly black?"

Sounds lovely. But it happens to be embarrassingly wrong - and an insult to the reason that millions waited on long lines to cast their vote.

For more than a century, masses of white audiences have cheered black entertainers and athletes. And for most of that time, blacks struggled mightily to climb the corporate or political ladder. Why? Because being wowed by the ability of blacks to perform on a field or stage is not in the same ballpark as accepting their political leadership. Not even close.

More to the point, the rare black athletes who have dared to make waves have been pilloried for not knowing their place. After men like Jack Johnson, Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith and John Carlos got too political, the phrase "just shut up and play" emerged - to smack down future jocks for trying to do more than entertain.

This is not just a hypocrisy of the musty past. On Thursday, Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall caught the winning touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns. He then - horror of horrors - wanted to take out a black and white glove to make a statement. "I wanted to create that symbol of unity because Obama inspires me, our multicultured society," he later said.

But we will never know how the public might have received even this tame message because teammates, led by Brandon Stokely, put the kibosh on him. Commentators then came down on Marshall like blitzing linebackers. ESPN anchor Neil Everett said, "It's not about you and what you think. It's about the team."

Our sport-mad culture has hardly softened the ground for black political leadership. If anything, it's produced a value system that prizes material gain and the almighty scoreboard over any kind of collective responsibility.

This is seen even more clearly when we look at the three figures that Bianchi holds up as the most crucial trailblazers: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy.

Bianchi writes, "the two most successful product pitchmen of the modern era - Tiger and Michael Jordan - are both black men who won over white corporate America." But at what cost? These are also the two most aggressively apolitical athletes to ever walk the earth. They live by the creed that taking serious stands gets in the way of good business. If anything, Obama has had to overcome the racial landscape these two have charted, which says you must wear the cool mask and betray nothing.

Dungy is a different case. One of the most respected coaches in the NFL, he is also an evangelical Christian who has raised funds for the Indiana Family Institute. IFI organizes anti-gay marriage initiatives and takes part in the process of what's called "praying the gay away."

In fact, when you think about it, Woods, Jordan and Dungy - signifying respectively disengagement, corporate greed and the right-wing side of the culture wars - hold the values many voters wanted to repudiate.

No doubt, black American athletes unafraid to be political will be part of charting us out of this wilderness. But it will not be those content to be money-making sideshows when the main stage is a real-world battle for change.

Zirin is author of "A People's History of Sports in the United States."

Your Black Power: Black Athletes in Beijing: Demanding Courage in an Age of Complacency

By: Tolu Olorunda

It was in 1968(many years before my birth) when Tommy Smith and John Carlos (two track and field athletes) stepped up into glory and history, with their display of the Black Power salute at the crowning ceremony of the 200 metres event. Tommy Smith and John Carlos were on a mission, and not even the fiery words of then-USOC President, Avery Brundage - "I don't think any of these 'boys' will be foolish enough to demonstrate at the Olympic Games" - could halt their cultural-momentum. They understood quite precisely, that Black bodies had played an historical role, as the sacrifice and offering often used to contain the indefatigable demands of European pride, prestige and angst. They were much-too-aware of the unnatural relationship between sports and society, and the political-lingo which athletic-competition speaks so fluently. Having endured the unsettling contradiction of being openly admired, but subjected to segregated facilities in their home country and abroad, Smith and Carlos felt indebted to the history and heritage that shaped them. It wasn't an exhibition, but rather an exercise; a revolutionary exercise that words could not justly articulate. They lived in America long enough to anticipate the subsequent ramifications. They had personally witnessed the gross and unjust decision to strip the Boxing Heavyweight of The World, Muhammad Ali, of his hard-earned title, as a result of his courageous refusal to be drafted and "quarrel" with Vietcongs who had 'never called him nigger.' Smith and Carlos were 'racing against a machine' that had repressed their innately political voice, and exploited their struggle for financial-empowerment. It was a time to send a clear signal of courage, hope, defiance, love, pride, sincerity and frustration. The resultant pain (ostracism, criminal surveillance, death threats, arson, loss of loved ones) and profit (community support, international recognition, the unmasking of white supremacy) would only be a further motivation to justify the timely call for a revolution of values within the American public. With the precedents set by Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Tommy Smith and John Carlos, one would imagine that Black activism within the athletic realm could only soar much higher, but in an age where complacency is the name of the game, many Black professional players are rather rich, than respected. Some of them have proven to be an unmitigable embarrassment to the struggle that procreated them.

Black activism in many areas of western life has been radically rebated and extinguished of its historical vigor. This was very much evidential, earlier this year, when a Golf Channel commentator joked about a possible lynching of Tiger Woods, and received a mere two-week suspension -- with Tiger calling it "a non-issue." In a day and time where the noose has made nearly 80 public appearances within the last one year, one would expect more from a dark-skinned Golfer, who inevitably swims in the river of prejudice - whether overt or covert - with each moment spent on the Golf Course. The surprise generated from his actions were largely unwarranted, as not much should have been expected from a man who openly expresses admiration for the Oil and Energy beast, Chevron, saying, "Chevron has a track record and a commitment to bettering the communities where they operate." The corporatization of Black athleticism is - without a doubt - the chief culprit in the muzzling of progressive voices within Professional Sports -- especially with regard to those dominated by Blacks or people of culture. The NBA is filled with brilliant and gifted athletes, and if given the opportunity, will speak eloquently about the tragedies that afflict those to whom no spotlight is granted.

LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar is a delight and disappointment in many ways. His skills are nearly unparalleled to none, and at a mere 23, his future seems to be anything but bleak. Nevertheless, the young man has never shied away from lending credence to big-name industries which have, on a continuous basis, burglarized the community from which he emerges. Perhaps naiveté and lust are the driving force behind this tragedy, but James has a track-record of pushing the limit on stupidity in an unprecedented way. In 2007, his then teammate, Ira Newble, drafted a petition to the Chinese Government, in condemnation of its participation in the Darfurian genocide. The petition was signed by all members of the Cavalier bench, with the exception of Damon Jones and LeBron James. Damon Jones, having signed a marketing-contract with the Chinese shoe-manufacturer, Li-Ning Sports, probably felt compelled to submerge his virtue and instead pursue his vice. LeBron James, joined-at-the-hip to a $90 million contract-deal with China-infested Nike, claimed to be ignorant of the issue at hand, and therefore unable to sign his name to any piece of data that isn't officially mandated by David Stern. Perhaps we should interrogate Prof. James on how knowledgeable he was, vis-à-vis the technicality of the NBA, before his soul was purchased at a premium price. As the Chicago-bred Emcee, Lupe Fiasco, once remarked, "Mama said beware of what the devil do/ Tell 'em that your soul's not for sale like the W's." Mr. James was also caught, last year, in a squabble with fellow ball player, Stephon Marbury. Marbury had just partnered with Steve & Barry's University Sportswear stores, to launch an affordable line of sneakers. The cheapest of the "Starbury" line was priced at $10 and averaged at $14.95. Stephon Marbury - in spite of his unpredictable past - was largely larded with praise and adulation for stepping outside of the corporate box, and presenting a different perspective to inner-city kids. Marbury spoke of growing up poor, and unable to afford the latest sneakers - which have been predominantly overpriced - as the prime-motivator for his remarkable initiative. When asked by reporters, as to whether he took delight in the exemplary work of the Starbury line, James replied foolishly, "No, I don't think so... Me being with Nike, we hold our standards high." LeBron James's comments reeked of unadulterated idiocy. One is forced to wonder where such impassioned statesmanship was, when Ira Newble was circulating that petition which could have put an end to the killing and mutilation of 400,000+ people who look like him. That testosterone-filled emotion seems to always come in handy, whenever his financial security is being threatened. The man who refused to sign a petition that delineated concern for the lives of everyday folks, was unrestrained in hollering, "Sit your ass down," at his loving mother who arose in defense of him at a playoffs game with the Boston Celtics. While I plead for some testicular-fortitude from our well-payed athletes, it must be made clear to Mr. James and his fellow star-athletes, that the Black community is not demanding anything in return, other than a worthy-exchange for the billions of dollars which young Black and Brown kids have dispensed and discharged into the corporate empires that made him and his counterparts instant millionaires.

With recent reports that document the efforts of certain Chinese "Public Security Bureau officials" to ban Black and Mongolians from bars, and several accounts of police brutality against Africans living in China, one can only hope that the progressive voices of professional athletes, such as Jessica Mendoza of Team Darfur, is not muted or muzzled. Ernie Paniccioli, the legendary Hip-Hop photographer and Human Rights activist, has called for "rallies, protests and a boycott of any products advertised during the Olympics and letters to the sponsors, letting them know Human Rights are more important than gold medals." Unfortunately, it remains unclear, as to how many athletes have the courage to carry on those 'non-marginal' tasks. One of such progressive athletes is Nia Abdallah, a 2004 Silver-Olympian Taekwondo fighter, who is speaking out against an unjust ruling that denied her the opportunity to fight in Beijing 2008. She believes - along with 90% of those who’ve watched the videotaped match - that she was robbed by corrupt judges who had been ordered to award the Olympic qualifying match to her opponent, Diana Lopez -- from the "Lopez family" aka "the first family of Taekwondo. Abdallah proclaims to be fighting against the injustice that corrupts the bulk of professional sports, and hinders fair-play within the region. She has garnered national and international support in her battle against the USOC, and hopes to rid the system of the back-door deals that purposefully swindled her -- in favor of establishing history and publicity with the victory of her opponent. With the resilience displayed by Abdallah, there seems to be a thread of hope worth hanging unto. But I'm also persuaded that the majority of big-name athletes are like politicians: Unwilling to fight without a push from a dissatisfied constituency. It is incumbent upon activists, sport-fans, progressive-athletes, historians and intellectuals, to harness whatever resources are available, in the demand for more courage in this age of complacency.

Tiger Woods is the Miracle Man: Greatest Performance Ever?

With unbearable pain and three unforgettable shots, Woods turned in one of his most memorable performances in a major Saturday by holing two long eagle putts, chipping in for birdie and somehow taking a one-shot lead over Lee Westwood.
Right when some 50,000 fans at Torrey Pines thought they had seen it all, Woods knocked in a 30-foot eagle on the 18th for a 1-under 70 and his first 54-hole lead in the U.S. Open since he won at Bethpage Black in 2002.
That he made it to the finish line was nearly as impressive as a magical array of shots.
His tender left knee first buckled on the 15th hole, and Woods used his club as a cane to get down the fairway, limping along while trying to stay in the hunt. He played the final six holes in 4 under - and that included a bogey - and will play in the final group for the sixth time in the last eight majors.
This time he has the lead, and he has never lost a major from the front.

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Tiger Woods Top Earning Athlete in America: Lebron and Mayweather on List Too

Tiger Woods was the top earning athlete in America, hauling in $128M last year. He was followed by another golfer, Phil Mickelson. Most of the athletes on the list were African-American, including Shaquille O'neal, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and others.

Most of the athletes who earned the top money reached that spot through celebrity endorsements. For example, of the $128M earned by Tiger Woods, only about $22M of that was earned by playing golf. Wow, now we understand why they are so politically castrated!

One can wonder if the days of a Muhammad Ali will ever come back, or Jim Brown, athletes who actually used their power for a cause. Not in this America, not anytime soon.

The rest of the list is here