Dexter's Vantage Point!

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and four teammates have been suspended by the NCAA for the first five games of next season for selling items that belonged to them. Pryor and his four teammates admitted to selling their Big Ten championship rings, trophies and other items for cash to help their families. You and I can take our personal items and list them on eBay or Craigslist.  If someone pays the price, the transaction is orchestrated and it’s a done deal. When did selling your own personal items become against the law? What should be against the law is how the NCAA treats the athletes.  It is very interesting why the crooks at the NCAA didn’t suspend the Ohio St. players from the Sugar Bowl.  I guess they have to make sure sponsors get what they paid for and the fans see a good game. The NCAA can exercise their power indiscriminately to make whatever decisions they want. Isn’t that priceless? Collegiate athletes lay it on the line for the nam...

Brett Favre’s consecutive games streak is over, now all we need is a resolution to the Jenn Sterger situation.  In 2008, Favre allegedly sent inappropriate texts to Sterger while Favre played for the New York Jets and Sterger was an employee with the team. An investigation was completed by NFL league investigators last week.  The results were promptly given to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell stated he received the results of the investigation and indicated a decision is forthcoming.  Goodell stated, "I got a report last week. I expect sometime in the near future to be making a decision." This matter has been ongoing for two months now.  Why has it taken so long to make a decision? Either Favre sent the texts and harassed Sterger or he did not. It should not take this long to determine what did or did not happen. This Favre-Sterger situation has been meticulously buried by the media.  Don’t you think a married star quarterback being ...

The Miami Hurricanes made a big splash by filling their head coaching position.  In arguably the best hire in school history, the administration went out and got a perennial winner in Al Golden from Temple University to replace the fired Randy Shannon . The Hurricanes faithful should be happy now.  They have landed a coach who was a certain upgrade and can bring back the days of old. Not. Al Golden? Are you kidding me? This is one of the most bizarre hires by a so-called premier institution in recent memory.  For a university that boasts a proud tradition of winning and excitement, in my opinion, the Hurricanes football program has taken two steps back. What happened to Jon Gruden, Bo Pelini and Mike Leach? What happened to getting that coach who can bring back the fire? Al Golden? Golden posted a losing record at Temple University.  He has a 26-32 record as he takes over for Shannon. This hire makes no sense to me.  I wrote a comme...

The Cincinnati Bengals have lost 10 straight games. The primary reason why the Bengals are struggling lies directly on the shoulders of quarterback Carson Palmer. The Bengals, particularly Palmer, seemed to be in a festive mood on Sunday as they managed to hand the Pittsburgh Steelers a 23-7 victory by consistently turning the ball over by courtesy of Palmer’s less-than-stellar play. Let’s be real, Palmer has stunk this year. He is throwing costly interceptions like it is going out of style. On Sunday Palmer completed 20-of-32 passes for 178 yards for one touchdown and three interceptions. Two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns. Typically when things go south with an organization, we have been conditioned to first look at the coach. The coach is responsible for putting players on the field who give them the best chance to win. There are rumblings Marvin Lewis may be on his last legs in Cincinnati. When a team sports 2-10 record, it is logical to cons...

Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual assault. For the second time mind you. Roethlisberger has been accused of assaulting a 20-year old student in Georgia. Where is the media coverage? Why is Roethisberger seemingly getting a pass on the level of media coverage as compared to the likes of Michael Vick , Plaxico Burress and others? Allow me to get to the point. In my opinion Roethlisberger is getting a pass because he’s a white quarterback in the NFL coupled with lack of diversity in mainstream media. Roethlisberger plays the glory position in football so he’ll be protected by that along with his complexion. If Donavan McNabb or Jason Campbell would’ve had two cases involving women hanging over their head you think the media would cover them more or less than Roethlisberger? According to the The Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sports at the University at Central Florida percentages indicate 89.7 percent of Sports Columnists in this country ar...

The New Orleans Saints claimed Super Bowl glory by defeating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in South Florida yesterday. It marked the first time in franchise history the Saints have won the Super Bowl. Drew Brees completed 32-39 passes for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns while was Manning 31-45 for 333 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 costly interception. It appeared destiny sided with the Saints. The Super Bowl represented more than a game to the Saints: It marked an opportunity to show the world what a persistent unified effort can do for a state, city, and a franchise. Four years ago New Orleans was in dire straights because of hurricane Katrina. The city was ravaged. Rebuilding continues even to this day. The Superdome was severely damaged as well. It served a hotel/restaurant/hospital/home for hurricane victims who had no where to go. Even dead bodies were stored there. Then the team whose fans once wore bags over their heads signed free agent Drew Brees. Brees was injured...

I expected ESPN radio personality Mike Greenberg to at least address his “Martin Luther Coon” reference on air . That’s the least he could do since he made the comment on the morning of Martin Luther King Day. I guess expectations are overrated huh? I’m also quite perplexed that I’ve received feedback from some African-American readers suggesting Greenberg should get a pass. It’s being suggested Greenberg merely made a mistake and it was a “slip of the tongue.” Please. Wake up and smell the coffee. Stop trying to accommodate and fit in. You African-Americans who think Greenberg’s “coon” comment was a mistake should brush up on the historical development of this country. I know some of you are so elated there’s an African-American in the White House you think racism is gone. You think racial slurs shouldn’t be addressed now since we’ve come so far right? Anyway, let me break it down. Mistake or not the word came out of Greenberg’s mouth. Millions of listeners heard it. For Greenberg to ...

Since ESPN nor Mike Greenberg took the liberty of acknowledging the "Martin Luther Coon" slur I took the liberty of contacting ESPN directly. I sent the below email to Don Ohlmeyer. He is the ombudsman for ESPN: Mr. Ohlmeyer, Good afternoon. I'm seeking you out because of comments I heard from Mike Greenberg on his morning radio show on Jan. 18. Mr. Greenberg referred to MLK as "Martin Luther Coon King Jr." Video is provided in the below commentary so you can hear Mr. Greenberg's words for yourself. Please read my perspective here: www.examiner.com/x-17321-AfricanAmerican-Sports-Examiner. I believe this is a situation that should be dealt with accordingly or minimum, acknowledged by your network. This can be a real "teachable moment" one way or the other. I would like to set up an interview with you to discuss this situation. I think this matter should be discussed. The people should know what was said so positive dialogue can be initiated. In clos...

The host of ESPN’s morning radio show Mike and Mike in the Morning Mike Greenberg opened his show yesterday morning by referring the Civil Rights Activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as ‘Martin Luther Coon King.’ Yep, he said it. Listen to it for yourself. I think ESPN, Greenberg’s African-American co-workers and athletes should speak out and let the chips fall. Call for Greenberg’s job now! Greenberg issued the following apology late yesterday evening: “I just came home from the Knicks game and found out about the mess that was created by my garbling a sentence on our show this morning; I apologize for not addressing it sooner."And I'm sorry that my talking too fast - and slurring my words - might have given people who don't know our show the wrong impression about us, and about me." Greenberg continues, "I feel horrible about that, because nothing could be further away from who I am and what our show is about. I would never say anyth...

As we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. many things come to mind. I think of the sacrifices he made. I think of his dream of having everyone being judged on the “content of their character” rather than the color of their skin. Though strides have been made we still have a lot of work to do. How far have we really come as nation along racial lines? Does the African-American athlete even care about the Kings’ legacy? The short answer is no. A year ago the first African-American President of the United States was sworn in. It took a united effort for “the dream” of Barack Obama to manifest. In society African-Americans are experiencing more opportunities than ever before. In professional sports African-Americans are enjoying noted success on and off the field of play. Just because the latter is true doesn’t mean we are where we should be as a nation. I have a great amount of respect for MLK. He put his life on the line for something he believed in. He also lost his life...

Suspended Washington Wizard guard Gilbert Arenas isn’t cracking too many jokes these days. Arenas has been charged with a felony weapons charge. Arenas could face up to 5-years in prison but reportedly he’s negotiated a plea agreement. What Arenas characterized as a joke hasn’t turned out to be so funny. Since the alleged gun incident with teammate Javaris Crittenton Arenas thought little about his fate. Now he’ll have plenty of time to contemplate his behavior since he’s no longer playing and may serve time behind bars. Authorities received a warrant to search Crittenton’s apartment. The search didn’t yield a firearm. From the looks of things Crittenton hasn’t been hit with a suspension or charged like Arenas. Perhaps he’ll get off without much of a scratch. Until the investigation concludes we won’t know to what extent Crittenton was involved. But at least he kept himself out of the limelight unlike Arenas. Arenas made himself a marked man. When he did his pistol skit prior the Wiz...

Mark McGwire confirmed what most already knew. He was juicing for a better part of a decade.After listening to his interviews with MLB Networks Bob Costas and ESPN I felt McGwire wasn’t totally honest. He suggested he used steroids to get healthy and deal with injuries. Yeah right. He took the juice to give himself a competitive edge over the other athletes who played by the rules.Period.McGwire came forward because he wanted back in baseball. This whole scene was planned and scripted by Tony LaRussa and Bud Selig. They agreed to put the cart before horse by getting McGwire a job, having him lie low, and have him come forward later. McGwire was five years too late. Matter of fact he should’ve come clean even before his blunder before Congress. Fans would’ve forgiven him and moved on by now. Is this just a ploy to get McGwire back in baseball and eventually to the Hall of Fame?Yes.I don’t think McGwire should be a lock with or without steroids for the HOF. He was an average hitter. Hi...