Racism why America loves Psycho T?
Racism is an intregal part in the history of our country. It has been a part of the country since it was established as a country in the 18th century, and unfortunately it is still a part of our great nation today.
And according to national columinst Mike Freeman of CBSsports.com, it is playing a critical role in the fan-fare being received by University of North Carolina junior power forward Tyler Hansbrough.
On pace to become the Tar Heels’ all-time career leading scorer and one of the top rebounders in the program’s storied history, “Psycho T,” as his teammates call him, is 10th in the country in scoring at 23.1 point per game and 13th in the nation with 10.5 rebounds per game.
Those numbers, along with tremendous hustle, intensity, and effort and UNC being ranked near the top of the polls throughout the season have made Hansbrough a top candidate for Player of the Year. While the other main candidate for the award, freshman Michael Beasley of Kansas State, has better numbers (26.5 ppg, 12.5 rpg), Freeman claims Hansbrough is getting all the love because Psycho T is white, and “America loves a tough white guy.”
Most would say the media and “America” are enamored by Hansbrough because he plays with a passion that is rare to find in the game today, because he is willing to dive on the floor at any point in the ball game (even in the last minute with his team up 15, which I’ve seen), and because his intensity and “focus” (something Freeman frequently mentions) are seemingly unmatched in college basketball.
Also quoted by Freeman in his article, Sports Illustrated said, “Hansbrough’s credentials are impressive enough, but it’s hard not to give him bonus points for squeezing out every bit of his potential, for never coasting …”
Freeman’s response to the quote:
“Again, most college players don’t coast. Why does Hansbrough get bonus points for simply accomplishing what everyone else does? Were Kevin Durant and Greg Oden coasters? Is Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert a coaster? Name a coaster of a top player on Tennessee or Memphis or UCLA. You can’t.”
The problem is that Freeman fails to see that Hansbrough is playing as well as he possibly can play while others like a Durant, an Oden, or a Hibbert are always being classified as “a player that has tremendous upside,” which can be translated as “a player who can improve.” Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that said about Hansbrough, and I don’t know that he can improve his game much more. People love to see players perform to the upmost of their ability and Psycho T is doing that.
I think the best response to the article (and there have been 176 responses in less than 24 hours since the article was published) came from a comment by user LSutton:
Hansboro is white!?!?!? He looks Carolina Blue to me just like Jordan did. Not too sure why he would look any different then that to any one.
…
Hansboro would certainly be on my short list. The guy just doesn’t take a play off, he plays in a very tough conference and grinds out fantastic numbers. Saying he has more desire then Jordan might be close. He produces without Jordan’s obvious edge in talent.
What do you think about the article? Is Freeman right about the media being in love with Hansbrough because he is white or is Freeman reaching for the racism card a little prematurely?
Shotgun Spratling
| 2.5 |
March 11th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I wrote an article about this as well. I can’t believe that CBS would even publish such blatant racism and utter sh*t. Hansbrough plays his ass off every game and I couldn’t agree with you more when you say “he plays as well as he possibly can play”.
I also find it quite interesting that if a white sports writer had said anything of the sort about Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo or any of the other great black college players, he would be fired and have to make a public appology. Loved your post, nice job.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I am circulating this as an effort to increase awareness of Mike Freeman’s continual utilization of racism allegations on CBSSportsline to increase his professional profile. Any help you could provide would be much appreciated.
This article on CBS is ridiculous.
I have read Mike Freeman’s work before, and this is not his first time he has gone down this road with college players. It is important to remember that these are not professional athletes, most are not even old enough to drink. Here is the reply post I left all over CBS:
As someone who recently helped to put James Seale in prison (the KKK member who killed two black teenagers 40+ years ago), I am offended and dismayed by Freeman’s continual need to use racism as a mode of getting attention. CBS should release him in the same way that other media members who have tried to cause waves and heighten their profile with racism have been terminated.
Please sign the below linked petition.
Fire Freeman Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/43121212/petition.html
If you would like to support the petition or have other blogs that can finally raise awareness of Mike Freeman’s hate mongering. Any help would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Matt McCusker
March 18th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
You make a good point here …
The problem is that Freeman fails to see that Hansbrough is playing as well as he possibly can play while others like a Durant, an Oden, or a Hibbert are always being classified as “a player that has tremendous upside,” which can be translated as “a player who can improve.”
I’d like to add that Kevin Durant has fallen out of grace with NBA Rookie of the Year voters because … drum roll please … he regularly phones it in on defense. Denver hung 168 on the Sonics the other night, and Durant was a huge part of it. There is talk Durant will lose ROY even though he averages 20 because his lack of defensive effort is so blatant. In other words, he hasn’t improved on the part of his game that needs the most improvement.
Can’t ever see Tyler Hansbrough phoning anything in except maybe a pizza order.
Bob Castelline
March 27th, 2008 at 3:12 am
From kgoon1590 on Yardbarker:
Yeah, trust me, I’m as quick as anyone to point out racism, but I think it’s a bit of a stretch that people who like Hansbrough are racist.
I don’t like Hansbrough as much as a Michael Beasley, but I can see what he represents: consistency. He’ll go in and get his 20 and 10 every single night. There’s a lot to be said about that - Tim Duncan, a black man, has made a career out of doing just that, and he is considered by most pundits to be the best power forward ever, despite not having the extreme athleticism of someone like Garnett, Shaq or Malone. I think the fact that Hansbrough is a steady rock makes him revered.
That said, I agree that he is overhyped by the media. But he also plays for arguably the most high-profile program in all of college basketball. Exposure is natural.