ESPN offed Colin Cowherd for a “racist” rant. ESPN and Colin Cowherd should be ashamed and blamed.

Neither party was honest...

Cowherd should not have been pasteurized, but he should have been paddy whacked first for apologizing, second for saying sorry via Twitter – a completely awful format to express comprehensive thoughts, and third for utterly misstating or misdiagnosing what he is sorry for.

He tweeted: I did not intend to offend anyone w my comments...

He HAS TO know someone, somewhere, somehow will take offense at even the “apple pie, peace not war, I love mom, save the planet” voiced views. So he’s either a dough-head to think no one would be irked by WHATEVER he says, or he’s as stupid as they come for believing same...or he didn’t think through his tweet.

After all, did he not write a book: You Herd Me! I'll Say It If Nobody Else Will?  And he is pleased as punch with the new beer brewed in his name: “Blunt, N’ Bitter”

 So he should plead the fifth for being frightfully forgetful of his own formulations and fulminations...or contemplate his mental incapacity – or mendacity.

But what a difference a day makes! On July 22nd he gives his explanation for leaving ESPN. He talks about expanding his horizons, and how the parting, after 10+ years, was amicable, and how ESPN offered him a great new contract, but he was inspired to fight complacency and embrace risk. He says he made the decision to leave ESPN. On July 23rd he talks of the Dominican Republic’s academic prowess. On July 24th ESPN cuts him off. He castigates the editing of his 57 second statement into a 16-second-edited-out-of-context “racist” rant.

Now, no matter the day, for all those who castigate Cowherd’s commentary as racist, take a flying leap. If he slurred anyone, he slurred a country, not a race, for the Dominican Republic, and its baseball players are made of races, not a race. An estimated 73% of Dominicans are of mixed race, 16% have a white European background, and 11% are black. Get your critique right, all right?

And ESPN should do a “balls” check, first, for cowering over a worker’s on-air opinion and second, for sending that worker to the nether regions. Be a sport. Do the sporting thing. Roll with the punches, suck it up, take the hit and stand by your man. Geez...

Why should someone have to disappear for life (or at least until that someone starts at FOX on September 8th) because of a startling, possibly incorrect, - or correct - observation?

Blue Jay slugger, Dominican José Bautista, didn’t call for Cowherd to be cow-belled out of town. José thinks Cowherd implied “...ignorance or stupidity...”

Major League Baseball, an outfit that really hasn’t come to grips with the 40-inch forearms gripping bats and blasting baseballs into orbit during the steroid era, hasn’t come to grips with Cowherd. They intoned Cowherd’s contents were “...completely inconsistent with the values of our game.”

The values of major league baseball have included, or at least coincided and partially abided with, cheating with drugs, cheating with stealing signs, cheating with spitting on baseballs, cheating with gambling. They should not have gone all hoity toity when they’ve been dirty in pig slop, and should have, rather, issued a statement, saying: “Cowherd’s comments are his own.” A blanket denunciation makes them sound stupid.

And don’t bring in the values of the game, period. Baseball’s values are completely separate from the Major League Baseball organization and for that group to try to attach itself to baseball the sport, as its guardian, is inappropriate and insulting.

The players’ union took a whack with the bat. They said his comments were offensive. Yes, yes, we know, the statements might be deemed offensive to some, but again, so what? In highlighting Cowherd’s thoughts they’ve shone the spotlight on the Dominican Republic’s failings or faults, real or imagined.

On the other hand – maybe this is one of those “teachable moments.” Perhaps baseball executives, managers, coaches, and players, from the Dominican or elsewhere, are lacking in smarts. Maybe the DR needs to brush up on its ABC’s as well as their batters deal with brushback pitches.

Essentially the reactions to Cowherd’s commentary should be: was he right or wrong? Disagree or agree with his ideas – but back your opinion back with facts, data, graphs and stats, then perhaps throw some theory in there and some philosophical musings. Forget the peripherals of offensiveness, or intemperate bluntness, or a poorly phrased point – these considerations are window dressing to the goods in the store. Is baseball, and the DR lacking in intelligence?

Basically, no way.

Ironically, ultimately, Cowherd and the herds haranguing him may be off the mark and missing the bigger point.

Unlike the NFL – with its X’s and O’s, or NBA – with its diagrammed, programmed plays,

the MLB baseball players, to a pitcher, hitter, fielder, or reliever, often need to hone their talents, mentally and physically,  in the minor leagues – in A, AA, or AAA ball – often for YEARS. It is a hard game to master, if one wants to play competently at the highest level in the USA.

New York Post’s, Phil Mushnick, got on his high horse and said things, I thought, were nuts. Of his six nouns describing Cowherd’s bit, I agreed with one. Three I disagreed with, two, I could see where he was coming from, but basically I don’t want Mushnick mushed out of town. Sure, I think his first paragraph in his July 26th piece is largely garbage, but

 too bad so sad

 – for me.

But his opinions engage. Let’s hear him out, perhaps give him the benefit of the doubt for at least debating and deliberating, rather than death-sentencing Colin. Phil speaks from the heart, if not from the head...Leave him be. He has the right to be wrong – or right – as the case may be.

As does Cowherd.

Objectors, conscious or comatose, take a break. Read Dan Le Batard’s take. Try a shrug or give a hug, for we are entitled to speak and think, unashamedly.

That’s major league.

In the greyhound racing world they all can’t be Shakey Jakey. This dog rules Australia. There, on a damp chilly evening in April 2014 in Wentworth Park, he smashed the course record for 520 meters, by 2/10th’s of a second, blazing it in 29:07 seconds. He won by some 21 lengths!

It was his first race - ever. How does one top that? They don’t. They go to into retirement. Shakey Jakey “sustained a shoulder injury in the catching pen after the race.” His racing day, days, were done. Tragic, maybe. More on Shakey Jakey later...

Greyhound racing detractors claim the industry is tragic – for the dogs. The dogs stay in jail (kennels) all day and night except when racing. One dog-adoption owner said they were penned up 22 out of 24 hours. Other sources say they are let out four to six times daily. Either way, not much of a life for these speedsters. You’d think that a dog that can mach out at 43 (some say 45) miles per hour would be treated nobly.

For they are, in fact, a noble breed. Historically only nobility could own one...Today, Bo Derek, star of the Movie “10” must think these dogs rate the same score, she has several retired racers.

Unfortunately, for those dogs not adopted after their racing careers are done, or are not used to breed – are, alas, done in. In Australia approximately 20,000 pups are born per year. In that same year an estimated 18,000 greyhounds are killed, according to Animals Australia.

Modern greyhound racing was introduced into Australia in 1927. Betting, of course, plays a large part in fan appeal, but followers also appreciate how this beautifully sleek dog, weighing in at around 60 to 70 pounds, can run like the dickens.

Want to adopt one? Should you do so, keep it inside, except for exercise. If they are kept outside in chilly temperatures, because of their low-fat frames, they’ll freeze. With respect to indoors, betcha didn’t know that a greyhound is well suited to apartment living!

At about nine years old, they’ll slow down, but watching them walk, one can only marvel at how delicately they do so, paws softly feeling the pavement, sensing the surface with caution and care...

 Greyhounds, generally, are sensitive, gentle, and intelligent. Moreover, they aren’t yappy. But they do like to lounge around: be prepared to share the couch. It’ll be loyal to it, and to you. It loves being petted. And walked – on a leash. It will not come back on a call if released, for its instincts are to run and chase. But they don’t need oodles of exercise, being built for speed, not marathons. Phew.

Another phew - they won’t slobber and they don’t have a strong odor. A fantastic: they can see backwards, to the tune of a 270 degree radius.

Looking backwards in time, it was the Egyptians who really put this animal on the map. As far back as 2900 BC the dog was immortalized, carved onto tombs. Maybe they could tell that the cheetah, a cat, and the greyhound shared similar spine flexibilities, conducive to their warp speed capabilities. No other dog has such spinal capabilities...

Another secret to their speedy successes is that they sprint in a circular succession. Their double-suspension gallop features all feet off the ground, but when they do touch, it is first the front left leg, then the front right leg, followed by the rear right leg, then the rear left leg – that’s the sequence. It’s too hard to tell watching at normal speed – but in super slow motion – it’s still hard to tell, but amazing to watch. They can also catch Frisbees with their mouths like nobody’s business and they can soar/fly over fences – brown colored greyhound - Cindy - in 2006, set the record and raised the bar, literally, to 68 inches!

Owners of this even-tempered dog will tell you the new secrets to their successful lifestyles. When walking one, they’ve learned that people are immediately enamored with it. People meeting people, engaging in conversation – chatting – not texting – thanks to this compassionate canine.

Now, there are some downsides to the breed. They can suffer from bloat, hypothyroidism and tumors of the long bones...But these ailments pale in comparison to the life of blight, according to the RSPCA, many dogs experience while racing. 

More than likely, however, the picture behind the racing industry is not as bleak as naysayers claim.  Undoubtedly some breeders and trainers mistreat their racers – but most don’t for they want their dogs healthy to run well. Some, yes, suffer from neglect when not racing, but others, the lucky ones, one supposes, get whirlpool time and rubdowns after a competition.

In fact, some dog racing owners seem almost decent, if not quite human. They’ll tell you track and industry conditions vary depending on the individual track and the individual country’s traditions for the sport. This owner who races greyhounds tells and shows a story diametrically opposed to the animal activists’ ones...In his world, the dogs come first. He adds, they love to run – and are not prodded, electrically or otherwise, to do so. His dogs appear healthy and happy. Veterinarian charts detail any aches and pains an animal may have. Blanket criticism of the industry is puerile, as is across-the-board praise for the sport.

Let’s close with top dog Shakey Jakey. How’s he doing? Well, minutes after that race the first offer to buy Shakey Jakey came in – at $500,000. Trainer David Pringle turned it down and turned the dog to stud at the Rocky Ridge Farm.

So far, about 50 bitches have been served...so definitely, in some ways - if not in many ways - it is, ahem, a bitch of an industry.

 

 

 

 

Andre De Grasse is the dream sprinter for Canadians to forget the nightmare Ben Johnson. Andre is that country’s best since Donovan Bailey tore up the track in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

This new phenom, who won the 100 and 200 at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto, is not built like a Mack Truck, like Johnson was. He’s only 5’10”. He may not be on drugs like Johnson was. He runs super fast, maybe not 9.84 Bailey super fast, but he’s just a kid. Barring injury the speeds should improve.

America gets to enjoy this kid’s rise too. He’s attending the University of Southern California. He’s on a scholarship, majoring in Sociology, when not racing around.

Like many youth in Canada and the States, however, De Grasse admits he was going nowhere fast. But he got a break. He booted up and the Milliken Mills high school student tried out for track – and caught the eye of famed Canadian sprinter of yore, Tony Sharpe.

Of course let’s not think us so-called great high school athletes can really relate to Andre. Truly, how many of us, wearing loose shorts, and from a standing start, can run a 10.90 in their very first 100-meter race? Hmmm? Like none of us?

Andre’s life, and perhaps Tony Sharpe’s, who took a bronze medal in the ’84 Los Angeles Olympics in the 4 x 100, were changed forever after his jaw-dropping-hair-raising sprint debut. For Andre, after tutelage from Sharpe, had his self-confidence grow, and now had a positive direction. Because, as mentioned, De Grasse declared he had, prior to his sprint career, “...been going down the wrong path.”

Now his path leads to double trouble.

For competitors.

We can’t call them all also-rans yet, but Andre obviously runs the 200 meters like blazes too. In fact his 20.16 in the 200 is one of the fastest times for 2015. What makes Andre so atypical is not only his stellar times, but he gets these without great starts off the blocks. Anson Henry, another ex-sprinter from Canada, pointed that fact out when viewing Andre in a qualifying heat before his eventual win in the 100, at the Pan Ams, in a time of 10.06. He also says Andre’s lean frame, so unlike the deeply and densely muscled torsos of many, “doesn’t have the power per se, but he’s very elastic, he’s very bouncy.” He’s clearly a great finisher and Henry adds if he’s within arm’s length of the leaders out of the blocks, he’ll beat most of the top sprinters at the finish line. Donovan Bailey’s impressed at how Andre can hold his top end speed.

Now, back to drugs.

Will Andre run “clean?” Can he stay off the path of synthetic anabolic steroids, such as Stanozolol, that sealed Johnson’s fate, turning him from deity to disaster, instantly? (Andre has taken drugs, he admits – but party drugs, when hanging with that bad crowd, before his running career began.) If anybody can keep De Grasse on the straight and narrow, it could be Sharpe. Tony admitted to the Dubin inquiry, to steroid use. But he saw the error of his ways and is now a much respected sprinting mentor in Canada. He’s a great example of how one can turn their life around, without the need of stimulants.

(And Andre feels extremely predisposed to heed the wisdom of his USC Track coach, Caryl Smith Gilbert. She, along with Quincy Watts, assistant coach, sprints, were the main reasons he opted for USC. His path to possible world-beating sprinting would seem to be in good hands with these two, and Sharpe.)

His mother, Beverley, succinctly sums up Sharpe’s role in her son’s turnaround from dead-end kid to major-meet threat: “You saved his life...”

For track fans everywhere, we should be thankful. Sharpe says Andre De Grasse is the best pure talent he’s ever seen, and that includes Ben and Donovan, and will run amazing times going forward. Mark this down. The kid from Markham (Toronto) now at USC will be history in the making.

Andre’s near-term goals are awesome, awe inspiring. He wants to run under 10 for the 100 and 20 for the 200 – this 2015. To run that hot? How cool would that be?

Next stop: Beijing IAAF World Championships, August 22. There, he’d be running (should he qualify through the heats) against the likes of Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and America’s Justin Gatlin: The big boys. The fastest boys. The experienced-in-excellence boys.

And we have to do a sidebar here. We gotta talk drugs again. Approach the bench, athletes.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has heard via ARD, a German Television channel and the world’s largest public broadcaster, that there exists a database of IAAF athletes showing 5,000 of them have revealed, via 12,000 blood tests, extraordinary levels of blood doping. So far, elite athletes in events from the 800m up to the marathon seem to form the bulk of the 5,000. (Let us hope sprinters are paying attention to this bad news and stick to apple, orange, or grapefruit juices. No “juicing” of any other kind.) And the finger seems to be pointed primarily at Russian and Kenyan athletes. Australian doping experts, Michael Ashenden and Robin Parisotto have checked some of the stats and added this bombshell: “At least a third of the medal-winners at world championships and Olympics between 2001 and 2012 had given suspicious tests.”

Let’s finish on a high note.

If Andre De Grasse, with just three years of competitive sprinting under his belt, who is still “learning the blocks” – can make it there in Beijing, he can make it anywhere. He could dash in a flash into prominence - via his own untarnished power - to his own unvarnished glory.

Now that would be a dream. A super-speed story.

Watch a dog turn around three times before lying down.

Then, interrupt its near bliss, become a dog walker. How? Tell the dog ANYTHING, add in the word: walk – and watch the dog bound up – and watch your agility, dexterousness and multi-tasking capabilities grow as you walk that dog, or several dogs - at once - while they pull, sniff, growl, hesitate, whimper, and go about their "business" in every which way!

Now, if you are not up to dog walking for your own dear-old-dawg, or for a living - for god’s sake, try to vet the prospective handler for your pooch.  One lady in New York, back around June 2015, had a dog walker take her Pit Bull out.  He did so, literally, selling the dog for Angel Dust.  Now Pit Bulls are beasts, and the drug dealer probably salivated at doing this deal because...

Actually, the dog walker, Tommy Doerr, is accused of this swap. He’s not convicted. But he is being sued. And Sugar, the mutt, was sold to a few drug dealers.  Perhaps, however, the most important and discouraging thing to come out of this story is that Doerr had walked Sugar for THREE years before he went off the deep end (he calls it an unexplained psychotic episode) and went for the shallow gratification of dealing a real live - lowdown dog  for a real dead end - drug induced high.

Forget dogs for a moment, who can explain people? Who can explain why owner, Morgan Bogle, offered a $10,000 reward for Sugar's return? The picture of Sugar shows the dog to be as unhandsome as all Pit Bulls are.  Why offer more than $10 for a bag of jaws that bite – and shake – like a shark?

Maybe Doerr had the three-year itch and dumped the dog, like first-time married couples dump each other. Sugar, apparently, was not without merit. The long gone, doggone dog was a rescue dog.

Let’s drop Doerr and Bogle and the Pit Bull – but we’ll get back to the Pit Bull at the end, to discuss the business of dog walking. It’s a business that can also include house sitting services, if desired. These dog-walking companies offer trustworthy care givers, clean in law and clean in skin. They won't pass on fleas to the dog. Moreover, the caregiver businesses are usually bonded and their employees have gone through rigorous interview sessions. They are deemed trustworthy.

All sounds positively pawsitive. But let us pause to look at the cons. One is - they’ve got a lot of lives in their hands. What if the dog walker forms an overreaching emotional attachment to their subject(s)? Could they covet the canine so much as to kidnap it? The jury’s out on that one but the jury’s in on Buddy, Teemo, Oscar, Mia, Molly and Salty. These six dogs fried fatally in a pickup truck, after having been put there by dog walker Emma Paulsen. She fibbed to the owners, saying the dogs had been stolen.

It seems, therefore, that there are as many types of dog walkers as there are dogs. Owners beware...

Two is - the dynamics of dog walking could attract selfish, insecure people. Dog walkers get to be leaders of the pack. They are the alpha in this pet alphabet.  They should walk in front of the dogs. They get to be boss. And the dogs thrive on this show of leadership, obeying. Small wonder, given our lack of control in our human relations, that many misfits could become dog walkers - and would love this set up. These walkers could then try to be aggravating alphas (or Leos) when dealing with humans...

Let’s now pause again to look at a dog-walking problem and predicament. How does a dog walker deal with three dogs, one confident, one frightened, and one in between? The frightened one may dislike noisy streets. It would be best to, if possible, take all three to where even the shyest dog will feel somewhat secure. (It would be better yet if the dog walker, and his company, was financially secure enough to pre-qualify dogs, by rejecting ones that have trouble walking on a leash.)

Pauses over, here’s THE DOG LAW. Ultimately, and most definitely, for dog owners and decent dog walkers, the axiom “Dog is man’s best friend” is proven every moment, in every street, in every country, in every world. A family legitimately grieves when their lifelong pet bites the biscuit, as it were. They’ll miss Fido’s quirky habit of him poking his cute muzzle into things, none of which are his business, by the way.

And how does a family handle knowing their fierce, or friendly, or yes – even futile – protector is no longer around? They’ll miss their vanguard and they’ll also miss how their pet had an entirely different, and not so needed, trait:

that of its uncanny ability to block traffic and be part of the action, lying smack dab in the middle of the hall or in front of the door.

That a dog is loyal is a trademark irrepressibly stamped in their DNA. They bond. With humans – even toddlers of humans. But if that owner has, for example, an American Pit Bull Terrier, well, some home insurers will deny coverage as part of homeowners insurance, the Dog Liability insurance part.

Some call this “canine racism.” But know this: the American Pit Bull Terrier has led to more human deaths than any other breed. And whether you believe the owner is at fault, or the breed is a bad one, you’re still dead, and your insurance won’t cover your burial.

If you can handle that thought, or not, because you gotta do it anyway, take it for a walk around the block with your dog, or dogs, in tow. But remember: while the dog is ALWAYS a dog, sometimes humans - you’re the dog, sometimes you’re the tree...