This Week's Show
Dre, Patrick, and Brian are back for more on racism and sexism in pro sports, and the ongoing NBA off-season. Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Rhonda Rousey, and more.
Hosts
- Andres Alvarez (@nerdnumbers)
- Patrick Minton(@nbageek)
- Produced by Brian Foster (@boxscorebrian)
Sources
You can watch us live at twitch.tv/nerdnumbers almost every Monday at 9:30pm EST.
Please subscribe to Channel NerdNumbers on YouTube and like us on iTunes!
Video Show
This Week's Poll
Show Notes
Rowdy Roddy Piper
We talk "Roddy Piper's death and legacy. As Patrick notes, Roderick George Toombs the person was way different than the character of Piper.
Patrick hasn't followed wrestling for a while, it turns out he followed Dave Meltzer back when he had a newsletter. Patrick, in fact, works at the company that helped Meltzer make one of the first iPhone apps for wrestling!
We talk more about how the WWE has a history of racism built into its writing (better video from What Culture on that)
I make a note that professional wrestling is "the Muppets Show", I heard this idea from Max Landis on a podcast with Dolph Ziggler.
Patrick equates the lazy writing in wrestling using racism to lazy sexist tropes for female portrayal in pop culture. It's lazy writing and if your job is to write for a living, "lazy" is not what you should not be your goal.
I use CM Punk and Mick Foley as an example of how you can create tension without needing something "shocking" via good dialogue.
Also, Mick Foley is one of the most interesting individuals in terms of content.
Patrick references a shoot interview that Piper gave in 2011 that hurt his ties with the WWE.
Before passing Piper, started a podcast and would occasionally hog the mic. A kindred spirit if ever there was one!
We note our frustration at hearing things like "not all police are bad!" when we talk issues with systemic racism. We're not trying to prove every person is a racist. Rather, we're acknowledging that there is pervasive and systemic racism in much of our culture.
Brian brings up the "Post-Racial" narrative, which has fooled many americans.
We note that the U.S. history had many policies in housing that segregated the population, and that still impacts populations today.
Patrick does have some hope, e.g. @BreeNewsome getting a platform she wouldn't have had a decade ago.
If you have suggestions for guests on the show (and have good contact information for them), you can use the contact form on the site. We'll also figure out an email at some point as well.
The NBA offseason
The Warriors traded Gerald Wallace for Jason Thompson. As they're heavy in the luxury cap, this was a cost saving move.
The Timberwolves signing Andre Miller doesn't make a lot of sense. Patrick doesn't think this team is making the playoffs.
Patrick calls Jeremy Evans the next Brandan Wright. He's a great player but wake us up when a team actually give him minutes.
Shout Outs
Patrick shouts out Flip Saunders (@Flip_Saunders) Twitter account and his great tweets on three-pointers. Patrick suspects he's being subtweeted. We hope this is true!
Brian shouts Grantland for the great Sacramento Kings Suicide Squad video.
I shout out Noah Smith (Noahpinion) for a good article on big data and narrative focusing on Malcolm Gladwell.
Overtime - Ronda Rousey
We talk the amazing thirty-four second K.O by Rousey and her dominance. I'll say this conversation gets nuanced, so tune in!