{"id":2260680,"date":"2024-06-05T17:09:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T21:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-espn-host-rages-over-race-culture-around-caitlin-clark-shes-white-in-a-sport-of-black-people\/"},"modified":"2024-06-05T17:15:33","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T21:15:33","slug":"watch-espn-host-rages-over-race-culture-around-caitlin-clark-shes-white-in-a-sport-of-black-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-espn-host-rages-over-race-culture-around-caitlin-clark-shes-white-in-a-sport-of-black-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Check out: ESPN Host Expresses Frustration With &#8216;Race&#8217; Dynamic in Caitlin Clark&#8217;s Sport &#8211; &#8216;She&#8217;s White Amongst Black Athletes!"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">38<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwatch-espn-host-rages-over-race-culture-around-caitlin-clark-shes-white-in-a-sport-of-black-people%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2260680&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The\u2062 story revolves around \u200cthe fervent discussion about race in the \u2063sports media, particularly focusing on the coverage of WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark. Commentator \u2064Michael Wilbon expressed frustration over the portrayal of Clark and\u200b emphasized the need for a more nuanced \u200cand honest conversation about race in sports, drawing parallels\u2062 with past basketball rivalries. The\u2064 narrative \u200bcenters on the intense debate surrounding race\u200c in sports \u2064media, with\u200d a specific focus on \u200cWNBA\u200c newcomer Caitlin Clark. \u200bMichael Wilbon, a \u2062commentator, voiced his \u200ddiscontent with how Clark is\u2063 depicted \u200dand stressed the necessity for a deeper, truthful dialogue about race in sports, \u200clikening it to \u2062historical basketball rivalries.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/%20\"><span>Michael Schwarz<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 5, 2024 at 12:10pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>The talking heads in the establishment sports media <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wolff-torches-stelter-you-dont-report-whats-real-your-fault-people-hate-media\/\" title=\"Wolff Torches Stelter: You Don\u2019t Report \u2018What\u2019s Real,\u2019 \u2018Your Fault\u2019 People Hate Media\">love talking<\/a> about race. But they really love talking about why everyone should be talking about race.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday\u2019s episode of ESPN\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0307800\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pardon the Interruption<\/a>,\u201d veteran sports writer and co-host Michael Wilbon vented anger over what he regarded as the national sports media\u2019s inadequate, simplistic and dishonest coverage of WNBA rookie and women\u2019s basketball superstar Caitlin Clark.<\/p>\n<p>In a conversation with longtime co-host Tony Kornheiser, Wilbon insisted that the discussion around Clark must \u201cdeal with, and I mean initially and loudly, race \u2014 race and culture in America\u201d because Clark is \u201cwhite in a sport of black people.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"de\">Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon on Caitlin Clark.<\/p>\n<p>(via <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PTI?\">@PTI<\/a>) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/J0yegXV00d\">pic.twitter.com\/J0yegXV00d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/awfulannouncing\/status\/1797861319712133311?\">June 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>On Saturday, Clark found herself at the center of that very discussion when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-caitlin-clark-hit-violent-cheap-shot-angel-reese-appears-celebrate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chennedy Carter<\/a> of the Chicago Sky blindsided her and shoved her to the ground in a cheap shot that didn\u2019t even resemble a legitimate basketball play. Sky rookie Angel Reese, Carter\u2019s teammate and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/millions-watched-caitlin-clark-angel-reese-beating-average-viewers-nba-playoff-games-last-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Clark\u2019s rival<\/a> from their college playing days, visibly applauded the move. Clark\u2019s Indiana Fever <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wnba.com\/game\/1022400044\/CHI-vs-IND\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">won the game<\/a>, 71-70.<\/p>\n<p>Afterward, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-chennedy-carter-doesnt-regrets-caitlin-clark-shove-getting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Carter<\/a> expressed no remorse. Reese, too, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-angel-reese-throws-jab-caitlin-clark-cheap-shot-backlash-go-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">embraced<\/a> her role as villain \u2014 the same role she once <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-sports-analyst-tears-villain-angel-reese-cries-media-take-l\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cried about<\/a> at a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-claim-spending-bill-is-bipartisan-leave-gop-out-of-presser\/\" title=\"Democrats claim spending bill is \u2018bipartisan\u2019, leave GOP out of presser\">post-game press conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In sports media and elsewhere, the Carter-Reese-Clark brouhaha sparked conversation \u2014 much of it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/view-hosts-show-know-sports-know-politics-absurd-take-caitlin-clark-cheap-shot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">inane<\/a> \u2014 about whether black WNBA players <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/stephen-smith-lights-analyst-wnba-delusion-caitlin-clark-jealousy-talks-wnba\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">resent the attention<\/a> Clark receives and attribute it to her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-hannity-goes-off-espns-pat-mcafee-caitlin-clark-backlash-horrible-host\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">skin color<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And that conversation came on the heels of many similar and equally nauseating discussions over the last few months. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/jemele-hill-says-caitlin-clark-popular-race-sexuality-racial-meltdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Race-mongers<\/a> have bemoaned Clark\u2019s various forms of alleged \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-view-co-host-says-caitlin-clarks-white-privilege-popular-part-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">privilege<\/a>.\u201d They have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-nba-champ-goes-race-rant-says-journalist-isnt-black-media-praising-caitlin-clark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shamed black journalists<\/a> for giving her too much positive coverage. They have complained about black players not receiving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/usa-today-columnist-infuriated-caitlin-clark-shoe-deal-says-black-players-deserve\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shoe deals<\/a> like the one Clark received. And they have whined about an imaginary race-based <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wnba-superstar-plays-race-card-claims-caitlin-clark-benefits-double-standard-boils-blood\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">double-standard<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the incessant conversation about race, Wilbon demanded more conversation about race.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe discussion about Caitlin Clark needs to be much larger\u201d than it has been thus far, he said, insisting against all evidence that too much of that discussion has focused on particular games or how many points Clark scored.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd it needs to be much more nuanced, and it needs to be honest, and it\u2019s not honest,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Wilbon blamed his fellow journalists.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn your podcast this morning I talked about how angry I am about national media,\u201d he said to Kornheiser.<\/p>\n<p>Remarkably, Wilbon argued that the media has effectively ignored the race angle. And that must change.<\/p>\n<p>Then, Wilbon cited the legendary rivalry between Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers as proof that basketball has historically presented a useful setting for this race-centered discussion. Bird, who is white, and Johnson, who is black, developed a deep respect and eventual friendship.<\/p>\n<p>Clark, meanwhile, has filled a void left empty since Bird\u2019s retirement, at least according to Wilbon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re not gonna find that white American star in men\u2019s basketball. Caitlin Clark is that. And she brings people into the tent because she\u2019s great and she\u2019s unique,\u201d Wilbon said.<\/p>\n<p>To his credit, Wilbon did not attempt to shame anyone other than his fellow journalists.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd it\u2019s OK for people to admit that they identify\u201d with Clark, he said.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, the argument had an obvious internal contradiction.<\/p>\n<p>Wilbon claimed that Clark appeals to white fans because the NBA lacks a \u201cwhite American star.\u201d He knows, of course, that three-time league MVP <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokicni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nikola Jokic<\/a> of the Denver Nuggets and 2023-24 scoring champion <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Luka Doncic<\/a> of the Dallas Mavericks rank among the league\u2019s elite players, and both happen to be white.<\/p>\n<p>But Jokic hails from Serbia and Doncic from Slovenia. Hence, Wilbon clearly sees Clark as the white <em>American<\/em> star basketball fans crave.<\/p>\n<p>Ironically, if Wilbon is right about that, then his entire argument about race falls apart. In that case, Clark would appeal to fans because of her nationality, not her skin color. If fans wanted white heroes simply because of their skin color, they would follow Jokic and Doncic for that reason.<\/p>\n<p>The problem, of course, is that Wilbon and others who harp on race are almost certainly wrong. After all, as a star guard with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark set the all-time NCAA Division I <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/even-though-iowa-star-caitlin-clark-broke-scoring-record-ap-claims-probably-still-wont-reach-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scoring record<\/a>. She appeared in two consecutive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-caitlin-clark-iowa-fall-undefeated-south-carolina-epic-march-madness-showdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">national championship games<\/a>. Her playing style, which combines long-range shooting with pinpoint passing, is something young girls rightly believe they have a chance to imitate.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps those factors account for her popularity.<\/p>\n<p>We can never know, of course, why other people are drawn to certain celebrities. Most of us would probably struggle to explain that about ourselves. But whatever role skin color has played in the Clark phenomenon, it is far less than Wilbon and the race-mongers have suggested.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, those media talking heads tend to have a very low opinion of their audiences. Thus, they will keep talking about race while demanding that you do the same.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, one hopes that Clark and Reese someday will follow in the footsteps of Bird and Magic. May those young women be great, and may they become friends because of it.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>In just a few months, the world is going to change forever. The 2024 election is the single most important election of our lifetime. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We here at The Western Journal are committed to covering it in a way the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/caitlin-clark-lands-historic-nike-shoe-deal-worth-millions-just-before-her-rookie-season-kicks-off\/\" title=\"Caitlin Clark Secures Multi-Million Dollar Nike Deal Ahead of Rookie Season Kickoff\">establishment media simply<\/a> will not: We will tell the truth, and they will lie.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>But Big Tech and the elites don\u2019t want the truth out. That\u2019s why they have cut us off from 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone cut your monthly income by 90%. That\u2019s what they\u2019ve done to people like us. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>As a staff, we are asking you to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to fight this once-in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-forced-to-cancel-rally-devastated-by-whats-coming-im-so-sorry-god-be-with-you\/\" title=\"Trump expresses deep regret and cancels rally, sending heartfelt apologies and prayers\">-a-lifetime fight<\/a>. Without you not only will The Western Journal fail, but America will fail also. As Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Will you support The Western Journal today and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>become a member<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A Western Journal <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>This is the time. America will live or die based on what happens this year. Please <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to get the real truth out and to fight the elites, Big Tech, and the people who want America to fail. Together, we really can save the country.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Thank you for your support!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Please stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"after-article-tags\">\n<p>  Tags:<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/basketball\/\" rel=\"tag\">Basketball<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/boston-celtics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Boston Celtics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/dallas-mavericks\/\" rel=\"tag\">Dallas Mavericks<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/denver-nuggets\/\" rel=\"tag\">Denver Nuggets<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/espn\/\" rel=\"tag\">ESPN<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/mainstream-media\/\" rel=\"tag\">Establishment media<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/los-angeles-lakers\/\" rel=\"tag\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/race\/\" rel=\"tag\">Race<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/us-news\/\" rel=\"tag\">U.S. News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/wnba\/\" rel=\"tag\">WNBA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tag\/women-in-sports\/\" rel=\"tag\">Women in sports<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45760\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45760\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45760\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45760\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45760\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Michael Schwarz holds a Ph.D. in History and has taught at multiple colleges and universities. He has published one book and numerous essays on Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Early U.S. Republic. He loves dogs, baseball, and freedom. After meandering spiritually through most of early adulthood, he has rediscovered his faith in midlife and is eager to continue learning about it from the great Christian thinkers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Michael Schwarz holds a Ph.D. in History and has taught at multiple colleges and universities. He has published one book and numerous essays on Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Early U.S. Republic. He loves dogs, baseball, and freedom. After meandering spiritually through most of early adulthood, he has rediscovered his faith in midlife and is eager to continue learning about it from the great Christian thinkers. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a fiery June 5, 2024, commentary at 12:10 pm, Michael Schwarz highlighted the focus on race in sports media. On ESPN&#8217;s &#8220;Pardon the Interruption,&#8221; Michael Wilbon, a seasoned sports writer, passionately expressed frustration about the intense discussion on race, emphasizing its prevalent theme in the industry<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2056,"featured_media":2260681,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/clark-sbs-wilbon-for-june-5-2024.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2260680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/clark-sbs-wilbon-for-june-5-2024.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2260680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2056"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2260680"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2260680\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2260681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2260680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2260680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2260680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}