Gary Sheffield told GQ  Magazine that the reason that teams prefer Latinos over Blacks is because the Latinos are more manageable and "will do what they are told."  He went on to rip MLB for not recruiting kids from the inner cities, but kids from the islands.  He said Latinos will toe the line because "they can always be sent back and we're already here."  Fascinating, Captain. 

Now, let's examine why these comments have been found more to be "Sheff being Sheff" than racisit and hateful.

• Gary Sheffield is a black athlete, not a white talk show host or southern born white athlete.
• Gary Sheffield does not generate advertising revenue for the Detroit Tigers.

Think about it.  If Chipper Jones or Colin Cowherd had given the same interview, they'd be treated like John Rocker.  Seriously.  The media will not attack blacks for fear of a visit from Al or Jesse or some kind of backlash that accuses them of being racist and threatens revenue.  If you don't think there is a double standard in media today, you need to leave your ostrich like hole in the ground and look around.  Jimmy the Greek, run out of town.  Al Campanis resigned in disgrace.  Don Imus, crucified by both print and electronic media. Yes, they did attack Tim Hardaway, but Hardaway ripped gays and gays are a very organized group and are higher on the chart for groups that you can't attack without being made a national pariah.

If "nappy headed hos" is enough to form a national media lynch mob against a hall of fame talk show host, why isn't saying that Latinos "will do what they are told" painted with the same brush?  Because the media is eager to pistol whip an old white guy while toning it down against minorities. 

Here is how this deal will play out: The league will announce that it disagrees with Sheffield's comments on Latino ballplayers.  So, too will the Tigers.  Hispanic leaders will protest at Tiger games and threaten boycotts until the Tigers trade or release Sheffield.  The Reverend Jesse Jackson will seek a meeting with Sheffield to "council" him.  ESPN will do an "Outside the Lines" on the relationships between Blacks and Hispanics in baseball in which you can bet both Jesse and Harry Edwards will appear and in which they will exercise extreme caution not to offend Blacks or Latinos and somehow work in John Rocker, Tim Hardaway and Jackie Robinson.

Now, you may think I'm the most intolerant SOB on the planet, but before you do, think about it.  If you give an honest opinion or you make light of blacks or gays, you get slammed and nationally neutered.  But if you are Gary Sheffield and you call out the owners over Latinos, everything is business as usual.  Think about that before you cast a stone in this direction.

Lightning Round

• Mark Buehrle was treading water until the sixth inning last night.  Then the dam broke.  Jerry Owens, anytime you want to start hitting big boy pitching, you just go right ahead.  Alex Cintron, same for you.  Glad to see the bullpen changes worked.  It's the same two teams tonight.
• Here's the deal: Joe Crede is a player in the final year of his contract with a bad back.  If you put him on the DL, it gives the Sox brass the opportunity to see Josh Fields under game conditions at third base.  If the kid looks good, we know what Crede's future is, a bad back and starting next year in a different uniform.  If Fields struggles (most likely defensively) then Sox GM Kenny Williams knows to find another third baseman.  Either way, let's find out now while the Sox aren't in a pennant race.
• In the race for Lord Stanley's  cup, the Sens need  to stop the Ducks tonight or it's over.  Hey Ottawa, try playing defense.  And memo to Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson: If the game is close at the end of the second period, try not firing the puck at one of the other team's stars.  That trick never works.
  
• Here's how you  get people interested in watching hockey on TV:  Pay Don Cherry a boatload of money and bring him south of the border.  Nobody, not Dick Vitale, not Charles Barkley, not Cris Collinsworth is better and more honest than Don Cherry.  Good call, AA.
  
• The Miami Dolphins finally aquire Trent Green.  Yeah, that will guarantee another non-playoff year for the Fish.  And before you ship Dante Culpepper off somewhere, you might want to see if the brittle Green can make it through the pre-season.  Isn't Cam Cameron supposed to be smart?
  
• It looks like El Guapo is set to make a comeback.  With the White Sox bullpen in utter chaos, he'd be a good guy to have around.  Unfortunately, he and Bobby Jenks on the same team would put the Sox over the post game buffet salary cap.
• An Illinois Judge has done something no one has been able to do for sixty years: Kill Chief Illiniwek. Too bad, because he was a fairly harmless mascot.  I wonder when PETA will raise concerns over animal nicknames.
• Buddy Carlyle wins his first game since 1999 and is promptly rewarded with a trip to Richmond, VA.
• Another reason ESPN stands for Eastern Seaboard Programming Network.  Because people on the Eastern Seaboard watch it.  Personally, I think ESPN should acquire both YES and NESN and then they could show all the Yankees games on ESPN and the Red Sox games on ESPN 2.  They are practically doing that now, anyway.
  
• Billy Donovan is about out if his deal with Orlando, save for the non-compete which will keep him out of the NBA for a lengthy period.  Given his change of heart, you would think he's already done that.
• Another reason Shakespeare was right: Home Depot employees get fired after being heroes and stopping a shoplifter.  Home Depot policy forbids it because they don't want to be subject to a lawsuit.  Kill all the lawyers, indeed.
• A man who claims to have a permanent erection is suing the makers of a health drink.  He no doubt will be met with stiff opposition in court (knock on wood).
• No.  Make it stop.  What part of it was over in 1984 don't you guys understand.  And just a note to those, like Princess, who get all excited when these seventies bands come to town: It's not really them, it's one of two guys who have the rights to the name.  And they sound nothing like you remember them.
  
• While unaware the mikes were on and the cameras were rolling, Larry reveled to all the secret to his fifty year career: Being a prick.