Dexter's Vantage Point!

The segment of the IU faithful who wanted Kelvin Sampson gone got their wish. Sampson was given $750,000 and told to leave Bloomington stemming from five alleged major recruiting violations that included making improper phone calls to recruits. Resigned? Give me a break. Despite published reports I think Sampson was forced out but it was sold to the masses as a resignation. He was canned because of allegations, not violations. The NCAA hadn’t found him guilty of anything up to this point. IU had until May 8th to make a final determination on Sampson’s fate but they couldn’t wait to act. So much for due process. Getting rid of someone who can win a Big-Ten title and make a run at the National Championship is beyond me, especially over some allegations. In my opinion the administration found nothing that could be substantiated with facts. The IU hierarchy simply didn’t care for Sampson. That’s certainly not true of the players. After struggling to beat a weak Northwestern team Er...

Can Barack Obama really become president of the United States? Not only do I think it’s possible but it’s fast becoming a reality. Obama is proving the naysayers wrong. Obama’s message of change he’s trumpheted throughout his campaign is being heard. With a strong showing in Super Tuesday and crushing Hilary Clinton last weekend I don’t think anyone can characterize Obama’s journey as a “fairy tale” ride. Obama is a man with passion. His charisma is administering to the masses and they are responding with their votes. Obama’s message is resonating loud and clear. If Obama outlasts Clinton and wins the presidency to me it will be the most notable achievement in African American history. I think Obama is the real deal. Though Hillary Clinton is clutching to a slim lead over her rival Obama is currently riding a strong wave of momentum. Hillary is feeling the pressure. She recently pumped 5 million dollars of her own money in her campaign to keep pace with Obama. To top things of...

Terrence Moore, an African-American columnist at the Atlanta Journal Constitution, recently told the Associated Press: “One of the best-kept secrets in sports is how you have all these African-Americans playing sports, but so few African-Americans covering sports.” Moore continued, “I’m generally one of the few-and many times, only-African-American in the press box. That has got to have a huge impact on how the news is presented.” I thought that variety was supposed to be the spice of life, but the following numbers clearly indicate otherwise. The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports at the University of Central Florida studied the racial makeup of the sports staffs at more than 300 newspapers in 2006. The study found that 94.7 percent of sports editors, 86.7 percent of assistant sports editors, 89.9 percent of sports columnists, 87.4 percent of sports reporters, and 89.7 percent of copy editors/designers are white. In short, 92.8 percent of what we read in the sports pages is ...

The collegiate bowl games were recently announced. The once proud Fighting Irish of Notre Dame certainly won’t be participating. Unlike last season Weiss’s team will be home for the holidays. The Irish are no longer the “gold” standard they once were-the season was a disaster-they’ve sunk to an all-time low epitomized by losing to Navy, a team they’d beaten for 43 straight years. I guess there’s always next year. Remember when Notre Dame football really meant something? Gone are the days of Knute Rockne winning one for the Gipper. Lost is the legacy of winning championships like the Frank Leahy, Ara Parsegian, and Lou Holtz did. I find this year’s Irish team to be similar to the 1956 squad that went 2-8 after going 8-2 the previous year. At least that team played hard produced a Heisman Trophy winner in Paul Hornung who would later lead the Green Bay Packers to prominence in 1960's. No Heisman hopefuls on this years’ 3-9 squad that’s for sure. Three years ago Charlie Weiss...

Heritage High School officials recently reported the student who found two letters littered with racial slurs allegedly lied. East Allen County Schools officials said there was only one letter found, not two, and it was in a classroom lab table rather than left in a student’s locker. Citizens of Monroeville and others believe the student should be expelled. Their wishes have been granted as the student has been suspended for a week as the investigation continues. Suspensions shouldn’t stop there. School officials need to produce the author of the racist letter and deal with that accordingly. Only time will tell how situation will end as new information continues to unfold. Racial incidents occur more than we care to acknowledge. The media typically don’t care to shed lengthy attention to racism because it’s a touchy topic for most. Few care to adopt the open mind necessary to hammer away and make change. The only way to advance forward is to not deny the presence of racism and deal w...

Barry Bonds is set to break one of the marquee records in sports as he closes in on Hank Aaron’s mark of 755 homeruns. Despite his arrogance, steroid allegations, and “all about me” attitude Bond’s rightfully deserves his due-but so does Hank Aaron. Aaron quietly had one of the best careers of anyone who ever played the game. Not until recent years has Aaron begun to receive the acclaim he’s richly due. In 1974 Aaron broke arguably the most sacred record in baseball held by icon Babe Ruth. Babe hit 714 homeruns during his Hall of Fame career. Known as the “Sultan of Swat,” Ruth was the marquee athlete during what’s referred to as Golden Age of Sports in the 1920’s. Ruth’s personality, homerun power, off the field exploits, and swagger induced admiration from fans from all walks of life. Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama February 5, 1934. Aaron grew up poor. He lived in a home built with scrap materials by his father. The house wasn’t equipped with inside plumbing or electricit...

Today, April 15, 2007 marks the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line in Major League baseball. Robinson became the first African American to play in the Major Leagues when he suited up at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Robinson was more than a baseball player; he was a pioneer, activist, and man who ignited change in American sport and society despite racism. Jackie Robinson was an exceptional baseball player. He played his entire career with the Dodgers from 1947-1956. In his first year with the Dodgers Robinson was named Rookie of the year in the National League. In 1949 Robinson had his finest season where he had a .342 batting average and was named the Most Valuable Player. In 1955 the Robinson help lead the Dodgers to a World Series title in 1955 over the perennial American League power New York Yankees. Before gaining notoriety as being the first African American to break baseball’s color barrier Robinson served in the military and was a...