“One Man’s Opinion” by Gordon Curvey

This piece is once again about the sports radio scene here in Seattle. It is a major problem. Again readers their are zero African Americans on the air on a regular basis on 710 ESPN and sports radio KJR. On KJR it has a record of twenty years with only a fella named Rick Dupree has been on the air on a regular basis as a African American. That’s it folks.

It is the “good ole boy network” in radio and tv here in this market. The Seattle/Tacoma, Washington market is the 14th largest radio and tv market in the U.S. Seattle is known for it’s diversity. But that diversity is not on local sports radio. It is nowhere to be found except for Elise Woodward on KJR. Who I happen to like. She knows her sports.

It seems the general managers and program directors on 710 ESPN and KJR do not give a damn about having a African American on the air on a regular basis. And to make matters worse local sports writers here in this area refuse to write on the topic I am writing about here on “Sports Inner City Online” They are in bed with KJR and 710 ESPN.

Jim Moore, Steve Kelly, Jerry Brewer, Art Thiel are sports writers for the Seattle Times and Seattle P.I website and they REFUSE to write about the lack of diversity on local sports radio because the are in bed with KJR and 710 ESPN. I have wrote Moore and Kelly many many times on this topic and they have REFUSED to answer my e-mails. Then to make matters worse, Kelly and Moore are now doing shows on the radio stations.

And Brewer is on the air once a week and Thiel is on once in awhile. They just said “The hell with Gordon” and they join up with KJR and ESPN 710 with shows etc. This hurts readers and is a slap in my face by Steve Kelly, Jim Moore, Jerry Brewer and Art Thiel. Brewer is being used as a token in my opinion. Have the brotha on for a few minutes every week so they can say they have a black dude on the air.

It really hurts me more when it comes to Brewer who is a African American. Brewer has not returned NONE of my e-mails regarding this topic. NONE folks. Then pops up on KJR once a week. He is NOT a regular readers so do not think he is. Brewer has forgot where he has come from I guess. Because his actions towards me and this topic really bothers me readers. Real talk.

710 ESPN has just hired ANOTHER guy to work with Dave “The Groz” Grosby who by the way I like as a person. Again this person is not black and he is part of the “good ole boy network”. He used to on the air on KJR. Left town and now he is back. Good to know folks readers. Meanwhile, zero African Americans are on the air on a regular basis on 710 ESPN and KJR.

I have brought MANY issues to Clear Channel Community Relations Director Tony Benton. Benton is responsible for myself getting a community award in 2005. I am and will be grateful to Tony for that, but in this situation I am very disappointed in Benton who is African American. I feel he has dropped the ball in the issues I have brought to him over and over about KJR. To me he has shown me he does not want to speak up to the general manager and program director. Why? Only Tony know.

As a sports fan, I truly feel this is a program. I will continue to speak out on this issue until things get better readers. If you have any ideas to help me call 206-445-3989 or e-mail me at gcurvey@yahoo.com

ARTICLE FROM spokesman.com (Full story click here)

This so called radio host on sports radio KJR here in Seattle got on the radio this morning (March 23rd) and blasted Washington State basketball player DeAngelo Casto for being caught with weed in his apartment.

The problem is so called jock Dave Mahler did not know the facts before he went off like a cannon on KJR against Casto including calling him a VERY derogatory name that Jewish people use. It is just like calling Casto a NIGGER. Real talk.

That word and “thug” is mainly used against African Americans and people of color. I have heard Dave Mahler use this name against African Americans numourous times since he has been on the air on KJR.

Today Casto lawyer said their is more to this story than what is being reported in the media. In my opinion, something wrong is happening here. Why did the Pullman, Washington police go into the players apartment at 1:30am looking for stuff? Why?

Also why is it that three young men on the WSU team have been picked up for weed? All of them black in a little hick college town of Pullman, Washington? Something is wrong readers.

Also something else is wrong. And that is sports radio in Seattle constantly beating up on African Americans and people of color on a daily basis. 710 ESPN and KJR have ZERO people of color over the air. NONE. So when stories that have to deal with race comes up, the staff DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE!

This past week stories of race have come up in the sports like the Grant Hill vs. jalan Rose situation and also Adrian Peterson’s comment regarding slavery and the NFL. The on air staff on KJR and 710 ESPN here in Seattle could not touch those stories. Just could not.

I am glad Casto’s lawyer got busy so his client can get a fair shake. Let the facts come out before we judge the young man. The so called sports radio host gets on the air and blasts Casto using terrible names used just by Jewish folks against minorities etc. IT WAS WRONG OF DAVE MAHLER and he should say he is sorry to Casto. Will it happen? No but it should.   Gordon Curvey

I will be speaking up more on the total lack of diversity of sports radio KJR and 710 ESPN here in Seattle. Our readers have to know what is going on. The unfair treatment has to stop.

ARTICLE FROM sports.yahoo.com (Full story click here)

All time home run king Barry Bonds case has finally gone to court. All the talk of Bonds using steroids will finally be heard by a jury. And I mean finally.

The problem to me is this. How did they find a proper jury who has not made up their mind on Bonds? It is a fact that most people do not like Barry Bonds as a person. To most he comes off as uppity and very arrogant as a person.

To me this case is a total waste of time. Most people think Bonds used steroids. I even think he did so why not hurry up and end this case and move on. Find him guilty and lets find out what will happen to Barry. For Bonds to say he did not know he was using steroids is funny as hell!!

Truth be told, I still loved to watch Bonds play. Even if he was on steroids in my opinion. Bonds packed stadiums where ever he played when he was hitting homer after homer. But now he is a hero no more.

It is sad to see guys like Bonds and “L.T.” Lawrence Taylor go down after they were heroes to many of young inner city kids who wanted to be like them. It is sad.

That is why readers, guys in the public eye like Bonds and Taylor and others need to realize or should have realized that they are role models. Rather they like it or not. And they should act like that. Try not to do stupid things. Stop running around at clubs at 4am in the morning. Stop using steroids or having sex with under aged girls etc. Fly right and be right. To many people are looking at you.    Gordon Curvey

ARTICLE FROM nytimes.com (Full story click here)

Grant Hill fired back at Jalen Rose who in a ESPN program about the “Fab Five” at Michigan in the 90’s called African American players like Hill who played at Duke “Uncle Toms” You can read what Hill had to say in the link above. One thing for sure it was a great program. Well produced.

In my opinion Rose came of looking bad with his comments. Hill is from a well respected family. His dad Calvin Hill was a great football player with the Dallas Cowboys and went on to do things in the business world and his mom is a educator. They brought up Grant to get a good education and also be well respected. Which he is. I did not think Hill was a “Uncle Tom”

Just because Hill went to a school to get a real good education did that make him a “Uncle Tom” No in my strong opinion. But I will say this on the positive tip on Rose. He is not afraid to speak his mind. And ESPN allows him to do just that.

Real strange C-Webb Chris Webber was nowhere to be found in the program on ESPN. In was his choice to stay away. If you know how his career ended at Michigan and how he cannot really walk in the U Of M to watch a game anymore, maybe you can understand why he stayed away from appearing on the show.  

One thing for sure, sports radio stations like Seattle’s 710 ESPN and sports radio KJR CANNOT touch this story and Peterson story. Why? Because when you have a total lack of diversity over the air, you just cannot understand or have the knowledge to relate to Peterson, Hill or Jalen Rose. This is a fact.

 Gordon Curvey

ARTICLE FROM sportingnews.com (Full story click here)

NFL running back Adrian Peterson says NFL players place are like modern day slaves. Those are very strong comments from the Vikings star running back.

As you know the NFL players are locked out by the owners of NFL teams during the labor talks between the players reps and the owners.

This stuff is real deep and I am wondering if there will be a NFL season. I am real worried as a NFL fan. The two sides are far apart right now. Heck their was even reports that certain parties want the young fellas coming out of college to stay away from the NFL draft day. Can you believe that?

This whole thing is making me mad as a sports fan. The owners are VERY VERY rich and a lot of them are also very old and set in their ways. The players are very young and are looking out for their future. So who will win this battle. I don’t know. I just want to see NFL football in the fall. I am sure you NFL fans feel the same.   Gordon Curvey

Please spread the word on one of only a few urban sports websites on the Internet “Sports Inner City Online” We need your input to make this site better. Please e-mail me us gcurvey@yahoo.com