’68 Olympics salute deserves no honor
ESPN ignored the violent extremism behind the black power salute given by two medalists at the Mexico City Games.
Jonah Goldberg
July 29, 2008
» Discuss Article (104 Comments)

Last week, ESPN awarded Tommie Smith and John Carlos the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs — the sports network’s equivalent of the Oscars — for their once infamous, and now famous, black power salutes from the winner’s podium at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

The stench of self-congratulation surrounding ESPN’s decision is thicker than the air in a locker room after double overtime. “As the passage of time has given us the opportunity to put their actions into the proper context,” gloats USC professor Todd Boyd in a column on ESPN.com, “their supporters can now feel vindicated while their detractors must eat their words.”

Opinion L.A. Blog: The best and latest…The argument that Smith’s and Carlos’ critics must dine on their denunciations rests on an inch-deep nostalgia and the triumph of celebrity culture…

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg29-2008jul29,0,4087454.column

His racism is on full display.