The article "Cheating, Gender Roles, and the Nineteenth-Century Croquet Craze," by Jon Sterngrass (1998) is one of my favorite sports history articles. It touches on social class and gender norms in sports at the turn of the 19th century in America. The best parts are reading about women shuffling the ball with their long dresses to gain advantages and such. Hilarious and enriching at the same time. You can download the article here, or for free from the LA84 Foundation.
Some would consider Rajon Rondo's comparison of LeBron James to Kevin Garnett as a back-handed compliment. KG is a Hall of Famer, but to pit him side by side with the greatest player in NBA history is ridiculous. Here's what Rondo had to say:
"Kevin Garnett was probably my favorite teammate as far as communication-wise," Rondo began. "The first thing I noticed about Kevin, the first time we played pickup in 2007, it was crazy how loud he was talking on the floor. I’m excited to get back to that moment where someone behind me is talking defense, talking to me, where I need to be on the floor. Pick coming left, flare right. Having a safety or a linebacker behind you, telling you everywhere to go, it’s gonna make my job and everyone’s job a lot easier." What makes the comment more unflattering is the fact James and Garnett have a bit of a history, facing off five times in the NBA playoffs (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014). Remember this James troll job: Rondo and James might need to clear the air a bit before tipping off the new season. |
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