[Click on Twitter.com/gregcote, where randomly selected followers are winning Ford Fusions, kitchen makeovers and trips to Cancun! Not really. But sign up anyway. Looking for the Chad Henne poll? It's in the post just below this one].
[New column by me and it's the most read sports piece on MiamiHerald.com today: Former Hurricane and Dolphin LB Jay Brophy, now an Ohio high-school coach, recalls coaching his favorite wide receiver: LeBron James. Click here].
Blog annoys sports fans, takes brief but jarring foray into social commentary: I have discovered over the years that I am not easily offended. Maybe it's that the job I do required me to develop crocodile-thick skin. Maybe it's that white guys like me usually are not the subject of stereotyping or jokes. In any case a friend e-mailed me a joke and a video and I found both funny -- but also wondered if either had crossed a line for people perhaps more sensitive than myself. Is it OK to laugh at either or both? Are they benign or perfectly acceptable? Or are either or both in poor taste or even racist?
The questionable joke/one-liner: "I always heard a black man would be president when pigs fly. Sure enough, 100 days into the Obama presidency: Swine flu!"
The questionable video: Click on Sneak into America for a well-done video to the tune of Neil Diamond's "Coming to America," this one making critical fun of Mexicans crossing the border illegally.
One more while I'm at it: Have railed about this before, but, I'll be at a Benihana's tonight, and I want my chef/entertainer to be a Japanese guy, dammit, not a lady named Sarah from Jersey! Is that socially or politically incorrect? Do I have the right to request a native chef at a restaurant selling a Japanese experience?
Blog returns to sports with Hanley Ramirez note!: The Sporting News polled dozens of baseball hall of famers and experts for a "50 best current players" list and Marlin Hanley Ramirez checked in No. 5, after Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Johan Santana and Manny Ramirez. But no other Marlin made the top 50 and I doubt any would have made a top 100. That's the problem. After Hanley, who's the best Marlin? Jorge Cantu? Josh Johnson?
Dolphins enhance fan experience, according to Dolphins: Dolphin games at BadBeer Stadium this fall will find 5,000 hand-held wireless devices in the hands of certain premium-seat holders on the club and suite levels. The devices will offer instant replay, different camera angles, field-level audio and split-screen video and stats. In other words, while at the game, device-holders will now be able to experience watching it at home, but on a really, really small TV.
NBA semis unexpectedly competitive: Still think it'll be Kobe vs. LeBron in the Finals. But after one game Lakers and Cavs sure look vulnerable. If somehowit ends up Denver-Orlando, TV will sell Carmelo Anthony vs. Dwight Howard. Which is like Kobe-LeBron Lite.
Latest round of thanks...: ...to some of the outlets running my stuff or having me on include American Chronicle (Beverly Hills), Anchorage Daily News, Merced (Calif.) Sun-Star, Kamloops This Week (British Columbia), Regina (Saskatchewan) Leader-Post, Seattle Times, USA Today and as always 790 The Ticket.
Depressing Places" list snubs Miami: The Business Insider lists America's Most Depressing Places, with Detroit predictably No. 1 and West Palm Beach checking in No. 7 as Florida's only entry. Click on Prozacville for the list. I hear Miamians are extremely depressed about being left off, all but assuring we'll make the next list.
Congratulations to new American Idol: Kris Allen may now be expected to put out one or two bad singles preparatory to losing his record deal and fading slowly from public view. "Hey, it worked for me!" said that gray-haired "Soul Patrol" guy whose name I've already forgotten.
Download your 'Fins iPhone application
When did the awards show of American Idol become the most watchable show on TV?
Best of the best: Fergie looking hot, hot, hot, while performing alongside some rather (dope!?) piece of theater/sound of the Black Eyed Peas.
Unexpected one-upsmanship (womanship?): Kara DioGuardi snookering boob-jobbed bikini girl. Every woman librarian in America must have been cheering their a**** off!
Classic classics: Great performances by Carlos Santana, Rod Stewart, Lionel Richie, Cyndi Lauper, Queen, Kiss.
Great show, and disagree Greg. Kris Allen will end up doing far better than you expect. If as reported, there were 100 million total votes, there's at least 55 million teenyboppers out there that cherish this guy. That's a pretty big market.
Posted by: OC Dolphin | May 21, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Im a black man 29yrs old. That joke is a bit ignorant but not at all racist.
Posted by: Rod | May 21, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Cote I love your blog or at least the guys & gals(occasionally) that post on it. It's UNLIMITED!
Posted by: r. duke | May 21, 2009 at 01:29 PM
Catchy tune. Isn't there some racist political bigwig in Texas that wants to Texas to secede from the "Union?" We can give Mexican immigrants Texas...
Posted by: r. duke | May 21, 2009 at 02:50 PM
sorry meant wants Texas to secede yada yada
Posted by: r. duke | May 21, 2009 at 02:51 PM
...and Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.
Posted by: r. duke | May 21, 2009 at 02:53 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BltfQj_A5sec
Posted by: r. duke | May 21, 2009 at 03:06 PM
nevermind...
Posted by: r. duke | May 21, 2009 at 03:10 PM
cote is a douche.
Posted by: TheChampionUnderdog | May 21, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Cote, maybe you have a hidden ajenda and posted that stupid joke to keep it circulating. This is a classic example of why we can't come together in this country. I'm in the military and have deployed three times and each deployment had close calls. Is that what I'm fighting for? Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it.
Posted by: Neal | May 21, 2009 at 06:05 PM
OC Dolphin,
you, i believe, are one that can testify that missing from that slideshow of most depressing/depressed places in america is pomona, california; a town so tough that its police officers don't get out of their patrol cars!! as far as the king of them all, east saint louis, illinois-the place is so poor that the cop cars DON"T HAVE TWO-WAY RADIOS!!! also, a few years back somebody won a lawsuit against the municipality (loose usage), and in order to pay the judgment THEY HAD TO SELL CITY HALL!!! this stuff would be funny, but people have to live in these places with limited opportunities of getting out- can you imagine what kind of education these places provide? jackie joyner came out of that hell-hole, and she needed to be the female jim thorpe to get to UCLA. i can't think of too many others from east saint louis.
Posted by: the shadow knows | May 21, 2009 at 07:37 PM
I've heard a lot more harsh jokes than that.
big deal. Voted for or Voted against, whatever, the man is the President and needs to do the best for this country.
Can honestly say that I have never watched American Idol.
Tight race in the NBA playoffs.. Good for the sport.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 21, 2009 at 08:40 PM
Cote, tsk, tsk, tsk,,, stirring the pot again.
I gotta hand it to ya, you know how to drum up some controversy and let us hammer away at each other.
Tell you this, I don't think you get the big picture on the way / method Parcells and his people run / rebuild a team. They took a team in a tailspin out of control, 1-15, make some drastic moves & in one season wins the division. Now you and Armando commenting if the team doesn't mortgage its future for some old guys all is lost. Taylor was only taken because he came relatively cheap. No Boldin or Any Other guy the team has to trade away anything higher than 3rd rd pick. Take notes dude because these next 3 yrs are going to keep you busy reporting the progress of the Dolphins.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 21, 2009 at 09:10 PM
Yup I agree Dolphins will be solid as opposed to being smoke and mirrors as was case during Marino years. Not to suggest I didn't love Marino, Duper and Clayton act but the team as a whole was on very shakey ground indeed.
Posted by: raoul duke | May 21, 2009 at 10:55 PM
Remember 51-45 loss to Jets... I just remember f***ung swiss cheese defense and zip, nada running game that made me want to kick in my TV screen.
Posted by: raoul duke | May 21, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Obviously very emotional issue when you can't even spell f***ing right.
Posted by: raoul duke | May 21, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Yah know Jimbo getting back to Sham Wow for a moment, it occurs to me if only Mr.Vick had bought Sham Wow to jerk off his dogs rather than mistreat them he would be a beloved athlete and role model for children now. Not to mention the endorsements from PETA alone would have made rich beyond avarice.
Posted by: raoul duke | May 22, 2009 at 12:23 AM
Ramirez top 5? He can't even play defense! Not even in the top 5 SS.
Posted by: Doc | May 22, 2009 at 06:49 AM
good point Duke. Or he could have used the Sham Wow to clean up the crime scene better. He's a role model for wanna be gansta's now.
Temporarily Vick is going to work construction for $10 an hour AND do community service,, cleaning up dog droppings at a Humane Society. Heard he bought a case of Sham Wows for that gig.
PETA= People Eat Tasty Animals. Reportedly that's what they stand for anyway. I like my steak medium rare off the grill. Take that along with a mixed salad, baked sweet potato or red skin potato and I am set.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 22, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Flipperaldo tiene douche gill intakes.
Posted by: MynameisGinoLatino | May 22, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Mr. Cote,
i am bewildered as to why you would think that either the "joke" or "the video" is "racist". "racism" being defined as the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to other races, there is nothing about "swine flu" or "the immigration song" that i see fits this definition. they may be in bad taste or "border" on, in the case of the illegal immigration problem, nativism, but i am missing the "racism" aspect in both.
Posted by: the shadow knows | May 22, 2009 at 03:36 PM
God I must admit I love a good T-Bone. I'll take salad with vingerette or Italian dressing. Baked potato though fries-crinkle cut crispy-would also do quite nicely. shadow, Tom, OC whatta'ya(absurd contraction)have? It's on Cote. I believe they even serve Manatee here for those with a more exotic palate...
Posted by: r. duke | May 22, 2009 at 07:12 PM
duke, i prefer rib eye, vingerette or ranch dressing on the salad is good.
If the opportunity ever presents itself,, get yourself some elk steaks, marinate and grill. ain't no gamey deer taste with elk.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 22, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Contest idea.
Who can share the most tasteless joke?
Nothing is off limits.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 22, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Ryan Leaf is in trouble with the 5-0.
Drug and possible breaking an entering and burglary charges. What a loser.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 22, 2009 at 10:45 PM
What is happening to our youth? Art Schleister is looking like a highly ethical, well grounded and "count on in the clutch" type of guy compared to some of todays athletes.
Posted by: r. duke | May 22, 2009 at 11:55 PM
How does a woman get Mike Tyson to cry during "lovemaking?"
Answer: Mace.
Posted by: r. duke | May 23, 2009 at 12:05 AM
What do you call two gay Bobs? Oral Roberts.
Posted by: r. duke | May 23, 2009 at 12:06 AM
What the hell has been goin' on here?
Who the F**K or what is Gino "the gay" Latino?? What a moronic pile of horse puckey...!!! Is Patty Chump up to his old tricks again? I bet he is...!!
Gay Gino Latino needs to be dropped off at the Bermuda Triangle.
LMAO..!!
Posted by: Flipper72 | May 23, 2009 at 01:22 AM
Welcome back Flipper, haven't seen your posts in a while.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 23, 2009 at 08:46 AM
Where the hell have you been Flipper? Oh wait, I know. ginrai pointed out to us that you're actually FlippinTom, FlippedOutOC, dukieflip, JimboFlop, flippinshadow, and on and on and on. So you've always been here. Well good to see you using your old name again, right ginrai?
Posted by: Tom | May 23, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Flipper ginrai is getting all hot and bothered that your back.
Posted by: r. duke | May 23, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Flipper help ginrai. He is covinced we are all the product of your imagination as Tom said. When I suggest he takes his meds he tells me to take them "flipperaoul."
Posted by: raoul duke | May 23, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Gino the Latino drives an El Camino in Reno & a Chevy Impala in Ocala.
Posted by: raoul duke | May 23, 2009 at 01:28 PM
Cote rides his yellow Schwinn 3-speed with rare banana seat all over Dade County.
Posted by: raoul duke | May 23, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Without a helmet ala Gary Busy. What a rebel you are Cote!
Posted by: raoul duke | May 23, 2009 at 01:34 PM
Flipperaldo actua como George Takai. Flipperaldo shares the same sexual traits.
Posted by: MynameisGinoLatino | May 23, 2009 at 07:14 PM
Raoul,
I am, you are, OC, Tom, Dean, Mike1, Dave in VA, Mr Woodcock, NaplesJackPatsFan, Shadow, why were all the same ONE, WE are Flipper.
Dude has figured out our(my) multiple personality traits.
Ginrai is a f*****g genious.
Were like the guy behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz.
I did see a picture of Ginrai on a milk carton in Nuremberg... Dude is a COW
Posted by: Jimbo | May 23, 2009 at 08:42 PM
Has anyone heard from NJ John on here lately?
Posted by: Jimbo | May 23, 2009 at 08:43 PM
For your information Flipper is:
The know all, see all
One eye on top the pyramid
King Dolphin amungst the Flipper Fans.
In other words "He Da Man"
Posted by: Jimbo | May 23, 2009 at 08:47 PM
Flipper the big flopper in the bottom 40!
Posted by: Jazz | May 23, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Jimcowherd belly brewer!
Posted by: MillerTime | May 23, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Jimbo winner of foulest joke contest wins pack of "SHAM WOW" to clean the zip off the mirror...
Posted by: r. duke | May 23, 2009 at 11:15 PM
This pig don't fly!
Posted by: Jimbo | May 23, 2009 at 11:29 PM
thanks Duke, I'd like to give credit to this tremendous award,, first of all to my foul mouthed friends and family,, without you all this would have never happened. Second of all my nasty NYCity exwife who without her, I would never had the cynical, don't give a fly'n f*** attitude. Last of all the corrections community on completely dementing what morals and compassion remained.
And of course Larry Flint, Eddie Haskell, Herman Munster, Popeye, Heinie "Chick" Himmler, Sham Wow Tard actor.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 23, 2009 at 11:37 PM
New York, Neewww YoooOOORRRRRKKKKK!!!!!! Thankyou Mr.Chairman of the Board.
Posted by: r. duke | May 24, 2009 at 12:10 AM
Hey Guys..!!
Good to be back and talk some Fins Football with you all. I see Patty Puke is posting as Ginrai and all sorts of other characters.
I guess you can say he's gone International with the "Spanglish".....WTF..!!!
Just a weird ass dude from the slums of Boston. What a loser...just like his cheatin' ass team and HC. I can't wait till we dominate them twice this year...!!
Duke, Jimbo, Tom, OC, Shadow, Mike1, Dave in VA, Naples Jack, Noel, the real Ginrai and the rest of the usual suspects-
let's get this party started...!!!
Yes, ginrai.... WE ARE ALL ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY..!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rzUHBrGHdo
Posted by: Flipper72 | May 24, 2009 at 01:12 AM
Flippertonian and Patty Spitball are one alike.
Posted by: ginrai | May 24, 2009 at 11:49 AM
The nice thing about The Ramones is you can tell they never took drugs as so many rock stars do....
Posted by: Tony the Tiger | May 24, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Good point Tony but I'm smoking a bowl of Frosted Flakes for breakfast so you gotsta leave pal.
Posted by: r. duke | May 24, 2009 at 01:12 PM