The Sport of Politics

As you can tell, I love the intersection of sports and politics, hence the name of this blog. Thank you Phoenix Suns for doing the right thing! I have a feeling Steve Nash was a part of this decision. Nash has always been more vocal about his politics than most other athletes, especially in 2003 when he spoke out against the Iraq War. In a recent Sports Illustrated article, he said, "...I'm left-leaning for certain, and I'm all for capitalism. But, at the same time, I feel that education and health care are human rights." Also, Steve Nash's sister is married to the only person of Indian descent in professional hockey. (This has nothing to do with politics but I just felt like mentioning it.)

Now if I can only figure out how the Arizona Diamondbacks explained the state's new immigration law to the team's Latin American ballplayers...

Monday, May 3, 2010

One of the best Obama speeches ever: University of Michigan Commencement, May 1, 2010

In all of the speeches Barack Obama has made, as a State Senator at the 2004 DNC, as a Senator, as a presidential candidate, and as president, this speech he made on Saturday at the University of Michigan commencement has to be one of his best ever.

Although many people on the right often lump college students together with the liberal left, it's important to remember that is Michigan one of the largest schools in the country. The audience consisted of the graduates as well as their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings. I would imagine a handful of the parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles consider themselves to be part of the tea party crowd.

An important theme in his speech is the importance of listening to the other side and "disagreeing without being disagreeable". He tells his audience that if they read the Editorial page of the New York Times, they should look at the Wall Street Journal opinions once in a while. Likewise, if they listen to Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, they should read the Huffington Post once in a while. (I was surprised he actually mentioned Beck and Limbaugh by name.)

This is definitely an Obama speech worth watching. Hope you take the time to do so and enjoy it.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Angostura Bitters

If you're from Trinidad & Tobago or just love drinking, you should be proud of this video from the April 15, 2010 edition of The Rachel Maddow Show. Also, great Champagne Cocktail and Manhattan drink recipes.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Friday, April 2, 2010

Newark, NJ's Remarkable Accomplishment

Living as close to Newark as I do and driving or taking the train through it as often as I do, I've seen not only the parts of Newark that gave it its reputation but also the changes taking place block-by-block, day-by-day. The fact that Newark just completed its first calendar month without a murder is remarkable.

This is a beaten up city that has been the butt of jokes for so many years, including the line from the 1987 film Good Morning, Vietnam, where Robin Williams' character is talking to troops headed into hostile territory and he tells them to be careful because "It's dangerous out there. It's like Newark after dark." (And that is a film set in 1965, a year before the last time Newark went an entire calendar month without a homicide.)

Newark Mayor Cory Booker did a number of TV interviews recently, including those MSNBC interviews posted below from The Rachel Maddow Show and Morning Joe.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Thursday, April 1, 2010

GOP After Healthcare Reform: Dazed and Confused

Matt Miller has another great column in The Washington Post about the discombobulated GOP reaction to President Obama signing into law a national version of essentially the same health care reform enacted by Republican Mitt Romney when he was governor of Massachusetts.