Birds of a feather...disrespecting national symbols.

[fustercluck]

Makes you wonder what they think that they don't say...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8yQ1BVDaIk


Dallas Mavericks' Josh Howard disrespects national anthem

07:11 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 17, 2008
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
esefko@dallasnews.com

Josh Howard's decision-making has again come into question after he was filmed disrespecting the national anthem.

And the Mavericks are taking steps to help Howard and their other players avoid controversy in the future.

Mavericks/NBA
Josh Howard on YouTube (note: viewers may find content offensive)

Tell Us: Is too much being made of Howard's comments?
In a video posted on YouTube, the swingman is shown at Allen Iverson's charity flag football game in July. When the national anthem is being sung, various participants are shown mugging for the camera. When the camera gets to Howard, he says: " 'The Star-Spangled Banner' is going on. I don't celebrate this [expletive]. I'm black."

Howard goes on to make a difficult-to-discern comment that includes a reference to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The video comes on the heels of his July arrest for a late-night street race in North Carolina and last season's admission that he is an occasional marijuana user. He also had a birthday bash for himself after the Mavericks lost Game 4 of their playoff series against New Orleans, even though coach Avery Johnson had asked the players to keep extracurricular activities to a minimum during the playoffs.

Owner Mark Cuban said the Mavericks dealt with Howard's flag football episode after it happened in July.

"That said, we will be going through some advanced communication-skill sessions together this training camp," Cuban said Tuesday. "I have explained to him that cellphone cameras are not your friend and that what you think you said on camera is never what people will hear when it shows up on YouTube or TV.

"There is only one universal response that works: 'Both teams played hard.' "

This is not the first time Howard has been cast in an un-American light. He rejected an offer to join the U.S. Olympic team when he said the initial training camp in 2006 conflicted with his summer camps.

Howard's agent, Mark Schwartz, did not return phone messages.

The Mavericks received numerous off-season trade offers for Howard, but almost all were from teams who presumed a low-ball offer might prompt a deal. Team officials have said repeatedly they're not interested in trading Howard.

"Josh really is a good guy with a great heart," Cuban said. "He just doesn't do a good job of showing that side of himself publicly. We will work on that."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/091708dnspomavslede.112d818.html?ocp=2#slcgm_comme nts_anchor

http://cayankee.blogs.com/cayankee/images/2007/10/21/harkin_steak_fry_08.jpg

[oly884]

We are all responsible for our actions. No sleep lost if this d-bag looses his job.

[fustercluck]

I wonder if after his handlers get done he'll wrap himself in the flag like Obama has done...

regardless of the patriotic camouflage he uses from here on out, his first impulse was the real Josh as well as that of Obama.

[AxleIke]

Basketball players are all a bunch of tools.

That said, nothing wrong with exercising your fist amendment rights.

Fired for not singing the national anthem? Don't be silly.

Fired for disobeying the coach and/or being a fuckstick? Absolutely.

I love it when the media gets on a high horse and tries to tell us what is American and not.

Lets see: He's rich, and got to be rich by doing absolutely NOTHING productive, has a self-centric attitude, and is a total douche. Un-American you say? Hmmm....

[oly884]

Well, ultimately it's not my call if he looses his job. He put it on the line for the comments he made. If the team or the NBA feel that his presence on the court will jeopardize their revenue, then they will most likely let him go. A business is in it to make money.

It's a first amendment right without a doubt and he as every right to say it, but he's the only person responsible for what comes out of his mouth and he is responsible for what happens next.

We cannot say whatever we want, where ever we want. I cannot swear at my work like a sailor and not expect repercussions.

I have absolutely no respect for this dipshit, but I'm neither for or against him loosing his job, that's the team/NBA's deal.

I simply won't loose sleep over it.

[AxleIke]

Certainly our actions are ours, and ours alone. I preach personal accountability so often its become a familiar rant.

In clarification, my comments were mostly directed to the media outlet that Fuster quoted, not to you.

I too will not lose sleep if he is canned. I personally don't like what he has to say. Actually, I would sleep better if professional sports were disbanded entirely.

To clarify my statements above some more, I was not referring to the first amendment when I said the bit about him getting fired. My point there is that the team wouldn't fire him for not singing the anthem, by which I mean, publicly. They may well do so, but in the press release, it would be for his stunts with parties, disobeying the coach, etc...

In addition, you can say anything you please. The first amendment says that the government cannot punish you for it. Your work, contrarily, can fire you for whatever they deem appropriate, and are in no way barred by the bill of rights. Private companies infringe on our rights all the time.

[fustercluck]

Certainly our actions are ours, and ours alone. I preach personal accountability so often its become a familiar rant.

In clarification, my comments were mostly directed to the media outlet that Fuster quoted, not to you.

I too will not lose sleep if he is canned. I personally don't like what he has to say. Actually, I would sleep better if professional sports were disbanded entirely.

To clarify my statements above some more, I was not referring to the first amendment when I said the bit about him getting fired. My point there is that the team wouldn't fire him for not singing the anthem, by which I mean, publicly. They may well do so, but in the press release, it would be for his stunts with parties, disobeying the coach, etc...

In addition, you can say anything you please. The first amendment says that the government cannot punish you for it. Your work, contrarily, can fire you for whatever they deem appropriate, and are in no way barred by the bill of rights. Private companies infringe on our rights all the time.


Good post!

[oly884]

Ike, my comments were not directed at you either. Just a general thought. I definitely agree with what you said and have to say.

The beauty of the way things run (for the most part) is that, yes, the government can't go after what we say, but private companies can. Well fortunately, we are allowed to choose (again, for the most part) what private companies we deal with. If a company, employer, etc. are infringing upon individuals' rights much more than what is acceptable, they too will pay for their actions.

As you and I both agree on, responsibility is one of the most important traits that a person, company, or other entity can have. Sadly, I'm seeing it fade from all walks of life.

[AxleIke]

The beauty of the way things run (for the most part) is that, yes, the government can't go after what we say, but private companies can. Well fortunately, we are allowed to choose (again, for the most part) what private companies we deal with. If a company, employer, etc. are infringing upon individuals' rights much more than what is acceptable, they too will pay for their actions.

Absolutely.



Sadly, I'm seeing it fade from all walks of life.


Recent financial payouts to CEO's who've run mega corporations into the ground is proof enough of that.

[oly884]

Recent financial payouts to CEO's who've run mega corporations into the ground is proof enough of that.


100,000% correct on that one!

[Ric]

disrespecting the National Anthem is disrespecting AMERICA, and the men and women that protect us. if you dont like AMERICA, get the ******* out. nuf said.

[oly884]

Ric, you know I don't disagree with you too much.

However, I must say that part of what makes this nation so great is that idiots like this guy are allowed to speak their mind. I wondered myself why people who clearly hate the USA so much still choose to live here, when there are clearly better places to live with their ideals. Then it hit me, there are those that wish to change this country to something it was never meant to be. They want to change it because even it they move, there is still the USA there to represent freedom.

The constitution means nothing to these people.

However, I think having this dumbass speak his mind only destroys his cause.

We are a nation that needs to work together and not be separated. Sure we have different ideas, but where we should all find common ground is:

The Constitution of the United States of America and that we are all citizens of the United States of America.

Those two things supersede political affiliation/ideals, race, sex, sexual orientation, income, and every other 'tool' that is used to separate us.

[Ric]

Oly,
yeppers you are so right, every one has a right to say what they want, and thats thanks to our military men and women.
But I still feel if someone, anyone, doesnt love this country, get out.
If you do love this country, dont disrespect it. just my thoughts, should have kept quite.

[oly884]

Oly,
yeppers you are so right, every one has a right to say what they want, and thats thanks to our military men and women.
But I still feel if someone, anyone, doesnt love this country, get out.
If you do love this country, dont disrespect it. just my thoughts, should have kept quite.


I agree with you completely.

I think the people we need to worry about are those that choose to completely disrespect everything about this country, but don't get out, because it is those people who wish to change what we have.

Anyone who dislikes this country enough, however, respects that we are our OWN nation, they will find another place to live that will be suitable to them.

[Ric]

Oly,
yeppers you are so right, every one has a right to say what they want, and thats thanks to our military men and women.
But I still feel if someone, anyone, doesnt love this country, get out.
If you do love this country, dont disrespect it. just my thoughts, should have kept quite.


I agree with you completely.

I think the people we need to worry about are those that choose to completely disrespect everything about this country, but don't get out, because it is those people who wish to change what we have.

Anyone who dislikes this country enough, however, respects that we are our OWN nation, they will find another place to live that will be suitable to them.

AMEN, well said

[fustercluck]

I think the gentlemen (term used loosely) have every right to say what they think. I also have the right to react as I see fit. If Mr. Howard wishes to desecrate what I honor, I can refuse to associate with his kind and those who profit from them. If Mr Obama wishes to abstain from patriotic behaviors, then I can ignore his plea for power and encourage others to do the same.