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The League Won't Punish Howard for Anthem Comments; Cuban Will Punish Racist E-Mailers

The embattled Mavs star must be breathing a sigh of relief today. According to The Dallas Morning News, the NBA won't be punishing Josh Howard for exercising his freedom of speech, however recklessly:
While the league still is processing information about Howard's videotaped bashing of the national anthem, previous instances of players saying inflammatory things have not brought forth any suspensions.

A couple years ago, Allen Iverson's rap lyrics sent ripples throughout society and the league. Before that Charlie Ward's anti-semitic comments were a source of angst.
Speaking of Iverson, where's the praise for him playing the national anthem at his charity event -- totally unnecessary at a flag football game, and directly contradicting the view many still hold of him as a possession-wasting Black Panther of a guard. Even though Iverson was heart-broken when he was partly blamed for Athens 2004/not invited back into the USA Basketball fold. So I guess the whole world should be focusing on Iverson's patriotism, at least as much as they're trashing Howard's jihadism. Unless having the anthem there was a farce and practically inviting trouble -- as implied by the fact that only Howard seems to notice it's playing, and everyone else is just busy mugging for the camera phone. So way to look out for yourself and no one else, Iverson. Some things never change.

The real hero in this sordid tale has to be Mark Cuban, hardly a stranger to saying stuff that gets him into trouble. First, he takes an all-business, pragamatic approach to this, stressing Howard's need to watch what he says at all times. But then, he turns around and goes hard at some of the virulent reaction against Howard -- by publishing a ton of offensive emails he received, along with addresses, on his blog. Granted, these are some of the worst, and most of them patently irrational. And there are reasonable criticisms to be made of Howard's feelings, or how and when he had ("made" implies too much intention) them heard.

Cuban reminds us, though, that as offensive as you might find Howard's comments, you've got to keep in mind that there's just as much to reject on the other side. By the way, his post is probably NSFW, unless you work for the KKK.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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WTG Pubes, you’re now officially a scumbag. Congrats!

by franknbeans on Sep 19, 2008 4:39 PM EDT reply actions  

Our national anthem really should be written by a black guy.

by L'etat, c'est moi on Sep 19, 2008 7:37 PM EDT reply actions  

First off. Howard and his idiotic comments cause violent reaction from me, get the hell out if that is how you really feel you punka$$ bum.  BUT!!!  I love what Cuban has done, if racist e-mails are recieved then expose the cowards and let the world know who they are and what they have said.  Josh Howard is a dumba$$ and a torn ACL is the nicest thing I wish upon the punk, but many black men and women revere this country and honor it with everything they have, many black men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice for the red white and blue.  Have you ever watched the Olypics?  Men and women of color show every bit as much respect and emotion as do white athletes when they bring home the gold.
This is not an issue of race, anyone how touts racism is an idiot and a blind fool…

What Howard said was based on the views of one man, albeit a dumba$$ fool of a man who does not deserve the luxuries lavished upon him, but a man none the less.

Racism?  Only a total fool would come to that conclusion based on the fact that the idiot speaking is black!

You go Cuban, expose the idiots!!

by born2playin69 on Sep 19, 2008 7:45 PM EDT reply actions  

First off. Howard and his idiotic comments cause violent reaction from me, get the hell out if that is how you really feel you punka$$ bum.  BUT!!!  I love what Cuban has done, if racist e-mails are recieved then expose the cowards and let the world know who they are and what they have said.  Josh Howard is a dumba$$ and a torn ACL is the nicest thing I wish upon the punk, but many black men and women revere this country and honor it with everything they have, many black men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice for the red white and blue.  Have you ever watched the Olypics?  Men and women of color show every bit as much respect and emotion as do white athletes when they bring home the gold.
This is not an issue of race, anyone how touts racism is an idiot and a blind fool…

What Howard said was based on the views of one man, albeit a dumba$$ fool of a man who does not deserve the luxuries lavished upon him, but a man none the less.

Racism?  Only a total fool would come to that conclusion based on the fact that the idiot speaking is black!

You go Cuban, expose the idiots!!

by born2playin69 on Sep 19, 2008 7:47 PM EDT reply actions  

First off. Howard and his idiotic comments cause violent reaction from me, get the hell out if that is how you really feel you punka$$ bum.  BUT!!!  I love what Cuban has done, if racist e-mails are recieved then expose the cowards and let the world know who they are and what they have said.  Josh Howard is a dumba$$ and a torn ACL is the nicest thing I wish upon the punk, but many black men and women revere this country and honor it with everything they have, many black men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice for the red white and blue.  Have you ever watched the Olypics?  Men and women of color show every bit as much respect and emotion as do white athletes when they bring home the gold.
This is not an issue of race, anyone how touts racism is an idiot and a blind fool…

What Howard said was based on the views of one man, albeit a dumba$$ fool of a man who does not deserve the luxuries lavished upon him, but a man none the less.

Racism?  Only a total fool would come to that conclusion based on the fact that the idiot speaking is black!

You go Cuban, expose the idiots!!

By the way, when have you ever been forced to pick cotton Josh?  Name the time and date!

Mistakes of the past can only haunt the present when fools refuse to let go!

by born2playin69 on Sep 19, 2008 7:48 PM EDT reply actions  

The fact that Cuban would not issue a formal apology on behalf of himself and the team is sickening.  Anyone who can’t see fault in that is nuts.

by franknbeans on Sep 19, 2008 8:22 PM EDT reply actions  

man forget howard and his melt down this year. who gives a shyt about what he says, thinks or does. He is just a kid who has basketball talent and nothng else and when that disappears what teh shyt will he do, and who cares about a bum who does not respect all the people that gave their lives so his cluck ass can play basketball for millions. 

by bullysixchicago on Sep 19, 2008 10:35 PM EDT reply actions  

why should cuban issue an apology for a something he did not say I guess if your friend says something way out of the box you have to apologize for him, I say the cluck that should be apologizing is that nitwit howard not cuban. No howard is to stupid to realize what he has done he thinks just like the getto baller he is that since he has a little money he can say shyt and not have to answer for it. I say when he comes to your stadium boo his arse like you would the any cluck that disrespect our flag

by bullysixchicago on Sep 19, 2008 10:40 PM EDT reply actions  

Howard is STUPID!

by tricky guillermo on Sep 19, 2008 10:46 PM EDT reply actions  

racist people are idiots.
el el taco.

by El Jañítór! on Sep 19, 2008 11:26 PM EDT reply actions  

Is he interested in punishing his racist player? I have no tolerance for entitlement, and it seems that the NBA and professional athletes as a whole embody just that. I like to watch, I just don’t want to hear. Howard gives the Warrick Dunns of the world a bad name.

by nobucfan on Sep 20, 2008 8:06 AM EDT reply actions  

bullysix – you clearly have never owned a business and have no concept of how PR works. Cuban has a fan base to cater to, that’s why!

by franknbeans on Sep 20, 2008 10:09 AM EDT reply actions  

Didn’t Howard say something like "I’m black, we don’t care about the National  Anthem?" Seems like racism to me. In  any case, in this country, he has the right to say stupid stuff like that.

by ravinraven on Sep 20, 2008 10:49 AM EDT reply actions  

To second B2P69, racism=saying something about someone else’s race. All Howard did was mention his own. Unless you belong to a population of little cute "Star Spangled Banner" sheet musics.

by bethlehemshoals.tsn on Sep 20, 2008 11:30 AM EDT reply actions  

JOSH HOWARD IS AN UNGRATEFUL PIECE OF TRASH! I HOPE HE LIVES TO REGRET HIS  WORDS!

by will1066 on Sep 20, 2008 12:45 PM EDT reply actions  

Screw Josh Howard a second tier NBA player, Mark Cuban a wannabe owner of a sorry NBA franchise, they deserve one another, lets call it a match made in hell.

by Steel817 on Sep 20, 2008 7:28 PM EDT reply actions  

The owner is a hero, huh?  First of all, his comments about the individual were completely disingenuous and his recommendation deceitful and cowardly, never addressing the statements made by the individual and implying that there was a misunderstanding of what he said.  Furthermore, focusing on the emails is another means of avoiding the statements made by the individual.  Finally, it is cowardly and hypocritical to rail against the emails and essentially support the statements by the individual.

by sportsFan on Sep 20, 2008 10:00 PM EDT reply actions  

I’m glad Cuban did what he did. So many sports posts are ridiculous and I’m sure the fact that they are posted anonymously leads to that. These sites could be a place for people to express genuine concerns for topics, but instead frequently de-evolve into two posters cursing at each other over some minutiae… Now I’ll state that when I read Josh Howard’s comments about the National Anthem I was interested in just what is so horrible about his life? He’s a multi-millionaire and with his skills could surely find a job in another country, so in fact he CHOOSES to live in America. He needs to lay off the pot-smoking for awhile, clear his head, and think about what he needs to do to be happy. I’m a bit older than Josh and have found that people who have problems tend to have problems no matter where they choose to live. He’s a great player and I hope he becomes a great person someday. I’m pulling for you Josh!Mo DickensKansas City, MO

by Mocary on Sep 22, 2008 10:50 AM EDT reply actions  

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