Racism in Warriors Game Commentary

In the waning minutes of the Suns' 128-105 victory over Golden State last night, Phoenix's umpteenth man Pat Burke was on the floor guarding Ike Diogu. Burke's eyeball bumped into one of Diogu's dagger-elbows and much bloodiness ensued. The Phoenix fans (who had cheered every time Congressman Burke so much as touched the ball) booed with great emotion as the big man headed to the locker room, blood-drenched towel covering his face. Those watching from Golden State land were then accosted with the following remarks from the FSN Bay Area crew (Bob Fitzgerald and Jim Barnett, I believe):

Pat Burke is Irish -- the Irish are tough. He's probably a rugby player. Stitches are no big deal for those guys.

No sympathy at all for my favorite white chocolate brotha! Imagine if the roles had been reversed and Diogu had been the hurt one. "Ike Diogu is Nigerian -- Nigerians are tough ... [insert your own Nigerian jokes here]."

As saddened as I was by the commentary, I was somewhat cheered up by the prospect of adding to my portfolio of NBA bleeders. Although the picture would have been more compelling if Baron Davis had been the one to take Burke down. Boom Dizzle played last night with both wrists taped, in what could only have been some kind of publicity tie-in for the Rocky Balboa movie. The Warriors will do anything for a buck.