Come to Think of it...Josh Howard Needs to Just Shut Up and Play Basketball

Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard is in trouble again. Allen Iverson threw a charity flag football game and during the national anthem, Howard was overheard saying, "'The Star-Spangled Banner' is going on. I don't celebrate this [expletive]. I'm black."

So what the hell does being black have to do with celebrating the National Anthem of our country, Josh? Hey, if you don't want to live in this country and continue to make the millions of dollars you do playing a game for a living, that's fine by me. But you have no right to disrespect our country.

Look, controversy is nothing new to this guy. He has admitted smoking marijuana, been caught for speeding and reckless driving in a street racing incident, angered his coach by throwing a birthday party for himself after a playoff loss and opted out of playing for the U.S. Olympic team in 2006.

Howard's idiotic comments about the anthem were captured on a YouTube video.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said the team dealt with the incident when it happened. He went on to say that the team cautioned Howard about being careful what you say around cell phone cameras.

However, isn't that teaching him that his only crime was getting caught? As opposed to focusing on how stupid he sounded and how he should return his U.S. currency if he doesn't like the U.S? That would have been my message. It wouldn't be politically correct, but....

Come on people, why can't we call someone an idiot without race having to enter the picture? I don't care what color a person is—if he espouses b.s. like this, he should be taken to task. End of story.

You know, it's a good thing the man can play ball, because his decision making is lacking. And in an ironic twist, it's the country he won't celebrate that gives him the freedom to say what's on his mind.

So what does he celebrate? The American dollar, I'll bet, and something else that's green. What a set of values for kids to look up to.

I'm not exactly sure what he means when he uses his race to explain why he doesn't celebrate the anthem. I guess he's saying the country is for white people only. Well, I'm white and I don't make $10 million dollars per year or have the fame and freedom this guy has. Yet I stand at attention.

It's truly unfortunate that racism still exists in this country, it really is. There is no place for it. But that said, it doesn't mean that anyone who confronts a black athlete is a racist. Nor does it grant folks the liberty to say anything they want without repercussion, particularly when they are public figures.

A star athelete has a responsibility, even an obligation to act in a professional manner. Maybe that's tough, but it's a small price to pay for fame and fortune, I'd say.

Come to think of it, the land of the free and the home of the brave depends on it.