Chip Shots: Jackie Robinson Did Far More Than Play Baseball

Chip Shots
A Sports Blog

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I'm Chip Ramsey a career broadcaster who has been a sports radio program director in Milwaukee and Nashville. I've covered everything from high school and college sports (including the SEC, Big Ten, MVC and OVC) to Major League Baseball, The NFL and the NHL. I have a few things to say, and when I want to say them, I say them here.

I mostly talk about my teams, which would be the White Sox, Bears, and Blackhawks, but I do talk about other things as well. Thanks for dropping by. I hope you will bookmark this site and visit often!

Chip's broadcast career

Chip Shots: Jackie Robinson Did Far More Than Play Baseball

Jackie Robinson Did Far More Than Play Baseball

Random thoughts while wondering whatever happened to Nelson Santovenia:

Today, MLB honors Jackie Robinson, a man who did more than just play baseball. Robinson's breaking the color barrier in baseball was a watershed social event which led to comprehensive civil rights legislation less than twenty years later. Forget thanking Jackie Robinson for guys like Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds. Thank Jackie Robinson for men like Martin Luther King Jr.and Fred Shuttlesworth who, largely due to the color barrier falling in baseball, were inspired to lead the fight for equality in the south. Robinson handled what seemed like an impossible situation with a degree of dignity and self control that goes far beyond what any of us could imagine. And finally, please remember on this day a man by the name of Branch Rickey. It was not only he who selected Robinson, but he who had the courage to defy baseball's racist owners.

Byrd, Byrd, Byrd, Byrd's the word as the White Sox fall to Cleveland and Paul Byrd who is looking pretty good early this season. Rookie John Danks fashioned another fine outing over six innings, but once again, no run support. The weatherman is predicting 2-3" of snow for Cleveland which may wipe out today's game. This is good news as Sox tormentor C.C. Sabathia is scheduled to hurl for Cleveland.

In the chase for Lord Stanley's cup, Sidney Crosby is da bomb. Rick DiPietro is the Sidney Crosby of goalies. The difference with DePieitro in the lineup is stunning. Not stunning enough to beat Buffalo, but when you realize how weak the Isles defense looked on Thursday compared to today, there is a huge difference between having DePieitro in the net and Moe Drabowski in the net. The Devils dropped a close one to the pesky Lightning, so changing goalies may help Tampa. And, down in Atlanta, the Rangers take out the Thrash.

Ron Wilson, on behalf of humanity, please accept this fifty-five gallon industrial drum of STFU. You must go through a case of kleenex a day, you blubbering baby. Even with the fact that Alexander Radulov deserved his suspension, you hurling accusations at Barry Trotz is laughable. Barry would laugh right at you if his face wouldn't crack.

With Chris Leak out of the picture, Tim Tebow has taken over at Florida. Wow.

The college coaching wheel is still spinning. Greg Marshall moves from Winthrop to Wichita State (this news brought to you by the letter "W"). Winthrop promotes assistant Randy Peele, who gets credit for being a great recruiter. Usually that's code for "not a bench coach." Hawaii promotes assistant Bob Nash.

The NCAA is about to close the loophole regarding text messages. Right now, there is no limit to the number of texts a coach can bombard a recruit with, so long as it is not during a dead period. The biggest issue is not the messages, but the cost of receiving them. Many parents are getting huge cellphone bills because their kids are getting 500-1,000 messages a month. I'm sure NCAA President Myles Brand will implement a zero tolerance policy.

The University of Oklahoma says they felt their day in court with the NCAA over "cargate" was fair. That's the same thing as being polite and respectful to the IRS when they audit you.

Two words: Maytag Repairman.

No matter if you dig ditches or play in the NFL, the object of the exercise is to screw your employer.

Here's a story from Yahoo about Grey's Anatomy winning a GLADD award from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance. There were two things about this story that struck me. One was that in the opening paragraph, AP made sure the words "gay slur" appeared (they also said Isiah Washington is a lead actor which he is not, he's supporting.) Second, how much did ABC have to donate to make sure this happened? Sometimes, awards aren't to the best in show, they are bought and paid for to further an agenda.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a press release with some pointed comments regarding the Imus flap. Secretary Rice asserts that Rutgers entire season "gets ruined by this disgusting -- and I'll use the word 'disgusting' -- comment which doesn't belong in any polite company and certainly doesn't belong on any radio station that I would listen to, " Yeah, right. First of all Condie, be honest. The stations you listen to play classical music. Second, Rutgers made it all the way to the women's championship game. If anything ruined their season, it was having to play Tennessee. And one more thing, Madame Secretary. It's been ten days since the beginning of "hogate." Imus has already been vilified and fired by both his employers and you are just getting around to issuing a press release. Since you are from Alabama, and I know you are a big football fan, you get fifteen yards for piling on. One more thing: CNN made sure they put the phrase "racial slur" in the headline.

And now that we've killed Imus' career, we need to go after his charity work.

The Democrats are railing about middle class tax relief. Read my lips: We want to get elected.

Tiny ashes, in the wine, make us miss Donny, make us feel fine. Nappy headed Don Ho is dead at 76. The legendary Hawaiian entertainer is a hero among men as he got leied every day.