Column Archive

Spying on a Sportswriter

My work organizing against the death penalty earned me some unwelcome – and unconstitutional – attention from the authorities. This is an outrage that affects each and every one of us. They picked on the wrong sportswriter and on the wrong group of activists.

Baseball's All Star Blackout

The All-Star game is meant to show off and spotlight baseball in all its glory. Instead it shows a game delinked from black America. It's a reality that might be "the canary in the mineshaft."

Who is Mauricia Grant? NASCAR Knows

Mauricia Grant, the first black, female inspection official in the history of NASCAR, has leveled a $225 million lawsuit agains the king of Motorsports. Her charges reveal that NASCAR may talk a good game about tolerance and diversity, but the truth is something else entirely.

Grand Theft Hoops: The Stealing of the Sonics

This is an outrage. The Seattle SuperSonics are no more, caught between a vice of greed and cowardice. David Stern and Clay Bennett should be ashamed. Somewhere Xavier McDaniel is crying.

Talkin' Sports with Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader is best known as a legendary consumer advocate, and thorn in the side of Democratic Party activists but he also knows his sports. This is an interview that should definitely be read by anyone concerned abou the power of David Stern and itching to have a Fans Bill of Rights.

"Well, There You Go": Imus the Bigot Is Back

Is Don Imus irredeemably stupid or just a run-of-the-mill racist? Perhaps the answer is both. His explanation for comments about Adam "Pac Man" Jones, suggest that the answer is both.

The Over-Exposure of Danica Patrick

Does sex – or sexism – sell women’s sports? A new study shows that Danica Patrick’s willingness to show skin is doing her sport a grave disservice.

Can Soccer Stop the Violence?

Horrific violence in South Africa continues against immigrants from Zimbabwe and Mozambique and some high profile soccer players are taking a stand to end the violence. But this issue gets more complicated when we consider how the World Cup is coming to South Africa in 2010, and the effect that’s having on the very communities where the violence runs the most hot.

'Like He Died Twice': Mary Tillman's Lonesome Road

Here is our interview with the late Pat Tillman’s mother, Mary. Please read. Hers is a voice that demands to be heard.

Tiger, Tiger, Burning Blight

Tiger Woods’ father had dreams that his son would transcend sports and change the world. But Tiger’s foundation has entered into a new partnership with Chevron which makes a mockery of these dreams. Woods’ foundation, which claims to “stand for children”, won’t confront or even comment, on the horrific nature of Chevron’s human rights record.