A guest grievance courtesy of my homegirl Dr. Dolen:
So James Blake won last night! Congrats to him for pulling out a grueling 5 setter. It was hard to believe that he's a top 10 player and is just now winning his first 5 setter. As he said, he finally "got that monkey off his back."
But this is what I want to know: James, why is your J-Block all white? Sure, I've heard all the arguments. You grew up in Connecticut so most of your friends are white. You went to Harvard so most of your friends are white. You grew up in the tennis world so most of your friends are white. I say, Whatev! You say that these are 25-50 of your closest friends. Are you going to tell me that you don't have a single friend of African descent to join your J-Block crew?
I mean, am I asking too much for Mr. Blake to have one black friend in the box? Just one?
Behind Dr. Dolen's grievance, I read a measure of grieving and a lament for his historical blindness. Blake's presence at the US Opens was prepared by a long line of Black pioneers across the professions. Indeed the presence of those pioneering Black women (representing "firsts" in many fields)at the Althea Gibson Tribute captured the historical fact that they broke through because she had broken through. Wittingly or unwittingly, the absence of any people of color in Blake's box evidenced a blindness to this historical reality. To paraphrase Ralph Ellison, Blake "jumped out of history," leaving no traces of acknowledgment of Ashe, Gibson, et al. I mourn his forgetfulness.
Posted by: Ann Tye | September 05, 2007 at 05:29 AM
In case I wasn't clear, I'm in the "this argument is asinine" camp.
a.) If somebody had the nerve to criticize me for the racial composition of the friends I kept, I'd have some words for them. Most of which can't be said on TV.
b.) All we're looking at is a bunch of dudes at a tennis game. If I was playing tennis, the folks that came out to see me wouldn't necessarily be all of my friends - they'd be my friends who also like tennis. How do you know he doesn't have a Boost Mobile barber shop parked on his front lawn?
c.) A tennis player's posse isn't exactly an opportunity for advancement. Racial quotas and parity are not required.
Posted by: Assman | September 06, 2007 at 01:54 PM
Assman, you are very clear what camp you fall into. It's also very clear that you are white.
Posted by: E-Boogie | September 06, 2007 at 04:21 PM
Assman, you are very clear what camp you fall into. It's also very clear that you are white.
Bulletproof analysis. Your skills of deduction are without peer. And I'm guessing you've got the Browns in the SuperBowl this year?
Posted by: Assman | September 06, 2007 at 05:59 PM
Actually, I predict San Diego or New England. You're the only racist around here!
Posted by: E-Boogie | September 06, 2007 at 07:43 PM
"You're the only racist around here!"
Way to round out the updated A of G resume, Assman. We've re-discovered the following during this week alone:
1. Jackie is a juvenile race-baiter.
2. Vandelay is a hypersensitive Patriot-hater.
3. Klompus is an immature retard.
4. Assman is a white supremacist.
Keep up the sterling work, gents!
Posted by: Jack Klompus | September 06, 2007 at 07:56 PM
You're the only racist around here!
First I'm white (which is still amazing, by the way), and then I'm a racist... because I advocate non-racist treatment. I'm almost impressed with the levels of retardation you've reached here. Chris Benoit is considering strangling you.
1. Jackie is a juvenile race-baiter.
2. Vandelay is a hypersensitive Patriot-hater.
3. Klompus is an immature retard.
4. Assman is a white supremacist.
Wait... we just figured this stuff out this week?
Posted by: Assman | September 06, 2007 at 10:34 PM
"I'm almost impressed with the levels of retardation you've reached here. Chris Benoit is considering strangling you."
Shit, I'm a retard, too. So know I've got worry about him in addition to that karmic spider bite? Fuck me.
"Wait... we just figured this stuff out this week?"
That's why I used the word "re-discovered." Perhaps the unnecessary hyphen threw you off.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | September 07, 2007 at 08:36 AM
That's why I used the word "re-discovered." Perhaps the unnecessary hyphen threw you off.
Oddly enough, it did. I had it open in a small window and the word "discovered" was on a line by itself. I need more English majors in my Ass-Block.
Posted by: Assman | September 07, 2007 at 09:35 AM
"I need more English majors in my Ass-Block."
Holy shit that's funny. One question though: which demographic would dominate the Ass-Block?
Posted by: Jack Klompus | September 07, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Holy shit that's funny. One question though: which demographic would dominate the Ass-Block?
People who like watching tennis. And maybe one or two assholes so I don't come off like I'm rejecting my kind.
Posted by: Assman | September 07, 2007 at 12:07 PM
People who like watching tennis. And maybe one or two assholes so I don't come off like I'm rejecting my kind.
Sweet! I qualify on both levels.
Posted by: Art Vandelay | September 07, 2007 at 02:12 PM
the sad thing is from his comment............he will never be just considered american, because he IS african american as well. The fact he is not proud of his heritage is definately his fathers fault.
And like Paul Mooney says........" He will get his @@@@@@ wake up call"///////////
and for he AND HIS MOTHER>>>>>>>>>>>> boy is it going to hurt.
Posted by: susanwesco | December 03, 2007 at 12:52 PM