Forgive me for piling on. And forgive me for using a football term when we're supposed to be talking basketball. It's just that Sarah Palin's speech the other day -- the one where she resigned as governor of Alaska -- has really taken me out of my game.Look, I don't bring this up much (as far as you know) but I played a little point guard in high school and college (Division III). And I was on the verge of looking to take a hard foul after I heard her use that point guard analogy to explain her decision.
I know as point guards we're in the minority here, but I can't let a politician – or anyone for that matter – denigrate the position I've come to love. This has nothing to do with partisanship. This has to do with all point guards coming together and refuting this kind of speech.
I'm talking all point guards, past and present, pros and non-pros, from Bob Cousy to Jason Kidd to that guy Hank at the gym who may be undersized but still tries to play the right way.
Let's break down the quote:
"Let me go back to a comfortable analogy for me – sports – basketball. I use it because you're naïve if you don't see the national full-court press picking away right now. A good point guard drives through a full-court press, protecting the ball, keeping her eye on the basket.Where do you even begin with this assault on the point guard position?
"And she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can win. And I'm doing that – keeping our eye on the ball that represents sound priorities – smaller government, energy independence, national security, freedom. And I know when it's time to pass the ball, for victory."
C'mon, a good point guard knows never to drive through a full-court press. A good PG knows you beat the press with a pass. Unless you're Curly Neal or maybe Earl Boykins, dribbling into traffic will put you on the bench, down from the coach and sitting with the scrubinis.
And how about " ... keeping her eye on the basket."
Well, that's about the last place a point guard's eyes should be. Now, if you're Billy Ray Bates or World B. Free or Reggie Miller, keeping your eyes on the basket may be a little more acceptable. But good point guards don't focus on the rim. That's unheard of. Unless, of course, it's time to get a little some for themselves.
And what about the "And I'm doing that -- keeping our eye on the ball ..."
Now I don't want to nitpick here but that's about the first thing a point guard learns -- to not look down at the ball while dribbling and handling. Sure, it might work for Corey Maggette but he's the exception -- and he's not a point guard, either.
But it was Palin's late-speech, wrong-sport dagger about sometimes having to "call an audible and pass the ball" that really got me to thinking, like about how long the suspension would be for committing a flagrant 2 against a politician.
Hey, I'll take a couple of games if it means my point guard brethren know I have their back.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Holy cow. A Billy Ray Bates reference.
THANK YOU! I thought i was the only one who was utterly insulted by her "basketball analogy". So much wrong with it! How the hell did that ignorant person get into office!
Methinks she doth speak for all point guards of comedy gold.
me thinks this blog is pointless and dumb. shes not too knowledgeble about the game, true, but i understood what she meant. this is dumb
Come on, Matt! I have seen numerous point guards drive through defenses to score layups or make passes at the last minute.
When is the press going to ease up on this lady? She is certainly as smart as John Kerry! Probably smarter.
God, I hope you're kidding.
the press and people will "ease up on her" when she gets it that she's not the next messiah for the american people...as long as she keeps herself in the media spotlight, she has no one but herself to blame for what's revealed when the light shines in the corners...if she wants them to "go easy on her" then disappear...it's that simple, but she won't, because the former beauty queen has gotten a taste of national attention and now is addicted...and as far as her intelligence goes...comparing her to Kerry is no big endorsement, he would have made a lousy president...most of us knew that...however, at no point did he think that "dinosaurs and humans walked side by side, I saw the footprints" or "I can see Russia from my house and that qualifites me on foreign affairs" or "I don't know what NAFTA stands for or which countries are involved...so while I'll give her an A+ for animal cunning, I wouldn't go so far as to credit her with intelligence past the level of her friend "joey six pack"
the only time you guys were on a basketball court were as cheerleaders
Michael, that was "International attention", We saw Palin in Australia and wondered what the hell caused someone that dumb to go so far. I think there was a huge sigh of relief all over the planet when Obama won, Thanks to all those who eased our fears, appreciated.
I think the sight of our Prime Minister meeting Sarah would have been cringe worthy.
Wolfie!
To Matt Steinmetz: Dude, you're a dunce. Please write some good stuff or go flip burgers.
You are the typical liberial pig that is infecting our country.
Don't blame him, its non spelling ignorant people like you that have the country way past an infection and straight to a full on case of CFMS(Catagory Five Moron Syndrome).
"Liberial"?
The way I see it, Palin's team won a state championship, with her at point guard. Steinmetz's team won nothing, zip, nada. Maybe his team would have fared better if he had taken lessons from her on how to play the point guard position.
Oh, and Steinmetz, why didn't you write a blog about our illustrious president when he claimed that the U.S. consisted of 57 states. Maybe you are biased or maybe you too think we have that many states. Perhaps your next blog could consist of naming all of those states with extra credit for naming their capitals.
Sorry Martin, but a girls state championship in Alaska doesn't give her credentials to improperly use a sports analogy. Just like seeing Russia from her house didn't give her foreign policy experience...but she thought it did. Im glad to see her go because she is dumb as rocks and has the nerve to be playing victim. She also does not have the temperament necessary for politics on the grand stage. I cannot wait to see who she blames for when the hammer comes down for having her house built from money and material slated for use on the Wasila Sports Complex.
p.s. As a true point guard... I would also remind Sarah that we NEVER quit until the game is over. Or maybe she thinks it is over... What hammer is going to drop next? Hahaha
steinmetz is threatened by an old mother of 5 having some fun with a trip down memory lane sports analogy? get a life douchebag..
This is a HUMOROUS post, douchebag!
GET AN F'ING LIFE! THIS IS ALL YOU HAVE TO WRITE ABOUT? DON'T TELL ME!!!??? YOU'RE AN EAST COAST "LIBERAL" WRITER!!! OH!! I BET YOU HATE KOBE AND THE LAKERS, RIGHT? OHHHH...AND YOU'RE A PRINCESS JAMES FANATIC...RIGHT? HOW DID I KNOW? BECAUSE YOU ALL SMELL ALIKE.
so neo-conservatives are all kobe fans and vice versa? ok got it. thanks for letting us know.
MAN I AM GLAD SOMEBODY PUT THIS LADY IN CHECK LETS SEE NOW!!!! A GOOD POINT GUARD MUST BE GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TEAM(VP REPRESNTIVE)MUST HAVE GOOD DRIBBLING ABILITY(KNOWLEDGE), BALL HANDLING KNOWLEDGE), EYE CONTACT WITH THIR SURROUNDINGS(COMMUNICATION), MUST BE A TEAM PLAYER(NOT SELF CENTER,HAVING A DIFFERENT AGENDA), RESPECT FOR THEMSELVES(NOT ARROGANT, OVER ZEALOUIS), TEAMMATES(THOSE WHO ARE ON YOUR RUNNING CARD, THOSE WHO ARE ON YOUR POST/ AND AFTER POST CAMPAIGN STAFF) AND COACH.(BOSS, REAL LEADER OF THE FLOCK). A GREAT LOVE FOR THE GAME,(ELECTED OFFICE BEING PRESENTLY HELD OR PRESENT OFFICE SEEKING) AND A LOVE AND RESPECT THOSE WHO LOVE THE GAME AS MUCH (CONSTIUIANTS,PEOPLE IN WHICH YOU SERVE) MOST OF ALL A POINT GUARD NEVER GIVE UP NEVER QUIT NO MATTER WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN (PERSONAL LIFE IN SHAMBLES THOSE AROUND YOU PERSONAL LIFE IN SHANBLES) NO MATTER WHEN YOU LOSE A GAME(ELECTION)WHEN YOU THINK YOU BIGGER THAN THE GAME ITSELF OR THE GAME NO LONGER SERVE YOUR SERVE YOUR INTREST THEN DO THE RIGHT THING RESIGN AT SEASON END.(AFTER YOUR ELECTED TERM ENDS) BUT NEVER QUIT.(AFTER A LOSING GAME, MIDDLE OF SEASON, CAINT PLAY TODAY BECAUSE SICK, (AKA) PERIOD IS ON ECT ECT,I FIND IT HARD TO SUPPORT YOU IN ANY PUBLIC OFFICE YOU SEEK IN THE FUTURE WHEATHER APPOINTED OR ELECTED SIMPLY BECAUSE CANT RUN YOUR ON HOUSEHOLE, CHILDREN OUT OF WEDLOCK PREGNANT DAUGHTER BASTARD GRANDCHILD HOW CAN YOU BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC WELL BEING. SO YES DO LIKE ALASKA EN VIROMENT FREEZE UP AND WE AWAIT GLOBAL WARMING TO THAW YOU OUT IN TIME THE THE ALASKA SALMONS RUN UP STREAM TO COMPLEATLY KILL ANY FUTURE POLITICAL AMBITIONS YOU MAY HAVE FOR GET ABOUT A BOOK DEAL YOUR LIFE NOT THAT INTERESTING I LAUGH AT ANY AND ALL TALK OF YOU IN ANY WHITEHOUSE PLEASE GOP SUPER STAR IF SO REPUBS ARE DEAD IN THE TRACKS