Beware The Ides Of March
The SEVEN
by Mack Williams
18 October 2022
I’m no soothsayer nor am I saying that the March 15th game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat will be a preview of the NBA Finals, but with MLB in the midst of their playoffs and the NBA season beginning in a matter of hours, I thought it was time for a few predictions…so here goes…
MLB
In 1927 when Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs to set the American League single season record (while according to some, “passing” as a white man), the New York Yankees won the World Series. In 1961, when Roger Maris hit 61 to break Babe’s record, the Yanks won the World Series. I’m going to go out on a limb (since a win is needed tonight) and say that this year, since Aaron Judge hit 62 homers to break Maris’ American League record, the Yankees win the World Series.
NBA
Since this is The SEVEN, here are the seven teams that are most likely to become NBA champions in June.
Philadelphia 76ers
A full year of the potentially devastating combination of Joel Embiid and James Harden and Tyrese Maxey could wind up being the reason why Philly fans were asked to trust the process.
And maybe not because of: Injuries
Milwaukee Bucks
As great as he is, Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn’t do it without his Robin…but with Kris Middleton back, they may make it back to the top.
And maybe not because of: Depth
Brooklyn Nets
Any team with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons has to be considered a potential contender.
And maybe not because of: The drama around those three players.
Memphis Grizzlies
We’re quickly approaching the Ja Morant era of the NBA, if not totally there already. If they keep it together, the championship trophy will reside in Memphis soon, maybe in a matter of months.
And maybe not because of: Timing…it may not quite be their time yet.
Los Angeles Clippers
Any good team with a great and healthy version of Kawhi Leonard is a threat to win the championship. Add in Paul George, John Wall, and an incredibly deep bench, and you definitely have the recipe for a title.
And maybe not because of: Injuries to Kawhi or PG13.
Denver Nuggets
They were really good last season despite the injuries to Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. When they rejoin The Joker, that might be what puts Denver over the top, along with a strong showing from Aaron Gordon.
And maybe not because of: Injuries to any of those big three.
Golden State Warriors
In the words of Ric Flair, in order to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. If Steph Curry is still at an MVP level, Klay Thompson is back in form, and young studs like Moody and Wiseman and Kuminga are ready to take part in a new portion of the Warriors dynasty, you’ll have to go through them to get the crown.
And maybe not because of: Father Time, or possibly lingering issues from the Draymond Green-Jordan Poole confrontation.
USA
The pundits and prognosticators will tell you what generally happens in a midterm election, which is that the party in power will lose seats. That said, I didn’t write the following piece…found on social media…but have included it as an example of why the Democrats will retain the House and Senate, along with Roe v Wade and attempts at voter suppression and Republican candidate quality (as per Mitch McConnell).
“I’m 14 and I’m struggling in Algebra class. When I ask for help, the male teacher says ‘I’m not surprised, girls aren’t that good at Algebra.’
I’m 18 and go to my first fraternity parties with girlfriends. We don’t ever say it out loud but it’s understood that we need to stick together at these parties and not get separated, for our own safety.
I’m 20 and I’m working as a hostess at the Red Lion Inn in San Jose, near the airport. Men in suits come in to eat after their meetings during the day and I see them take off their wedding rings before heading into the bar next to the restaurant. Every girl who works there learns quickly not to bend too far over because of the short skirts of our uniforms.
I’m 22 and it’s my first day on a new job. My male supervisor gets me into a room alone and I think he’s going to tell me about the job but instead he tells me about how much he likes sex and how he needs to have it every day. I get up and walk out of the room and avoid him after that, but I don’t tell anyone because I’m one of the only women there and I don’t know what to do.
I’m 24 and I’m watching Anita Hill on TV, testifying about a man who wants to be on the Supreme Court. I don’t understand everything I’m watching but I understand that she’s a black woman facing down a panel of white men and she is going to lose because, at 24, I do understand who has power and who does not.
I’m any age in my 20s and I’m walking on the street, in a park, in a city, in a suburb, anywhere. Men tell me to smile, to wait a minute, to slow down what’s my hurry, can I ask you a question, can I stand too close to you, can I demand your space, your time, your attention, hey where you going bitch?
I’m 25. I’m buying my first car and the salesman offers a price I know is way too high. I bring my stepdad to the showroom and the same car is now $3000 less. I smile and buy the car but inside, I’m seething.
I’m any age in my 30’s and I think about where I park, where I go, whether I should get in that elevator that only has one man in it and how I should make sure not to make eye contact with men in the streets. All of this is normal to me and I don’t question any of it.
I’m 35. I’m buying my second car and the salesman says we should wait for my husband to get there before talking about the price but would I like to see the makeup mirror? I tell him I’m a lesbian and, if he’s waiting for my husband, he’s going to be waiting a long time. I leave because I’m learning.
I’m 40 and a woman, Hillary Clinton, is taking a serious run at the Democratic presidential nomination. She’s smart, tough and qualified but she endures endless anger, viciousness, and misogyny and she eventually loses in the primary. Male friends tell me it’s probably for the best because there’s just something they don’t like about her, you know?
I’m 49 and a man who said he grabs women by the pussy is elected as the 45th President of the United States. The night of the election, I feel physically ill and my first conscious thought is ‘my God, the Supreme Court.’ The next morning, I overhear two men laughing and congratulating each other about the election and I feel unsafe in my own country.
I’m 51 and another man who stands credibly accused of sexual assault has just been confirmed to serve on the Supreme Court. I see women on television sobbing, screaming, protesting, crying out in their anguish and their fear. I am so angry. I think of every woman I know and I am so angry.
I am any age, every age. I am a woman. I am a daughter. I am discounted. I am underrepresented. I am underestimated. But I am a voter. Today, that has to be enough.”
And maybe not because of: The Big Lie.
Smackdown
The SEVEN
by Mack Williams
1. Thoughts And Prayers
I’m beginning to wonder, whether you’re in a church or a synagogue or a supermarket or a dance club or an elementary school or a high school or a college or a theatre, if we wouldn’t all be better off if it were as difficult to get an assault rifle as an abortion.
And I’m beginning to wonder why the teachers with numerous years of academic training that the MAGAs don’t trust as being able to format a lesson plan are the ones they trust to gun down an active shooter without any training.
2. This Didn’t Age Too Well
3. June, April and January
Now that Juneteenth is an official federal holiday, it would be interesting to see how many classrooms exist where the teacher cannot explain to the students why they are to be off school or their parents are to be off work on that day. I’m looking at you, FL and TX, for starters.
While on the “tough” questions vibe, here’s another: Why do no MLB players wear number 42, except on April 15th, when the entire league wears it? For those who don’t know, it’s because MLB has retired the number worn by Jackie Robinson, so no player is allowed to wear it except on April 15th, the anniversary of his debut with the-then Brooklyn Dodgers.
That’s quite an honor, and Robinson is in the Hall of Fame, so he obviously had a great career, but so did Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle and so many others. Why is Robinson’s number the only one retired like that? It’s because he changed the game like no player before or since when he broke the color barrier, becoming the first African-American to play in MLB in what is referred to as the modern era. So why were Black players excluded until 1947?
Another interesting question might be the following: What holiday is celebrated on the third Monday in January? That would be Martin Luther King Day, celebrated on the Monday closest to his birthday of January 15th. Why would there be a holiday in his honor – the only non-president so honored – given that there have been so many great historical figures in the 246 years of this nation?
If you don’t want these questions to be accurately answered because the answers might shine an unpleasant light on certain people, you don’t want true history detailed. And that’s a problem.
4. Raw Open Wounds
Vince McMahon’s announcement that he’s stepping down as WWE chairman and CEO may turn out to be akin to Donald Trump’s prospective presidential campaign launch announcement this fall. Both of these billionaires – well, at least Vince is really one – might come to find out that big announcements don’t necessarily erase big legal issues.
5. BG
After Vanessa Nygaard, Brittney Griner’s coach on the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, recently stated that if it were LeBron James held in Russia, he would be home by now, a writer (whose name I don’t recall…my bad) tweeted that he wouldn’t be, but on the other hand he would never be in a position to have to supplement his income by playing in the offseason in an hostile country.
She’s definitely right about that…and whose fault is that? Arguably, it’s all of ours!
Some would say that it’s the marketplace that has determined that Brittany – a top star in the WNBA – would make $221,000, while LeBron – a top star in the NBA – would make north of 40 million on the court alone. But we are, in large part, the ones that drive the demand for the product that each of them are a part of. Yes, we love the NBA and LeBron is on the basketball Mt. Rushmore, but there is some great basketball being played in the “W” as well. When we don’t support it in the manner that we could – in person, on TV, or purchasing merch – we help create the situation in which Brittany and many other WNBA stars are playing overseas during their offseason for more money than at home.
So check out a WNBA game this week. You won’t be disappointed.
Open Letter Again
Eight months after writing this, Republicans continue to go crazy with voter suppression legislation, often using Trump’s Big Lie about the non-existing voter fraud (except for various Republicans voting on behalf of their late wife or father) as cover. So my open letter to Senator Joe Manchin remains relevant, but should also be directed at his fellow Senator Kyrsten Sinema. There is still time to Do The Right Thing.
Dear Senators Manchin and Sinema:
Virtually every day I encounter at least one article discussing your position on the elimination or modification of the filibuster, and as a result, I wanted to share my opinion with you. Given that I’ve only passed through West Virginia once in my life, I am definitely not one of your constituents…but those who represent me need your assistance, so I feel justified in sharing.
As I was about to begin I wondered if you as a kid – like many others, myself included – spent several Saturday mornings watching professional wrestling. Not knowing that the outcomes of the matches were predetermined, I couldn’t figure out why the “good guys” always competed in observation of the rules, while the “bad guys” consistently violated the rules – and did so without punishment, as the referee’s attention was for some ungodly reason usually elsewhere while the rule breaking was going on.
Subsequently the rule breaker would assure the ref that everything was being done on the up and up, only to resume cheating at the very next opportunity, and often going on to win the match as a result of the advantages gained through cheating. I guess I found that disconcerting because at a young age many of us were of the belief that people could be counted on – as in the words of Spike Lee’s character Da Mayor – to “always do the right thing.”
Years have passed and we are older now, but many people still want to believe that folks will generally do what is right…which is why I can understand your reluctance to changing the filibuster. I understand your hope that the filibuster can coax that body of one hundred honorable people to find common ground on behalf of all of the citizens.
The only problem is when you find that some of your colleagues refuse to act honorably and cannot be counted on to always do the right thing. If you had any doubt about that, it should have gone away when – with a few notable exceptions – your Republican friends refused to support the creation of a commission to investigate the January 6th insurrection. Without having a majority behind them, they used the filibuster – which you see as a force for good – to kill it. Why should we maintain something for good when others blatantly use it to cover up the misdeeds of their allies…and possibly some of their own?
That said, what’s amazing is that the need to investigate the insurrection may not be the most important reason to remove or adjust the filibuster. Republicans have long realized that their party is not well-served by the nation’s changing demographics, and have engaged in various means of voter suppression targeting Black and Brown voters for years. Like the bad guy characters in the ring, they’ve determined that in order to have a chance at victory, they must cheat – but now as a result of the constant promotion of the rigged election Big Lie by the former guy, they are taking their efforts to new heights. Like the Joker and Catwoman, their criminality is almost ingenious; diminish access in communities of color, which creates long lines on Election Day, which frustrates these voters…who are not allowed to be given water while waiting.
Again in the manner of the wrestling villains, they insist that their measures are above board – “we’re fighting voter fraud” (of which there was none, according to none other than Bill Barr) – but as they clearly are not, we need the Senate to be more than just the inattentive referee. We need you to take charge in the midst of this assault on justice by passing the For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, neither of which will happen without the elimination or relaxation (with regards to civil rights legislation) of the filibuster – the history of which being of constant use to derail the aspirations of African-Americans.
Let’s end this now.
The Greatest and The Biggest Loser
The SEVEN
by Mack Williams
28 September 2021
1. Ali Bomaye
If you’re a sports fan, or a student of history, and you missed Ken Burns‘ masterpiece four-part documentary on Muhammad Ali, you need to find it yesterday. Awesome doesn’t even begin to describe this retrospective of the sport and era and country and world. Order it from PBS so they can continue to air great programs like this.
Ali was The Greatest (sorry Tyson or Marciano or Louis fans) in the ring and was as impactful, if not more, outside of the ring. Now I couldn’t tell you who the heavyweight champion is without consulting Google university.
2. All For Nothing?
I’m thinking maybe MLB commissioner Rob Manfred should shoot a text to his NBA counterpart Adam Silver, or vice versa, because a problem may be on the horizon. I loved the NBA’s play-in tournament prior to the playoffs last season because of the added excitement surrounding a bunch of teams that under previous circumstances would have had no chance at postseason play.
To advance into the actual playoffs, the weaker teams had to win two consecutive games, whereas the 7th and 8th place teams – who had done better during the season – were rewarded by only having to win one out of two games to advance. But next week in MLB, either the San Francisco Giants or the Los Angeles Dodgers – the two teams with the best record this season – will have to play a winner-takes-all wild card playoff game against the St. Louis Cardinals, who were rather mediocre until they won their last 16 straight games.
Given how hot the Cards are, San Francisco or Los Angeles could lose and be immediately eliminated after having the second best record during the season. Clearly it would be fairer if the lesser team had to win twice. Someone text Manfred…
3. Year 25
If you’re a basketball junkie and can’t wait for some hoop, no need to try to find snippets from training camps or preseason games with G League and bench players. There’s some great basketball being played right now in the WNBA playoffs. Go check it out!
4. Truth Hurts
So the results of the Cyber Ninjas’ sham “forensic audit” in Arizona are in…and Joe Biden beat Trump yet again. This has to make Trump the Biggest Loser ever…he’s lost GA about four times, he’s lost AZ about three times, and so on. We know those Ninjas wanted to find that Trump won, but even they couldn’t fix it to show Trump as the winner. As Lizzo might say, Truth Hurts.
5. Truth Hurts pt. 2
Losing is no fun, whether one on one on the tennis or basketball court or a small local election that no one knows about outside of your district or community. Been there on both – so certainly losing a presidential election in front of the entire world must totally suck, and if it were me, I would probably lie about it as well. But one of the results of The Big Lie is another reason the Republican Party (with a few notable exceptions) can go take a long walk off a short pier. And I’m the type of guy that they shhold be reaching out to.
To keep it real, the problem didn’t start with Trump; the idea of winning without Blacks extends back to campaign manager Lee Atwater’s “Southern Strategy” for Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign, if not in part to Barry Goldwater in 1964. But the game and the demographics have changed since then and Republicans have become sinister. Now they realize that if too many traditionally Democratic-leaning Black and Brown voters turn out, they either can’t win or face a more difficult path to victory, even in places that have previously been solidly red.
But instead of trying to compete for and possibly win some of these votes, they have taken the approach of making it more difficult for Black and Brown voters to cast ballots, and have redoubled and expanded their voter suppression efforts while using Trump’s preposterous election fraud lies as an excuse. And, once again, I’m someone they should be pitching…ordinarily I would at least listen…but when they do what they do in TX and GA and so many other places, trashing democracy to advance their own goals, I got nothing for them.
6. National Voter Registration Day
Okay, it’s really late in the day depending on what time zone you are in…but with that said, my maternal grandparents – who left the south with a grade school education at best – made registering to vote job 1 upon moving up north. With all of the Republican chicanery, every vote is necessary next year and in 2024. Do what you gotta do.
7. Unsung Heroes
In case you haven’t noticed, the pandemic is not over yet, so recognition of those who have performed heroic tasks to keep us safe and functioning and alive is still appropriate. You may not be able to bang pots outside your window at 7:00pm, but you can show your gratitude, as Benita Charles does by profiling various heroes on her social media and with her newly released single, “Unsung Heroes,” which is available wherever you get your music online.
Once Upon A Time
The SEVEN
by Mack Williams
17 September 2021
1. Just Wondering
The anti-vaccination fans of the Former guy…do they have any kids? I’m just wondering because my son had to have all kinds of vaccines prior to walking in the school door on day one. And I don’t ever remember the other parents protesting that fact regarding their kids. So perhaps all of these folks are childless.
2. It’s Going Down
Funny how some of the people that want Confederate statues to remain in place – “you shouldn’t erase history” – want to erase history when the subject is the atrocities committed against Blacks. That said, here’s another explanation for those who require one regarding Critical Race Theory and the like.
During the past few months they’ve been adjusting sidewalk corners in our area to make them wheelchair accessible. Most likely none of the officeholders were in office when the sidewalks were originally constructed; in fact, some of them may not have even been alive. So no one today is at all personally responsible for any inconveniences and difficulties that people using wheelchairs and walkers have experienced as a result of the original sidewalks.
But once it has been determined – through the study of the history – that there has been a problem, it’s incumbent upon us as a society to try to address it, even though we ourselves did not create the problem.
3. Friendly Skies
Funny how some of the same people that want to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body are among those that complain about being made to wear a mask on the airplane.
4. Two Of The GOATs
(Source – “Willie Mays Comes Home” GQ Magazine interview 2/1/10)
Triple Play Baseball on Facebook
Willie Mays describing when, as a 17-year-old, he faced Satchel Paige for the first time:
“It was 1948. Satchel had a very, very good fastball. But he threw me a little breaking ball, just to see what I could do, and I hit it off the top of the fence. And I got a double. When I got to second, Satchel told the third baseman, ‘Let me know when that little boy comes back up.’
“Three innings later, I go to kneel down in the on-deck circle, and I hear the third baseman say, ‘There he is.’ Satch looked at the third baseman, and then he looked at me.
“I walk halfway to home plate and he says, ‘Little boy.’ I say, ‘Yes, sir?’ because Satch was much older than I am, so I was trying to show respect.
“He walked halfway to home plate and said, ‘Little boy, I’m not going to trick you. I’m going to throw you three fastballs and you’re going to go sit down.’ And I’m saying in my mind, ‘I don’t think so.’ If he threw me three of the same pitch, I’m going to hit it somewhere.
“He threw me two fastballs and I just swung…I swung right through it. And the third ball he threw, and I tell people this all the time, he threw the ball and then he started walking. And he says, ‘Go sit down.’ This is while the ball was in the air.
“He was just a magnificent pitcher.”
———————————————————
Now that MLB is recognizing Negro League records from 1920-1948 as Major League, I loved being able to go to the official stats and see that Mays had 2 doubles in 1948…one of which being this one. If only this long overdue recognition could have come at a time when more of these stars could have experienced it. Historian Phil S. Dixon does a deep dive into the period in his masterful book, The Dizzy and Daffy Dean Barnstorming Tour – https://www.amazon.com/Dizzy-Daffy-Dean-Barnstorming-Tour/dp/1538127393
5. Let’s Go Mets
Sorry rest of the country, but I could really go for a World Series of up to seven more games like the Mets-Yankees 7-6 instant classic last Sunday. Of course, given the current standings, they may be able to play each other all winter long – as both are currently out of the playoff picture at present.
Hats off to ESPN…this 30 for 30 was awesome, whether you lived through it or just watch it as an historical record! If you haven’t seen it, find it!
In the meantime, Mets fans will enjoy going to NewYorkMetsMania.com, where Alan Karmin regularly writes about all things blue and orange – and has a book as well.
6. Book Corner
While you’re reading, my man Edwin Sasportas has a worthy offering: Echoes From Rucker Park. In what other sport is there a spot where the all-time greats felt a need to visit in order to fully cement their legacy and reputations?
7. And Finally
Thanks, California.
And The Winner Is…
The SEVEN
by Mack Williams
20 August 2021
1. The 2020…2021 Olympics
A few final thoughts on the Olympics…
-In 1997 most basketball fans thought that Michael Jordan was the best player in the game. No one thought that he was a loser when he passed to Steve Kerr for the game-winning shot; in fact, it was widely considered a great play on his part, as he unselfishly passed the ball to a teammate for a better shot than he had, despite his being the best player in the world. So why do these losers want to demean Simone Biles…still the GOAT…who passed off to her teammates whom she thought had a better shot at success?
-Real happy for the gold medal-winning USA men’s and women’s basketball teams, both of which defeated good teams with NBA and WNBA stars that were not scared of the USA on their opponents’ uniforms. This was no small feat. And also happy for coach Gregg Popovich, who has now won NBA gold, Olympic gold, and speaking truth to power gold.
-The immediate past President has to be the first president ever to gloat over the defeat of a US team.
2. White Flag
Would you be mad if you lived in Chicago and had shelled out good money for tickets to see what was thought to be a competitive Cubs team, only to watch the front office jettison half the roster at the trading deadline? Whatever happened…in all sports…to the idea that for whatever reason or reasons, this wasn’t our year – but let’s run it back next year?
3. Get Pete In
One of the toughest things to do in sports is to get hits in baseball. You have to hit pitches thrown at incredible speeds, or curving – or both – and not only must you be successful in doing that, you must hit it somewhere where the 8 players in front of you with gloves on are not. In MLB, if you have a batting average of .300…which means that you do that 30% of the time…you are doing great.
So when Hall of Famer Jack Morris was suspended from his Detroit Tigers broadcasting job for mocking Asians as Shohei Ohtani came to bat, I remembered a guy asking me about Pete Rose and the Hall of Fame. My response was that they apparently didn’t have a morals clause when they opened the Hall, because there are any number of horrible racists and general bad actors enshrined there, so unless you’re gonna throw them out, might as well at least let the all-time hit king be on the ballot. What do you think?
4. Young At Heart
As the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster began to take shape, my first thought was that it was the NBA version (with the soon-to-be 37-year-old LeBron James, along with Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol and Carmelo Anthony) of the PGA Senior Tour. Apparently I wasn’t alone…and we now know LeBron has already identified this idea as a motivational factor in this first complete season in three years. Should be big fun to watch!
5. Buh Bye
No, Senator, your time has not been successful. Hopefully in your future spare time at home you will learn to be less afraid of Black peaceful protesters than violent white terrorists attempting an insurrection.
6. Texas Again…
Why does it seem like Republicans in Texas (and a few other places, by the way) think that it’s dunk on Black people season? Spoiler alert…it’s not.
7. They’re All Winners
Everyone won’t get a prize, but all of the filmmakers in the 2nd annual online Mom Film Festival, running through 8/23, are winners already. Go to MomFilmFest.com for tickets, and support these creators.
Winning The Race
The SEVEN
by Mack Williams
18 July 2021
Hey, somehow this didn’t get uploaded…so here it is now, a month late…
1. You Got What I Need
Been a rough year for legendary rappers. RIP Biz Markie.
2. Election Integrity
Maybe if election integrity is the problem, we should keep Republicans from voting…or at least make them wait on line outside the polling place in the hot sun for several hours with no water.
3. Practice Makes Perfect
After all that stuff we’ve heard for years about so-called “Crooked Hillary,” isn’t it funny that she remains in possession of a license to practice law, but Rudy Giuliani does not?
4. Not A Fan
I gotta believe that the Former Guy, given what transpired on January 6th, has got to be the first president to have to state that he’s not a fan of coups. But can we be certain of that?
Even FOX News had to display a chyron which basically stated that Trump is a bald-faced liar.
5. Fool’s Gold
Prior to the events of this past week, I would have been planning to root for the USA men’s basketball team in the upcoming Bubble Olympics…but I will root even harder now with the addition of JaVale McGee to the team as a replacement for Kevin Love. After all of the ribbing he has been subjected to on Shaqtin’ A Fool, I would love to see him add a medal to his three NBA championships. As far as what medal that will be, don’t be fooled by the two exhibitions that they lost. The whole world is getting better, but any team with Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Draymond Green, Damian Lillard – as well as the soon-to-join Kris Middleton, Devin Booker and Jrue Holiday – would be hard-pressed to not get the gold.
6. CRT
So basically the people who are lining up to make critical race theory the latest bogeyman of the hour are saying that despite the fact that Black people were enslaved for 250 years, then openly Jim Crowed, raped, beaten, lynched, murdered, massacred and discriminated against for the next 100, we can’t discuss this 50-some years later. What sense does that make…but then again, not much sense is coming from that corner nowadays.
7. Retired Number
Meanwhile I had a great discussion with a school librarian about coming to her school and doing a presentation about my book, “Jackie Robinson and the Negro Leagues.” Robinson’s number 42, which he wore with the Brooklyn Dodgers, has been universally retired by Major League Baseball, so no player will ever wear 42 again except on the day or days around April 15th, the anniversary of his Dodgers debut.
I guess we shouldn’t be discussing that either. But feel free to check out the book – https://www.amazon.com/Jackie-Robinson-Negro-Leagues-Williams-ebook/dp/B00SMW7HHC/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=jackie+robinson+and+the+negro+leagues&qid=1626665904&sr=8-2
Do The Right Thing
An open letter to Senator Joe Manchin.
Dear Sen. Manchin:
Virtually every day I encounter at least one article discussing your position on the elimination or modification of the filibuster, and as a result, I wanted to share my opinion with you. Given that I’ve only passed through West Virginia once in my life, I am definitely not one of your constituents…but those who represent me need your assistance, so I feel justified in sharing.
As I was about to begin I wondered if you as a kid – like many others, myself included – spent several Saturday mornings watching professional wrestling. Not knowing that the outcomes of the matches were predetermined, I couldn’t figure out why the “good guys” always competed in observation of the rules, while the “bad guys” consistently violated the rules – and did so without punishment, as the referee’s attention was for some ungodly reason usually elsewhere while the rule breaking was going on.
Subsequently the rule breaker would assure the ref that everything was being done on the up and up, only to resume cheating at the very next opportunity, and often going on to win the match as a result of the advantages gained through cheating. I guess I found that disconcerting because at a young age many of us were of the belief that people could be counted on – as in the words of Spike Lee’s character Da Mayor – to “always do the right thing.”
Years have passed and we are older now, but many people still want to believe that folks will generally do what is right…which is why I can understand your reluctance to changing the filibuster. I understand your hope that the filibuster can coax that body of one hundred honorable people to find common ground on behalf of all of the citizens.
The only problem is when you find that some of your colleagues refuse to act honorably and cannot be counted on to always do the right thing. If you had any doubt about that, it should have gone away when – with a few notable exceptions – your Republican friends refused to support the creation of a commission to investigate the January 6th insurrection. Without having a majority behind them, they used the filibuster – which you see as a force for good – to kill it. Why should we maintain something for good when others blatantly use it to cover up the misdeeds of their allies…and possibly some of their own?
That said, what’s amazing is that the need to investigate the insurrection may not be the most important reason to remove or adjust the filibuster. Republicans have long realized that their party is not well-served by the nation’s changing demographics, and have engaged in various means of voter suppression targeting Black and Brown voters for years. Like the bad guy characters in the ring, they’ve determined that in order to have a chance at victory, they must cheat – but now as a result of the constant promotion of the rigged election Big Lie by the former guy, they are taking their efforts to new heights. Like the Joker and Catwoman, their criminality is almost ingenious; diminish access in communities of color, which creates long lines on Election Day, which frustrates these voters…who are not allowed to be given water while waiting.
Again in the manner of the wrestling villains, they insist that their measures are above board – “we’re fighting voter fraud” (of which there was none, according to none other than Bill Barr) – but as they clearly are not, we need the Senate to be more than just the inattentive referee. We need you to take charge in the midst of this assault on justice by passing the For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, neither of which will happen without the elimination or relaxation (with regards to civil rights legislation) of the filibuster – the history of which being of constant use to derail the aspirations of African-Americans.
Let’s end this now.
The 7 Blog 