The Double Whammy

You probably do not know who Dave Zirin is. However, I have blogged about him before after he made one of the stupidest predictions I have ever heard... or, if you listen to him, he would probably say that he was just reporting was his "sources" were telling him. He was full of shit then and he is still full of shit.

So what am I talking about?

Well, he was a guest on The Rachel Maddow Show last night talking about the LeBron James decision to join the Miami Heat.

Here is a excerpt of what he had to say:

You're gonna look at the Miami Heat this fall and you're going to see the future of the NBA. Three superstars who are lorded over and then a bunch of players who are extras who make the league minimum and, you know what? Basketball is the ultimate team game, this is not how you win championships.

Hmmmm... first of all, who knew that the league has enough superstars so that every team will have three of them?!? Regardless, do you know what else came across the ESPN ticker later that very same night:

Mike Miller to sign with Miami Heat for 5yr/$30m.

and this:

Travis Outlaw agrees to terms with New Jersey Nets for 5yr/$35m

If you know who Travis Outlaw is... congrats you're an NBA fan. You also know he is not all that good (he's been in the league 7 seasons and has 32 career starts. That means he has started less games in his career than Derek Anderson.).

Chris Hayes (also from The Nation) was filling in for Rachel Maddow. He swallowed Zirin's bullshit whole and regurgitated it right back to him with this analysis:

So you have this situation where the Miami Heat and NBA basketball will be reinscribing the political economy of the U.S. The vanishing basketball middle class. And you have this sort of superstar economy with a few very, very well compensated tended players and the rest. This is the stake through solidarity.

Dave Zirin's reponse: "Exactly."

Ummm... is now a good time to mention that Brendan Haywood signed this week for 6yr/$55m? Is it okay if I point out that he is 30 years old and has career averages of 7.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game?

So, note to MSNBC: if you're going to talk about sports... please call upon someone who actually knows what he is talking about! (Hint: my shift supervisor at Applebee's is willing to give me time off for television appearances. Even on basic cable!)

* By the way, the "double whammy" referenced in the title of this post refers to going with both the "Stupid" AND "I Call Bullshit" tags. Congrats Zirin... you are indeed a pioneer!

Bullshitter of the Week

This award goes to Dave Zirin, Sports Editor of The Nation.

Because on Friday's broadcast of 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann', Mr. Zirin was asked by Keith's stand-in (Lawrence O'Donnell) the following question with regards to a statement posted on Tiger Woods website which indicated he was taking an 'indefinite break' from golf:

Q: What is "indefinite" in the world of golf? Two months? Four months? A year? What?

A: People in the know are saying they think it's a year but no one knows for sure. It's worth telling your audience, Lawrence, that this is almost without precedent though. Remember, athletes are not pundits or actors. There is a very finite period in which they can make their money and in which they can win the prizes and the trophies; and for an athlete to take themselves out of commission in the middle of their prime for a year? The only comparison I can think of is Michael Jordan in 1993 following the death of his father.


Okay, indulge me while I go over all the flaws in his answer.

First of all, who are these "people in the know" to whom he refers? Something tells me this jackhole does not have an insider with Team Tiger. I'd love to place a wager on this. I'd bet big money Tiger is back for The Masters.

Secondly, I don't paid to know sports but I can come up with some names that have temporarily left during their prime (John Riggins sat out the 1980 season, Kim Clijsters 'retired' to have a baby only to return a couple years later and win the 2009 U.S. Open, Justine Henin is returning (as did Jennifer Capriati before her), and how about Sugar Ray Leonard 'retiring' at age 26 only to return a year later... followed by his other retirements and returns).

Third, his comment about 'athletes are not pundits or actors'. Yeah, no shit. But his contention that athletes have a 'very finite period...', well according to Forbes, Michael Jordan earned $45 million in endorsements in 2009! So, I would argue that Tiger will be marketable for a long time after his prime.

And, finally, and this actually relates to #2. I came up with names that have left their sports in their prime only to return after a year plus absence... but I really should not even do that... because IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN with Tiger Woods. We'll see him in Augusta in April 2010.

Conclusion: Dave Zirin... You're my Bullshitter of the Week. Congratulations!