In preparing for this week's game, as a writer and an excited fan, I've been watching the sports news very often and checking every website I can, whether it be ESPN, Fox Sports, or Sports Illustrated. Some of the things that the players and head coaches over at Kansas State have said have got me a bit on edge.
I have never been, and won't ever be, a fan of the "superstar freshman" one and done season. I think it gives players a big head to let them get into college for a year and stomp through with bunches of points, especially those players who are gifted as say, Michael Beasley or Kevin Durant. But many forget that there is a subtle difference between Durant and Beasley.
Here's how i take the superstar freshman's attitude of guaranteed victory.
"I'm saying we'll beat them," said Bill Walker
"We're going to beat Kansas at home," added Michael Beasley. "We're going to beat them at their house. We're going to beat them in Africa. Wherever we play, we're going to beat them."
I don't know about you, but this is not a showing of class or team commitment. I realize that these two young men are incredible basketball players, but just because they have a gift does not mean they should be running their mouths about wins against the second ranked team in the nation, even if they didn't know KU would be where they are now a few months back when the predictions were made.
You simply cannot say things like that. It only adds to the stigma given to African American sports players. We all know it, and I have seen it personally in my sporting career. Granted it hasn't been a very long one, but saying things like this is bringing a bad name to yourself.
You're increasing stigma's placed on young African American players as being "occasionally big headed or full of themselves." I may be taking this out of hand, but this is how I feel about a young "superstar" who will be off to the NBA in a year with no regard for his program and only focused on making all the money he can.
It is sad that this happens so many times; a young player goes out for the draft, gets drafted by a bad team, and gets paid millions of dollars. I just hope these young men get what is coming to them, and the Jayhawks deliver a staggering blow with team defense and precise offensive execution. Maybe then these guys will learn to keep their mouths closed until the game is over.
With all that said, and a bit of bias added, I believe team play beats two superstar players in a battle of who plays better, consistent defense.
KU 87-74
25 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Please enlighten me on this "stigma to African-American players." Seriously. I demand an explanation. If you're too embarrassed to do so publicly, send it to me at jmartin@wichitaeagle.com.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
"I may be taking this out of hand, but this is how I feel about a young "superstar" who will be off to the NBA in a year with no regard for his program and only focused on making all the money he can. "
Sounds to me like they are focused on the program, based on what you are saying. They want to win for their program, and are saying so. If all they cared about was "making all the money he can" then they wouldn't be predicting victory...really, those players wouldn't care. Sounds like they care in this instance.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I see your only 15, but your comments are really ignorant. Did Joe Namath stigmatize white quarterbacks when he guaranteed a win against the Colts, or was he displaying his confidence in himself and his TEAM? Did Bob Huggins stigmatize white coaches by predicting an end to the streak last year? I Mike Beasley not entitled to display confidence because he is black? You should take into account when and where these comments were made, and do a little research before posting comments such as yours. You take on this, while original, comes across as racist.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Can they pass a federal law banning little fuckin' kids with no pubes from writing articles like this? Seriously, it made no sense whatsoever - what part of "we will beat them" tells you they're not about the team? Is it the "we" part? What the fuck, dude.
Bill Walker's not even a freshman, anyway.
And don't you think these guys had huge heads before they came to college? They've been babied and pampered for the past five years as superstar high school ballers. Trust me, their egos have been huge for some time, now. It's not the college experience that does it to them.
Sorry for ripping on a 15 year old girl, but this article was about as shitty a piece of shit that has ever been shit out by someone before.
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LATH WORL about 1 year ago
Since you are only 15 I wont be too hard on you here Kevin because you simply dont have enough of the world in you yet. Really though, your article here comes off as a racist rant. Your comment stating that Black folks in sports carry a stima of being "big headed and full of themselves" makes you sound like a Klan member. There are plenty of White folks who talk it up too. They are somewhat less visible though because of the ratio of white players to black players. Plus, people like you always seem to specifically look for reasons to target Black athletes. Oh and BTW, Some of the things the K-state players have said SHOULD put you on edge because Kansas State WILL beat the Jay-hacks. It puts you on edge because you can feel it. You know its going to happen. GO K-STATE!!!!!!!!! SCREW KU!!!!!!!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
i was about to say what an ignoramous... but you are only 15. sorry kid, good post.
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LATH's Dad Smith about 1 year ago
LATH,
I didn't think it came across as a racist rant - it was just poorly written and cited stupid examples. For instance - like it or not, negative stereotypes regarding black athletes do exist - but saying "we're going to win" does not in any way "reinforce" these stereotypes - it just tells me that the kids are confident - maybe even cocky - but it certainly doesn't reinforce some "stigma" about the black athlete being selfish or flashy.
In other words, LATH - go to hell, because you're a huge piece of gay shit. You're about as fuckin' ignorant as the kid that wrote this article. He's only 15 - what's your excuse, you dick rider?
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LATH WORL about 1 year ago
To "Lath's Dad" Sounds like you've got a case of the Sour Grapes to me whoever you are. You probably didnt think it sounded racist because you probably ARE a racist. In fact I bet you are such a racist that you dont even realize it! I was simply bringing the kids' mistake to his attention in a constructive way AS KEVIN ASKED. Did you look at the other comment I left him on his page? Yeah, didnt think so. So before you go popping off at the mouth again and hurling obscenities, think first before you speak/write. Plus, you are a COWARD, whoever you are. What a gomer. Cant use your own name chicken-hawk? GO STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
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LATH's Dad Idiot about 1 year ago
LATH (I'm sure your real name is LATH WORL),
Stop embarrassing yourself, little pecker licker. As I said before - negative stereotypes of black athletes do exist - the fact that you're retardedly stupid enough to not realize it doesn't make it untrue. I just don't think any of the young men's comments did anything to reinforce those stereotypes that really truly do exist, whether you like it or not.
Go back to raping young children, LATH. It's what you're best at doing, unfortunately.
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Kirby Morris about 1 year ago
ha your really an idiot what does it matter if they say they will win if they back it up and im pretty sure they did tonight when they beat the jayhawks. There is definitely a difference between being cocky and confident and i just see this as them being confident period.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Kevin, i hope you didn't cry to much tonight... theres always that rematch in Africa.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
“I knew my team was capable of beating anybody,” Beasley said. “And we showed it tonight.”
That doesn't sound like someone who has, what did you say, "a showing of . . . team commitment."
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
HAHAHAHA!!
Beasley probably got more inspired after reading this racist column. I don't care if you're 15 - learn how to write copy that doesn't sound like it came out of a KKK manual.
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mason riphahn about 1 year ago
Kevin you are a wimpy wimpy boy........ Grow up you hippie and don't let things like this bother you!......
........I remember when K-State beat KU every year in football, and after the game your hippie KU fans would say "WAIT TIL BASKETBALL SEASON"......
Kevin this is just a game and if someone says their going to predict a win, well try to prove them wrong! That's all you can do......The comments in which Beasley and Walker said make sports fun. It adds a sense of competition to a game, and if your such a tree hugging KU Frat boy that cant handle a little confidence from a great player, than maybe you should just move to France!
P.S
I HATE YOU!
.......................GO CATS!
KKKKKKKKK------SSSSSSSSS------UUUUUUU--------WILDCATS!
-Mason Riphahn
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LATH WORL about 1 year ago
This is directed to the Coward who calls himself "LATHS DAD". My name IS Lath Worl. You can find me any time in Junction City. Im not a coward like you and I'll back that up. You better believe it. I NEVER stated that Black Atheletes did not have a stigma attached to them. Did you read my entire post or just skim a few words and phrases? Did they teach you to read in grade school? I said that it is unaware folks and now, cowardly pussies like YOU who attach those stigmas. White boys talk shit too stupid. I think you need to take some reading comprehension classes and read my post again. I told you pussy, just tell me when and where. Ive got something for you! You can have your erroneous opinion, your entitled to it. However, you're in the vast minority here buddy. Have you read the other posts here? Did you read my personal message to Kevin on his site? And why the un-founded personal sexual attacks? Are you a repressed homo or something? How old are you? 8? The next time your fingers hit the keys you should read things CAREFULLY and THINK about what you are about to write. It is YOU who is embarrassing his self. The funny thing is that you appear not to even be cognizant of this! Sour Grapes! Whatsa matter Sally? Gonna cry?
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LATH's Dad Jr. about 1 year ago
Lath you dumb bitch. Just stop embarrassing yourself. Or I'll come embarrass you at your dumb little faggy hatchery.
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LATH WORL about 1 year ago
Sounds like more crying from the crybaby. So who are you coward? You know me, why are you so afraid to tell me(and everyone else here) who you are? Why dont you come clean? Have you known who I am from the start or did you just google me? I told you who I am as I have nothing to hide and am prepared to back up the logic of my comments. What are you hiding? You talk a big game but you have so far proven that youre nothing but a stinking coward probably hiding behind his mommys' skirt. So what you say? Gonna come clean? Be a man? I challenge you once again to stand up and tell everyone here who you are. Take responsibilty for your words. As far as your threat; Well, like Bob Barker said, "Come on down!" Come on out here and I'll show you what its all about buddy. Oh, and you better pack a lunch, maybe supper too, cause it'll be a long day for you son.
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Sarah Worl Lath about 1 year ago
Honey, shut the fuck up and go back to having sex with the family dog.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I have been reading these post since the kid posted this garbage, I totally agree with lath. Just give up fighting with "laths dad" because you are too intelligent to argue with a person who obviously doesnt read posts to their entirety. Not only were the comments kevin used terrible examples of the point he was trying to prove, but then adding "precise offensive execution", yea well, guess their precision didnt get them a w. I also want to add a little somthing to this believe it or not im a resident of upper marlboro md, where both nolan smith of duke and Michael Beasly are from and I know both of these guys. If Michael Beasley says he's going to do somthing you better believe it. In tenth grade he told our class he was going to hit 7 tripples and beat capital Christian academy, he did, and his TEAM won the game and Riverdale Baptist went 27-0 that year. My point, this is what makes the game fun, I don't know of any stigma of black athletes or as ol keV says sports players. White guys talk plenty of trash too, how about Rivers talking trash to a damn fan. Come on, and guess what I'm mixed I know.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Anonymous,
Nobody gives a shit about you, your race, your friends, where you're from, or how fuckin' tiny your faggot cock is. Go to hell and quit talking forever, because you're a fuckin' retard.
Mixed piece of shit.
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Kevin Miller about 1 year ago
alright guys thanks for being fucking dicks. thats real cool, you didnt have to read my article and you can just shut the hell up and go write your own shit. i honestly dont care about your opinion. and i dont need to explain myself. this is just stuff i think. ok? please. just dont be such dicks. my goodness this is the first article i wrote, you think you could be a little bit less negative and a little more supportive to someone who is just trying to write an article about what they think. did i say this is all fact written in stone? no. so please, stop bitching at me.
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Kevin Miller about 1 year ago
and i REALIZE that it came off as racist. and im sorry. ok if thats whgat you want you will get it. i am a 15 year old kid. please cut me a bit of slack because im in no way racist. i took a personal look on this which i shouldnt have. it was a mistake and im sorry you feel this way about all this. please, just cut me some slack. this is the FIRST article ive written ok? im NOT RACIST AT ALL. AT. ALL. it sounded like this because i really didnt think about what i was posting. but please be a little bit easier on me
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Kevin Miller about 1 year ago
Discouraged Bleacher Conduct
You should not participate in any of the following activities on the network. If other members report that you are regularly doing any of the following, you will receive a warning. Any repeat offenses after you have received your first warning will result in the termination of your account.
•Make vehement personal attacks in comment threads or bulletin boards against members whose opinions you disagree with.
•Use language or make allusions anywhere on the site that the average Bleacher Report member finds racist, sexist, or offensive.
•Demean or humiliate a writer for giving their best effort.
•Intentionally annoy other members or disrupt the general conversation in comment threads.
•Make changes to an article with the specific intention of lowering its overall quality and embarrassing another user.
come on guys i know its nerdy or whatever shit but please could you just remember some simple rules...really. attacking a 15 year old kid? im only a kid. and i wrote this not thinking i would be personally attacked over everything from any smarts i have to my sexuality and shit. thats really gay and not cool. please. quit. i realize i made a mistake goodness.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Don't hold back because he is only 15, because being someone of the same age I hate it when people are different toward me because of my "immaturity". Don't make fun of some ones opinion just because you feel like being a fucking ass hole. Yeah I am happy that you stopped wacking off for one sec and actually read something, but be respectful. Not only does cussing out somebody make you look foolish and ignorant, but it makes you look bad. Yes there is an African American stereotype in the sports field, and no not all players exhibit it but they people he portrayed to. So don't play the race card just because you are too ignorant to come up with a legit reason for being angry.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
People are going overboard about one particular comment; blacks DO have a stigma attached to them in sport. THAT is not an opinion, racist, or bigoted. If anything, his wording was very clear regarding what he meant... that this guy/these guys aren't helping the IMAGE that is given to them, that is to say, the STIGMA attached. At no point did he ever say that "blacks in sports are big headed assholes". He said that is the public image.
Get a brain, morans.
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