tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post3863701427503139742..comments2024-03-22T05:48:26.129-05:00Comments on Braves & Birds: Jason Whitlock is the Crazy Uncle in the AtticMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-5582877353945158142008-01-23T20:36:00.000-05:002008-01-23T20:36:00.000-05:00Been rather behind, but thanks for the response, P...Been rather behind, but thanks for the response, Peacedog. Someday, I'll go, but I know I won't go alone. I never liked going to a place if I didn't know anyone who is from or lives in the area because (s)he would make it easy to get around.Jason Clinkscaleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11100315288752472586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-61053087402566047592008-01-15T12:35:00.000-05:002008-01-15T12:35:00.000-05:00Altanta would offend your sensibilities Jason. It...Altanta would offend your sensibilities Jason. It's not a bad town - au contrare - but it grew outward in hideous fashion. There's so much to do and see beyond metro Atlanta, but getting to and fro can be a chore. Alas.peacedoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15474788565660706482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-45294555657618586512008-01-14T22:25:00.000-05:002008-01-14T22:25:00.000-05:00I was never a fan of Whitlock, going to his days w...I was never a fan of Whitlock, going to his days with Page 2, doing the "NFL Truths" column, but because he had extensive coverage of the league for many years, I'd glance through. Maybe it's because I'm a young black sports media head from NYC [I am a Braves fan, so I'm not so bad ;)], but he does more than ruffle the feathers. If you've ever seen the cartoon "The Boondocks", he has been likened to many to the character <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Ruckus" REL="nofollow">'Uncle Ruckus'</A>.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I've never been to Atlanta (although I would love to go sometime), but even before everything went down for Vick, it's a little disappointing to know that he didn't embrace the city as much as the town embraced him.Jason Clinkscaleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11100315288752472586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-45111192162301072152008-01-14T11:04:00.000-05:002008-01-14T11:04:00.000-05:00I agree about the Whitlock piece. I would add tha...I agree about the Whitlock piece. I would add that the article is an insult to the ninety-something percent of African American athletes who have played for the Hawks and Falcons without incident. To me, the most high-profile "problem player" for the Falcons before Vick was none other than Jeff George, whom Whitlock has championed in other columns (Whitlock has seriously wondered why no NFL teams have shown an interest in George given his arm strength and the fact that he is still in good shape). The piece is also insulting to the African American community in Atlanta. As you point out, Vick never became part of the Atlanta community. Andrew Young, for example, tried to reach out to him several years ago but was ignored. Instead, Vick stuck with his Virginia friends, and that contributed to his undoing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-48764563203942297212008-01-14T10:29:00.000-05:002008-01-14T10:29:00.000-05:00The SI piece was really good, not sure how I misse...The SI piece was really good, not sure how I missed it previously.<BR/><BR/>I agree with LD, both on what Whitlock was trying to sy and that it is a problematic assertion.peacedoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15474788565660706482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-53804860503117290182008-01-14T10:01:00.000-05:002008-01-14T10:01:00.000-05:00Generally, I agree with this post...But I do think...Generally, I agree with this post...<BR/><BR/>But I do think that your second bullet point kind of missed what Whitlock said. I think what Whitlock meant was that Atlanta and LA both have a ton of distractions for young athletes, but <I>because of Pete Carroll</I>, USC has been able to succeed in spite of the distractions. He admits that LA has the same problems, but that there's some magical spell that noted humanitarian Pete Carroll has cast that allows the Trojans to be great. Now, I disagree with the assertion (I think there's a massive distinction between college and pro athletes, [insert Reggie Bush joke here]). I don't really agree with the argument on any of the levels, but even if one assumes that the city is the problem, I don't see how Pete Carroll could solve it - but that I think is what Whitlock thinks.LDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08416468186977171781noreply@blogger.com