The superstar forward of the Dallas Mavericks Josh Howard has been exposed once again as an arrogant and idiotic professional athlete.
A video has surfaced this week of Howard showing disrespect toward our national anthem. The clip reveals Howard at a July charity flag football game mocking the anthem while it is being played.
In the video, Howard boasts, “The Star Spangled Banner is going on right now. I don’t even celebrate that (expletive). I’m black.” He also mentioned his support for Barack Obama, another curious endorsement that the Democratic nominee would prefer not to have.
This type of behavior is shocking and disgusting because it shows how little Howard appreciates the country that has given him so much. In the United States of America, Howard has become a multi-millionaire. In this country, he is adored by millions of fans and plays professional basketball, a dream that only a few people can realize. It is sad that he doesn’t realize all the tremendous benefits that he has received in this great country.
The owner of the team, Mark Cuban, downplayed the incident and said that Howard’s behavior would be handled internally. A meaningless slap on the wrist is not enough punishment for a clearly troubled star. In July, Howard was arrested for drag racing 94 mph in a 55 mph zone. In the spring, Howard was criticized for boasting to a radio interviewer that he smokes marijuana. In the series against the Hornets, Howard threw a birthday party for himself after the team lost, infuriating his coach.
Howard is an example of a spoiled, out of touch, star that seems to think he can live by his own set of rules. Sadly, he is another professional athlete who is not a role model by any stretch of the imagination. On almost a daily occurrence a privileged movie star or high paid athlete makes a foolish comment or breaks the law. It would be nice to hear about more of our stars who display respect for our country and our laws and actually contribute something positive to our society.
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. He is the Political Analyst for WGNO-TV ABC26 and the Political Editor for NewOrleans.com. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
Richard, do you honestly feel that only republicans are dirty? You can put both parties in a grinder and all you would get is 25# of Ol Roy Dog Food. Both parties are corrupt. Whenever you have politicians in office for 10,20,30+ years you have an elite group that has lost touch with reality. Partisan politics is killing this country. Congress has the lowest approval ratings in the history of the world. But go ahead and blame the republicans and blame Bush...and keep putting the same trash back in office. Charles Barkley said, "poor people have been voting for the democrats for 50 years, and they are still poor" I wish some old school basketball player takes Josh Howard out in a game and tells him "God Bless America MF" Written by Sid
on 9/22/2008
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The evil Republicans - bought and paid for by their Wall Street backers - are bravely opposed by those who refuse to be bought by the banking interests - those who champion the working men and women, the disenfranchised - the Democratic Party (Huzzah!). WOW! What a great story. Too bad it's not true. You see Buddy, Wall Street figured out long ago how to maintain power, they own BOTH parties. All this tussel about abortion rights, gun rights, minority rights, that's just (to them) unimportant issues to cloud over the fact that on matters that are important to the big banking interests both parties will march in lock step (i.e. NAFTA being passed in '94 with a Democratic majority congress and Democratic President over labor's howls of protest, as but one example). Written by kpf
on 9/22/2008
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"All that matters is the almighty dollar...." Yep. Indeed the very motto of the investment bankers, Enron, Halliburton, the Keating Five and all of the other "special friends" of the GOP. Some athlete "disrespecting" the national anthem or whatever may well be in poor taste (I don't condone it) but does not hit me in the pocketbook. This other business, the real issues, hit us all. Written by Richard P.
on 9/21/2008
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Josh Howard is a sad example of our "me first" generation that doesn't have a clue as to what the "symbols" of our country really mean. All that matters is the almighty dollar and these rich so called superstars don't appreciate any of it. Our soldiers, firefighter, policemen, teachers, are our true superstars. For every Drew Brees there's several Josh Howardsand that's a shame. Idiots like Howard can really play basketball, but he is a selfish player with great skills who can't spell "team" and one of dozens of reasons that pro basketball sucks. Written by Sid
on 9/21/2008
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This story broke my drivel meter! I'm sending you the bill, Jeff! TW Written by Tee Dub
on 9/21/2008
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Why don't you talk about the economy Jeff or do you think we're a nation of whiners like McCain's friend Phil Grahmn? Written by David Quidd
on 9/20/2008
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Those are good thoughts Richard, but the fact of the matters are; No one truly understands the economy in its entirety, and the reason why? Because it is imaginary…. What is happening now is the old way of doing things have been replaced with the new way of doing things and valuation is not understood.. And valuation is at the root of the recent failures… The stock market is currently attesting to this fact. Written by
on 9/20/2008
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The important thing is that the flag, the national anthem, the pledge of allegiance, etc. are symbols and that's all that they are. While disrespecting or mocking any of these may not be in good taste it's still a good idea to be wary of politicians or others wrapping themselves up too tightly with symbols and in symbolism. Let's discuss the bona fide important issues and stories and leave this fluff alone. Meanwhile the Bush the son, like his father and even Ronald Reagan before him has finally started to get it in terms of the need to be pragmatic (is Cheney losing his grip?) with his actions and statements very recently. I imagine that the right wing ideological purists are disgusted now. I have no sympathy for them, however. I care more about what's best for the country than about someone following the party line. I'd rather discuss the real issues than this silliness no matter how the right wingers would like to indulge themselves. Written by Richard P.
on 9/20/2008
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When we had a hockey team here in town I happened to be at a game one night when a young Canadian started skating before the National Anthem was finished. He was on the opposing team. When the puck was dropped the New Orleans Brass winger who was opposite of him dropped his gloves and commenced to pounding this young man's head.
When the fight was over both players received 5 minute fighting penalties. When the penalities were served both men hit the ice. This young canadian got a second dose for disrespecting our national anthem. Beat up again. I'm sure this was a lesson this individual will never forget. The National Anthem and our flag does not just represent the politicians in Washington, it represents you and me as well as every other American living or deceased. The people make this country what it is. Whoever disrespects that deserves a fist to the jaw. Written by Tony G
on 9/20/2008
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First I notice how little press this subject is getting. It reminds me how liberl the media really is. I think Josh Coward, Sandra Bernhardt, Michelle Obama, etc. should just leave the country if they don't like it. I definitely don't want these crazy liberals to ruin it. Written by Reggie
on 9/20/2008
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Another thing is that as president McCain would still lack the constitutional authority to fire the chairman of the SEC. In these serious times the nation does not need someone so unserious about economic issues as McCain has been. Written by Richard P.
on 9/19/2008
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While this column continues to be all about fairly trivial fluff the Wall Street Journal had a serious column about McCain's non-comprehension about the economy, the financial markets and who's exactly to blame for everything. Suffice it to say that if McCain seriously believes in what he purports to believe about the SEC chairman he's getting it all wrong, not to mention exercising hypocrisy on a gargantuan scale seeing as how he can take shots at a regulator while all along having been one the major proponents of deregulation (and also an opponent of the federal bailout of the federal bailout of AIG up until the last minute when he switched his position). Don't we need a president at a time like who really does understand the economy? Written by Richard P.
on 9/19/2008
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Are you saying that perhaps it is time to reexamine our foreign immigration policies? Or is this perhaps another prime example of how whitey continuously holds the black man down? And to think, Pete Rose was banned from the baseball hall of fame for betting on his home team……. What a shame…. Written by
on 9/19/2008
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The leftwingers on this site all think that Charles Barkley is an economic genius, and he's just a basketball player. But when another ultra-rich thug repeats the same sentiment about America that we have heard from Mr. and Mrs. Obama, the leftwingers discount him as just a dumb ungrateful basketball player. Typical double standards. Written by Uncle, Uncle, Uncle
on 9/19/2008
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I thought I was reading Ed Staton's column... Jeff, and your point IS?:::: Yes. Josh, the basketball player, is a jerk... and? (Don't get down on yourself,there will be plenty of material next week.) Written by KjunLady
on 9/19/2008
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What's more important: Obama's support by a controversial basketball player, or John McCain's support for a controversial president (George W. Bush) and his failed economic and foreign policies? Written by David Quidd
on 9/19/2008
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