Doping the Sweet Science

So long as Filipino welterweight boxing champion and living legend, Manny Pacquiao, disagrees with the drug testing procedures his slated opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr. insists he adheres to, this bout will not happen.  Mayweather Jr. and Sr., their entourage, even Oscar De La Hoya, claim 'PacMan' is doping.  Standard doping tests for professional boxers include urine samples before and after fights however, Mayweather Jr. is demanding that Pacquiao agree to Olympic style drug testing, which includes random blood and urine tests that would commence once the contracts are signed.

Pacquiao meanwhile, refuses to agree and has since filed a defamation suit against Mayweather Jr. and his group for damages to reputation.  Good for PacMan.   Here we have a multimillion dollar athlete, who grew up without a high school education, and he has since passed his high school equivalency exams, and enrolled into Notre Dame of Dadiangas University so he can obtain a university degree for his post-boxing political career.  Mayweather's claims therefore, are certainly damaging to Pacquiao's 'from the ground up' reputation.

Without a hint of naivete from yours truly, I am well aware there's a chance Pacquiao is doping, but there's also a chance most other professional athletes are as well, Mayweather Jr. included.  Just because Oscar De La Hoya, and a handful of other of Pacquiao's Mexican chumps say he doped (because he spoon fed them the meaning of  'whoop ass'), does not legitimize their unsubstantiated and harmful accusations. If Mayweather is scared, and he should be,  he should reconsider fighting PacMan, instead of smearing him.

Torn Muscles

So we have officially moved into our new place.  It took roughly 12 hours this past Monday December 28th, but it's finally over. As for the daunting task of unpacking and setting up our new pad, well it seems mild and painless compared to the grueling affair me, Sabrina, and - thankfully - Greg went through a couple of days ago.

First, U-HAUL (I'll never recommend them) completely F*&^%^' up our reservation.  They claimed to have sent us a last minute email on Sunday at 3pm notifying us of a transfer of pick-up locations.  Needless to say, we never received the email, so we ended up at the initial location at 10am only for there to be no moving van for us. From there, U-HAUL sent us across the city to a most inconvenient location. We managed to wrestle a discount from them, but they pretty much strong armed us as we had to move that day no matter what.  Two hour later and two hours late, we finally had our moving van and were ready to go.  We spent the next three hours shuffling up and down the stairs, loading our belongings into the van, and the next 3 hours unloading it.  Simply put: BRUTAL.

All I can say is that it never hurts to have some good friends with you in a move. If it weren't for Greg, me and Sabrina on our own might have run out of steam.

In any case, at least our new place has a nice deep bathtub for me to soak my torn muscles in...

Moving...

My apologies for the extended absence.  First, the holidays and Christmas came around (a belated 'Merry Christmas' to all of you who celebrate!), and now, we're moving.  I cannot wait to be in the new place, but tomorrow is going to be hellish...  up and down the stairs in our building for a good three to four hours!  Ugh.

I'll be back soon with some things to say about Jersey Shore and the delayed Pacquiao/Mayweather Jr. fight.

I think Mayweather is scared...

I smell a smear campaign...

 

Tiger Woods, coincidentally, is being linked in media reports to a Toronto doctor currently under investigation by the FBI for prescribing PEDs... This one smells a bit fishy to me, any thoughts?

More in the coming days...

Living and Dying by the Sword

I made a conscious decision to avoid commenting on the Tiger Woods situation until things settled down.  I just had this feeling this story was going to take six or seven twists and turns before the general public had any idea what exactly had transpired.

First off, let me just say that adultery or cheating among pro athletes is nothing new, I mean, it's practically a birthright.  The only reason we hardly ever hear about it is because the professional newsmedia doesn't report on it unless law enforcement officials get involved in the process.   So while Tiger Woods secretely managed to tally up twelve (!!!) or so 'goomars', this probably never gets out unless his wife, Elin, chases him through the neighbourhood with his own nine iron - which she did.

It really isn't that difficult that take a stand on this one.  Tiger screwed up, plain and simple, and he deserves what he's getting.  His squeaky clean image has been micromanaged ever since he broke onto the PGA tour, becoming the first ever pro athlete to make a $ 1 billion.  And how did he do it?  Well, he's a pretty phenomenal golfer, but even as the top player and earner on the tour for the past decade, his tour earnings don't even come close to what he makes in sponsorship deals; on TV, in magazines and newspapers, online, and on billboards that me or you couldn't avoid if we tried.  So when the tables are turned, why should Tiger be able to turn it off?  In this day and age when superstars like Tiger top up their sponsorship deals because of intense exposure provided by new internet technology, they simply live and die by the sword.   Plain and simple, suck it up Tiger.

Who does your Hair?

"From a photo of an insane woman, to show the condition of her hair."
The expression of the emotions in man and animals -- Charles Darwin

Chris Rock, wearing a wig and starring in his documentary Good Hair.

 

Baptist Minister, Civil Rights Activist, and Democrat Al Sharpton

"The state of her hair is a sure and convenient criterion of her mental condition" explains Dr. Browne on page 296 of evolutionary scientist Charles Darwin's work The expressions of the emotions in man and animals.

If you've seen Chris Rock's documentary Good Hair, you'll quickly come to the realization that 'hair' is still a critical tool used to evaluate class and social status; at least according to the African-American community who together form the subject of Rock's documentary.  Why else then would so many Black women in America (and in Canada too, I've seen it!) spend thousands upon thousands of dollars trying to either straighten their natural hair with chemicals, or have professionals stitch weaves and extensions onto their heads?  There is absolutely no doubt that Darwin's research (shown above) racializes natural Black hair by associating its physiognomy and texture with this woman's mental status; just another example of how Social Darwinism privileges European ideas of status and aesthetics.  And there is no way Darwin would ever have associated straight blond hair with mental illness.

Rock's doc fairly plays both sides of the fence though, before ultimately coming to the conclusion that while racism in mainstream American media exacerbates the pressure on African-Americans to straighten their 'Black' hair, the real blame rests on the shoulders of the Black communities in the U.S. and abroad. Democrat Al Sharpton, whose chemically 'relaxed' hair is all natural and a significantly cheaper alternative to the hair weaves Rock's investigation really targets, doesn't mince words.  According to Sharpton, while the pressures on African-Americans to straighten their natural hair may be a burden, putting food on the table and paying for your child's education comes first. Sharpton believes  African-Americans need to take ownership of the situation by either choosing more affordable solutions to style their hair (aka: The Al Sharpton 'relaxer') or by using their buying power to solely purchase hair products from African-American owned companies. Because when Black women in the U.S. are spending upwards of $3000 every few months in order to modify their natural hair, this money goes to companies with no significant investment in the African-American community, which essentially undermines their potential to control the marketplace as the primary purchasers of hair extensions and weaves in the U.S.

Gay Pride from the Mountaintops of MLSE

"I hope the day comes, and soon, when this is not a story." - Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke

Unfortunately however, it still is a story, but thanks to the bold and courageous step forward made by Brendan Burke, son of Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke, others facing similarly difficult choices can follow his lead.  Yesterday afternoon ESPN published a story by staff columnist John Buccigross about Brendan and how he came to tell his family that he was gay.  His story bears resemblance to many 'coming out' stories in which he feared losing his family's love and acceptance once he revealed to them his secret.

What makes Brendan Burke's story particularly important however, is that no male professional athlete has ever been openly gay during his playing career. And while Brendan never made it as a professional, he is
the Student Manager for the hockey program at Miami University in Ohio and his father Brian is Czar of the highest profile NHL team on the planet. Compounding that, his dad is known to be a proponent of fisticuffs and in-your-face blood 'n' guts hockey - a hyper 'masculine' brand of the game that has typically incurred homophobia, which has driven many gay men from the sport. But Brian says "I had a million good reasons to love and admire Brendan. This news didn't alter any of them."  To hear that kind of sincerity in conjunction with any father-son story is heartwarming, but to hear it shouted from the mountaintops at Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, purveyors of an NHL culture that has typically frowned upon homosexuality within its closest circles shows real character and integrity.  

When interviewed together on TSN tonight, Brian was asked if Brendan's decision to come forward will help other openly gay athletes and sports employees find employment in the NHL.  Burke maintained that while he could not speak for other organizations, he said the Toronto Maple Leafs would always make room for talented employees, regardless of sexual orientation.  It is great to know that while the Leafs may not have won the Stanley Cup since 1967, at least they are leading the charge for moral victories.

If anybody thought they recognized Brian and Brendan Burke during last year's Gay Pride Week festivities, they were not mistaken. The Burke tandem was there arm and arm, supporting the cause.

Defender Telegraph, page 6, No. 001

The Defending Tribune Project beginning to Take Shape

 

 Jack Johnson with his wife - approximately 1911

 Jack Johnson, Chicago, 1910

 

Harlem Globetrotters, 1930

"I was a ring scientist, in a day of ring laborers."

Jack Johnson

This may be my final blog posting before I begin assembling The Defending Tribune Project - due early next week in Databases, Archives and the Virtual Experience of Art with Prof. Vid Ingelevics.

Heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson was a very prominent cultural figure in the early 20th century, particularly in Chicago, where his 1910 victory over Jim Jeffries made him a star within the African-American community.  Johnson was a lightning rod for controversy everywhere he went.  Whether it was his racial taunting of White opponents, his relationships with White women, his reckless driving, or his fervent spending, Johnson made waves no matter what.

Strictly in terms of athletic performance, Jack Johnson in many ways helped develop the ingenuity that has become synonymous with African-American athletic performance over the course of the past 100 years.  In a racist world where - morally and financially corrupt -  White officials frequently snatched would-be winning performances from the hands of worthy Black contenders, Johnson developed a battery of counter-punching strategies as a means for overcoming racial bias in the ring; because "if he kept order in the ring he was lazy" and "if he damaged his opponents he was a brute" (Chicago's New Negroes, D. Baldwin).

By 1930, Johnson's crafty athletic strategies were being employed by the likes of The Harlem Globetrotters, who were actually from Chicago.  The Globetrotters transformed modern basketball into artistry by speeding up passing, racing up and down the floor, and running up scores so a late foul call by racist officials couldn't jeapordize a victorious outcome.  Many of these strategies echo the early efforts of Jack Johnson, who looked for and succeeded in finding ways to overcome a racialized playing field.  And many of these developments took place in early 20th century Chicago, the apex of the Great Migration, which is why Chicago is going to play such a key role in the next step of my thesis work.

Look for Platinum Palladium prints of Jack Johnson, The Globetrotters, and the Chicago American Giants Negro League baseball team in the near future. 

Defender Telegraph, page 1, No. 001 

Fox Sports Suspends Broadcasting Buffoons

I couldn't help myself from piggy backing on Globe and Mail columnist Jeff Blair's current bloggage regarding the suspension of NBA broadcasting tandem Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith by Fox Sports Prime Ticket.   Last Wednesday, Lawler and Smith referred to Memphis Grizzlies' centre Hamed Haddadi, the NBA's first Iranian-born player, as 'Borat's older brother'.  (Catch the clip here.)  These two buffoons are expected back on the air Monday night when I'm assuming they will be issuing a formal public apology at some point during the Clippers' game with the Timberwolves. In any case, good on the L.A. Clippers and Fox Sports for sending the right message quickly and decisively.

The NBA plays out on a global stage and if people want to encourage the growth of basketball abroad, it's important that xenophobic elements such as Smith and Lawler are snuffed out immediately.  Nobody wants to hear old White guys uttering racial slurs disguised as jokes anymore.

Here's their exchange as posted by Jeff Blair:

Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith are apparently how you say “Don Cherry” in American. The Los Angeles Clippers suspended the announcers for a game Friday after an insipid exchange Wednesday night focusing on Memphis Grizzlies Iranian centre, Hamed Haddadi. Courtesy of the L.A. Times, here is the latest instalment in Stupid Announcer Tricks:

Lawler: “Hamed Haddadi. Where’s he from?”

Smith: “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.” (Smith pronounced Iranian as “Eye-ranian,” a pronunciation that offended the viewer who filed the initial complaint with the Clippers Fox affiliate.)

Lawler: “There aren’t any Iranian players in the NBA,” repeating Smith’s mispronunciation.
Later in the 40-second exchange, Smith asks Lawler:

Smith: “You’re sure it’s not Borat’s older brother?”

Smith: “If they ever make a movie about Haddadi, I’m going to get Sacha Baron Cohen to play the part.”

Lawler: “Here’s Haddadi. Nice little back-door pass. I guess those Iranians can pass the ball.”

Smith: “Especially the post players.

Lawler: “I don’t know about their guards.” 

Defender Telegraph, page 7, No. 001 

Black Face Reflects Sad State

Mad Men's Roger Sterling singing in black face.

 









French Vogue toe testing minstrelsy with runway models covered in black makeup.

Ted Danson, or should I say 'Sam Malone', has yet to escape infamy for his turn in black face in the 90s.

American Apparel says 'why not' and tries their hand at it.


 








The use of black face has been prevalent in a variety of media over the past year.  While some examples are clearly more flagrant than others, I found the diversity of its recent use something worth discussing.  Above, I have posted four very different uses of the offensive performance trope; three current examples and one older one...


1. Mad Men's head advertising honcho Roger Sterling performing at his wedding;

2. French Vogue's controversial photo spread, which subverts traditional notions of minstrelsy by associating it with European aristocracy;

3. Ted Danson's turn in black face in 1993;

4. American Apparel, once again tasteless.

Since Mad Men is a representation of American history on American television, its use of black face, though shocking, was effective and meant to remind people of this awful past.  Just as Mad Men inventively reinterprets sexism in the workplace, it is doing the same here in the form of a tragic racial faux-pas.   

French Vogue meanwhile, is completely subverting the traditional use of black face by associating it with European aristocracy, rather than American minstrelsy or Southern performance. It is a take that is certainly aimed at provoking people's sensivities but, I am not sure it is quite as offensive as people have made it out to be.  There is nothing in particular that links it to African-American culture.   Still, couldn't French Vogue have found some hot models of colour instead?

Finally, the most offensive interpretations of black face posted here have to be Ted Danson's and American Apparel's.  Both are American entities and both are performing in jest.  But how does one see the humour in using dark makeup to demean both skin colour and racialize performance.  The strangest part of white supremacist interpretations of minstrelsy is that deep down, there appears to be a love affair with African-American culture.  This infatuation expresses itself through perpetuation of Black Face in White American culture.  Unfortunately, the underlying affect is shameful.  Moreover, whatever sympathies for Black culture White Americans feel they reveal in Black Face are done so in a mocking and disrepectful fashion and will therefore, always be hollow.

So no, I do not "see the humour in it" as Danson declared back in '93.

Defender Telegraph, page 4, No. 001 

The Chemical Shipment Has Arrived...

The chemicals have arrived, I repeat, the chemicals have arrived!

I received my first batch of Platinum/Palladium chemicals late last week and I'm preparing to begin printing with them very shortly.  The package, which I ordered from Bostick & Sullivan in Santa Fe, New Mexico, should produce up to 35 8"x10" prints for my upcoming Chicago project.  This project will respond directly to my earlier boxing book In This Corner and will employ the iconographic prestige of the Platinum/Paladium print to counter the boxing cyanotypes featured in my piece last winter.

I will be making my way to Woolfits Art Supplies on Queen St. West to pick up a stack of Arches Platine paper in order to begin.  Though I am certainly anxious about learning how to print Platinum/Palladium, the challenge it presents is very exciting.  And of course, I am greatly looking forward to being back in the dark room for hours on end...

Defender Telegraph, page 4, No. 001 

Big Crowd at XPACE for Foucault project opening!

I feel very fortunate to not only have been able to attend my opening, but also to have such great friends and family supporting me through it.  I must admit, I was a bit concerned last week when my bout with swine flu dragged me closer and closer toward opening night on November 20th.  But, it all worked out and I had a great time sharing it with all of you!  Big Thank-you to Sabrina for keeping up with the cold compresses, advil, gravol, soups, and long nights, and thanks so much to everyone who came out!!!

[Plus, I'm pretty sure XPace made a killing at the bar, making them a happy bunch as well!]

Defender Telegraph, page 5, No. 001 

EDITORIAL: Get your H1N1 Vaccine!!!

With all the talk these days surrounding the overall effectiveness - and potential side effects - of the H1N1 vaccine, Defending Champions Editorial is siding with Health Canada and suggesting Canadians get themselves vaccinated for swine flu.  Our very own Marc Losier contracted the virus last week, and although he survived it and is now back up on his feet, it did keep him in bed for an entire 7 days before he could attend his own gallery opening for his artwork Foucault en valise.

On Wednesday November 11th, Losier woke with a fever, migraine, and body aches.  His symptoms would worsen over the course of the week as he developed severe dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea.  Because he was not aware that he contracted the virus until the following Saturday, it was too late to administer anti-virals, forcing Losier to fend off the flu at home with healthy doses of chicken soup, Advil, Gravol, and Gatorade.

Though this post falls outside the usual boundaries of a Defending Champions post,  the editorial staff here felt compelled to stress the importance of the H1N1 vaccine, not only as a means for staying healthy, but also as way of containing any further spread of the swine flu.  It is only November and the real flu season does not begin until after Christmas, at which time it is expected that over 30% percent of Canadians will contract the virus.

While Losier was advised by Telehealth Canada that he contracted a non-threatening case of H1N1, it did knock him out for a whole week, caused him to lose 6 pounds, and pushed the deadline for Defending Champions' surprise incarnation at semester's end.  Suddenly, it makes one understand why severe cases of H1N1 have been so perilous, and reinforces the necessity for an effective vaccination protocol and responsible decision making on behalf of the general public. Please, choose wisely. 

With files from Marc Losier and editorial staff  

Defender Telegraph, page 2, No. 001 

Say it ain't so Sammy

 


"It's a bleaching cream that I apply before going to bed and whitens my skin some," Sosa said. "It's a cream that I have, that I used to soften (my skin), but has bleached me some. I'm not a racist. I live my life happily."


Sammy Sosa showed up to the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas last week raising more than a few eyebrows.  The lovable former Major League slugger, shunned for his use of performance enhancers a few years back, was always more amiable than his one-time big-boppin' counterpart Mark McGwire; another PED abuser.  Still, the condition he came to Nevada in was completely bizarre.  A European company has asked Sosa to 'try out' their new skin bleaching product, which they claim functions as a skin moisturizer to lessen the effects of sun damage and soften the skin. What they forgot to mention was that it would considerably lighten the aforementioned slugger's face, giving him an almost Casper-like quality; "mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of..." Okay okay, we got it already. 

Interestingly, it does not appear as though the European company has any interest in selling or promoting their totally racist product outside of Sosa's native Dominican, since laws governing both beauty products and procedures in parts of Latin-America are not nearly as strict. And even though Sosa acknowledges he is using a 'skin bleaching' product, he does not see a problem with it, claiming "I'm not a racist". Say it ain't so Sammy.  What are the millions of your fans back in the Dominican gonna think of you when come home looking like some French Count?  They are going to think you've been had.

Sosa is free to do as he pleases and accordingly, he is apparently in negotiations to become the skin product's chief spokesman.  Anything for money I guess.

Defender Telegraph, page 8, No. 001 

Coming Attractions...

  FOUCAULT EN VALISE

Installation by Marc Losier

Opening Friday November 20th @ 7pm

Drinks from 7-10pm!!!

XPace Cultural Centre, 58 Ossington Ave.

(On display until December 12th, 2009)

Transported within a vintage grey suitcase is an unusual assemblage of seemingly everyday objects; a stack of postcards documenting a dialogue between two men, a rotary telephone, a container of microscope slides, a series of manila envelopes, an office stamp, and a portable light box. This display of items has combined to create Foucault en Valise - an installation that documents a fictitious time in the life of French theoretician Michel Foucault, through his dialogue with real life documentary media professor and artist, Edward Slopek. 

Defender Telegraph, page 5, No. 001 

Flu Shots for Big Shots

Apologies for my absence from Defending Champions in the past couple of weeks - school's been a grind!

Okay, back to it:  It's official, we have a full-blown influenza pandemic on our hands, what with the H1N1 flu virus descending upon us globally. Ever since SARS, scientists have been warning us about the potential of a virus such as H1N1.

This year, it finally began in Mexico City, when the Mexican government stalled on banning travel in and out of the country - most likely for fears it would devastate tourism in the Latin American destination, which it did.  I should know myself, being one of the people who CHOSE to reschedule my vacation back in May.  If I wanted to, my girlfriend and I could have stayed the course and visited Diego Rivera's murals with a face mask on. I'm serious, an Aeromexico flight official told me there was no problem at all in the Distrito Federal (Mexico City) and that their government had not issued any warning; all this while the World Health Organization was raising the H1N1 influenza pandemic in Mexico City to a phase 6 - its highest stage. As a result, the virus is spreading all over the globe, from the Ukraine all the way to Western Canada, where 20 people have died from H1N1 in Alberta alone.

To make matters worse, people are now fighting over the vaccine, which is in short supply, since our imbecilic Harper-led government was caught flat footed on this one.  Still, it's nice to know that the Calgary Flames' entire hockey organization, as well as their families, secretly budded the long vaccination lines this past week.  So when fellow Calgarians suffering from H1N1 are watching TV from their hospital beds, they can count on the Flames being on Sportsnet West.  That's real Canadiana for you!

 

Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen celebrate after getting vaccinated.

This is appalling and there's no way around it.  And it has to be embarrassing for the Flames, since the Alberta health authority has fired both officials responsible for this covert operation once news broke of it earlier this week.  The matter is now considered 'closed', but this is simply another example of the growing divide between the 'haves' and 'have-nots'.  Sure, athletes at the front line for surgeries, MRIs, and X-Rays is nothing new.  But to cut a vaccination line WITH YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY in the midst of a full blown influenza epidemic, in which every Canadian citizen is at risk, is downright ignorant.  Most of all, it is just another example of wealthy Big Shots bending the rules. Ugh.

Defender Telegraph, page 2, No. 001 

2008 Toronto Summer Olympics...???

Just a quick thought about the failed Toronto bid to bring the Summer Olympics here in 2008.  At the time, I was convinced that then-Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranche's pressuring to bring the games to China was an effort on his part to cement his legacy - and I do still believe this to be true.  However, with the news coming out yesterday via the memoir of a Chinese Beijing bid official that some backroom IOC (International Olympic Committee) politicking ultimately secured the 2008 Games for China, I must say I'm not surprised.

The Globe and Mail's James Christie writes that current IOC President Jacques Rogge's ascension to the Olympic throne was orchestrated with Chinese support in exchange for the keys to the 2008 Summer Games. Clearly the millions upon millions spent on what appeared to be a winning Toronto bid, were of absolutely no consequence to IOC officials.  Just another sign of how corrupt the Olympic establishment really is.  History has proven that the Olympics are fraught with politics and though the organization's gotten better at minding its paper trails,  the 'games behind the Games" continue to be played.  I did not write this post to opine the failed Toronto Olympic bid, although a victory would have secured a much more sophisticated waterfront for Torontonians!  I simply wonder what it would truly take to win one of these competitions when it seems the IOC usually has its mind made up before the bidding even begins.  Vancouver 2010, you have some explaining to do...

Defender Telegraph, page 6, No. 001 

Musings about Nationalism in Italian Football

 Member's of Italy's national football squad posing for Dolce & Gabbana

Since Italy recently qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, I was reminded of a thought I had a number of years ago...

Back in the summer of 2003, I backpacked around Europe for nearly 2 months.  I made my way through London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris, Dijon, slept on the beach in Biarritz, San Sebastien, Barcelona, and Nice before making my way to Italy in cities like Florence and Rome. The trip gave me a real sense of European Nationalism.  Why?  Because each place I visited employed different customs, phone systems, languages, and ultimately football strategies.  Just like hockey here, European football or soccer as Americans and Canadians refer to it, is a religion.  And while sports fans treasure their league teams, they live and die with their national squads - the teams which ultimately represent the countries in European and World Cup Championships.

The point of this story is (and there is one assuredly!) that while in Rome, I had conversation with an Italian man on the train. His English was pretty good and we ended up speaking about, what else, football!  My mother was born in Naples so naturally, I cheer for the Italians at every major competition; I would however, root for a Canadian squad if we ever had one good enough to qualify for these tournaments.  Anyway, I asked this Italian man why the Italians always play a conservative, almost military-like defensive style, when they had such skilled players. He replied simply by saying "this is the Italian style, and that's how WE play".  But, I said, "why not open it up and play a South-American style, with more flare, speed, and offense?"  I awoke his ire, I think, by suggesting the Italians play like the Brazilians.   He immediately started shaking his head, saying "no, no, no, you don't understand, we play this way, because this is the Italian way to play football.  We can only win this way."

I was mystified.  Why is the Italian football strategy so rigid and archaic?  I mean strong defense is great if you only have players inclined able to play that way, but if you have a squad filled with speed and skill, why not adapt the team's strategy to the strengths of its members?  In my opinion, the answer boils down to nationalism.  In Canada, we expect our teams to play a 'blood and guts' brand of hockey.  Still though, whatever the roster for the 2010 Canadian Men's Olympic hockey team ends up looking like, I'm sure most Canadians would take any kind of victory in Vancouver, regardless of how it was accomplished.  In Italy and in many European countries however,  the team's style of play is just as important as the victory itself.  And I think this ultimately has something to do with deep seeded nationalistic ideals embedded in many hermetic European nations.

Defender Telegraph, page 8, No. 001 

American Labour

American Apparel is saving their most labour intensive work for African-Americans like Willie (seen above).  So if you're Black, you can feel comfortable knowing there'll always be back-breaking work for you in the 'backroom' of some American-Apparel outlet somewhere.

Responsible for the near-porn strewn across billboards throughout the majority of the Western hemisphere, the dominant clothing brand won't be backing down anytime soon from its successful advertising strategy.  And why would they when they appear to be doing better than ever?

When it comes to sexualizing and exotifying its models, many of whom are employees of the so-called fair trade brand, American Apparel has broken it down to a science. For these reasons,  Willie's pose is ripe for analysis. Rather than having Willie undressed and in some uncomfortable position like most other AA model shots, this ad, torn off the back of an Eye Magazine in the Spring, has Willie flexing his muscles.  It's unlike any other ad for American Apparel I've seen before, and coming from them I'm not surprised.  It conjures up all the stereotypes that the history of American labour has to offer.  Could you picture the company using a White, Chinese-American, or Mexican-American model in the back of some cube van flexing for these shots?  No way.  Nevertheless, they do make a fine t-shirt.

Defender Telegraph, page 1, No. 001 

Thesis 1.0: The Chicago Project

"While at Schorling Park, interracial crowds numbering as high as 10,000 consistently exceeded the numbers at Comiskey Park or at Cubs games, even on the same day."
Davarian Baldwin, from his book Chicago's New Negroes

After weeks of deliberation on my part, I've come to the conclusion that my thesis research wouldn't be complete unless it addressed the impact early 20th century Chicago had on the development of athletics in the African-American community and the greater American professional sporting scene at large. In 1916 alone, Chicago received upwards of 50,000 new African-American residents seeking employment in industry after WWI closed the country's doors to immigration, leaving factories undermanned throughout the country. 

This massive influx of people was part of a collective movement amongst African-Americans called The Great Migration, in which hundreds of thousands of freedmen and women from the South headed northward above the Mason-Dixon Line to not only seek equitable work in industry, but to create new lives and identities in the metropolis. The Great Migration was the genesis for both the Harlem and Chicago Renaissances, periods in which - according to James Weldon Johnson's Black Manhattan - actors, musicians, intellectuals, and athletes, emerged as key cultural 'producers'. It is in Chicago that we see the development of Negro Baseball Leagues, the formation of The Harlem Globetrotters (yes, they originated in the Midwest), and new styles of play, built around speed, defence, savvy, and showmanship; tactics generated by African-Americans to mitigate the impact and control racially bias or corrupt White officials had on particular games or matches. The city is also the home of The Chicago Defender, perhaps the most influential African-American newspaper in the early 20th century.

Check in for more maps and project updates!
Defender Telegraph, page 6, No. 001

Thank you!!!

Just a big Thank You to all my friends who showed up to see Afterimage #6 Ali vs.Williams, 1966 for Nuit Blanche this year; Sue, Blanca, Will, Nigel, and Melisa. : )

Thank you to my good friend Dhani Oks who both owns and operates the Crossfit Gym at 20 Gladstone (near Queen) for proposing the venue to me for the night.

And finally, thanks to the very wonderful Sabrina for helping me get the piece ready at the last minute...couldn't have done it without you!

Defender Telegraph, page 1, No. 001 

Afterimage #6, Ali vs. Williams 1966 -- Nuit Blanche 2009 , @ Crossfit Gym, 20 Gladstone Ave.

 

Defender Telegraph, page 5, No. 001