NIKE CONSPIRACY ?

 

Via AOL Fanhouse and CNBC:

Darren Rovell has developed a conspiracy theory involving Nike and Team USA Basketball.

All of the members of Team USA (pictured above) are Nike clients. Except Dwight Howard. You’ll notice in the above photo you can see the (Nike) shoes of all the players. Except Dwight Howard. Coach Mike Krzyzewski is CONVENIENTLY covering up the Adidas logo on Howard’s shoes.

Coincidence? All of the players are lined up in descending order based on height. Except Howard and Chris Bosh. They are switched around.

Nike is no stranger to Olympic basketball controversy. In 1992, after the U.S. won the gold medal, Dream Teamers, most notably Nike endorser Michael Jordan, draped themselves with American flags on the medal stand. They did so to cover up the Reebok logos on their official Team USA warm-up jackets. Coincidentally, the New York Times revisits that story in an article today.

A CNBC poll asked “Do you think Dwight Howard’s positioning is a coincidence?”

Naturally, 87% said “no.”

It’s a conspiracy.

MICHAEL JORDAN COVERS REEBOK LOGO WITH AN AMERICAN FLAG DURING THE 1992 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL CELEBRATION

AMERICAN PLAYER UP FOR SPOT ON RUSSIAN OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM

TRAVIS HANSEN

Former BYU basketball player Travis Hansen says it’s always been his dream to play in the Olympics.

Hansen may soon get a chance to make that dream come true. If he plays for Russia. Hansen spent one year of professional basketball with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. For the rest of his career the 30-year-old Hansen has bounced around Europe. Recently he was invited by Russia to try out for their Olympic basketball team.

Obviously, with superstars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and other dreamteamers representing Team USA, Hansen wasn’t going to be selected for the American Olympic squad. Instead, Hansen accepted the invitation from the Russian team to represent their country in the Olympics. Said Hansen,

 

“I’d love to play for Team USA but they didn’t invite me. Every athlete dreams about playing in the Olympics,” Hansen said. “The Cold War ended a long time ago, so I figured why not.”

 

BECKY HAMMON

Hansen’s case is similar to that of WNBA player Becky Hammon. Hammon, the runner-up in last year’s WNBA MVP voting, was passed over for a spot on Team USA. Instead, she’s playing for Russia in the upcoming Olympics. Hammon has received a ton of criticism for being “unpatriotic.” Originally from Rapid City, South Dakota, she grew up in America’s heartland.

U.S. Olympic coach Anne Donovan recently blasted Hammon,

 

 

“If you play in this country, live in this country and you grow up in the heartland - and you put on a Russian uniform - you are not a patriotic person.”

 

Hammon compounded the situation by becoming a Russian citizen. There have even been articles written which detail Hammon being called a “traitor.”

Travis Hansen hasn’t been the victim of any such difficulty. Apparently nobody knows who he is. He also still hasn’t made the final roster of the Russian squad.

 

HEY NBA, OKLAHOMA CITY IS FULL OF RACISTS

The irony was overwhelming.

On a day when Oklahoma City was virtually guaranteed an NBA franchise (thanks Washington State Legislature!), their fans revealed what racist hicks they really are.

In a brilliant article, basketball writer, Darnell Mayberry, of The Oklahoman, pointed out just how ignorant some of the residents of Oklahoma City could be. Mayberry compiled quotes from his newspaper’s message boards, other pieces written by The Oklahoman and callers to local talk radio.

Darnell Mayberry

Frankly, it’s embarrassing.

The piece features quotes from various OKC residents talking about the prospect of NBA basketball coming to their town. And they don’t seem very happy about it.

Citing every possible ignorant stereotype, fans openly wondered if the NBA’s presence would increase Oklahoma City’s crime rate and drag down the city.

Unbelievable.

Some samples: “We don’t want the NBA, with its image problems, fatherless children, egomaniacs and shootings. No thanks.”

And, says Mayberry, suggestions for possible team nicknames included “Posse,” “Thugs” and “Hoodlums.”

Man, those Oklahoma City fans are really stuck in the 80’s.

Shawn Kemp

Actually, I was thinking 1880’s:

And, before you accuse ME of doing some stereotyping of my own, here’s a couple of facts for you.

Civil Rights groups that monitor hate organizations list Oklahoma City as a CURRENT location of Neo-Nazi activity.

Oklahoma is also the home of multiple chapters of the Knights of The Bayou (an offshoot of the KKK.)

Sure, this guy was recently fired as a NEBRASKA state trooper for joining the Klan, but he’s an Oklahoma native son.

And both the History Channel and Wikipedia cite Oklahoma as a traditional hotbed of Klan activity.

So, here’s some free marketing advice for Sonics owner Clay Bennett. Since the fans in your hometown may not be into their new basketball team, here’s some additional memorabilia you might consider selling:

Each item is available for purchase directly off the KKK’s official website. (seriously!)

And there’s something for the whole (Oklahoma) family:

KKK Kup

KKK Koaster

Mousepad

KKK Keychain

Maybe something for the Little Lady:

Official KKK Oven Mitts

It’s bad enough that a great city like Seattle is going to lose its basketball team. But, losing it to a place like Oklahoma City is the worst!