Bernstine goes into full denial mode about PED use not being in the culture of basketball, ignoring Biogenesis's location in the US in Miami, and the NBA team playing there. LeBron James just went 6'8" 260 lbs. naturally in Bernstine's world. OK.

When did all this start, anyway? Did Dan get bored during a Sox rain delay and read stevesailer.com for like three hours?

Here's a level-headed sounding new book by a Sports Illustrated writer:

The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance

From the wrong thread:



Just out of curiosity, I risked being tracked by the government and went to Sailer's page. Scrolled down and:

http://isteve.blogspot.com/2013/08/epst ... genes.html


I don't know what to do anymore. It's officially too fucking much.

In high school, I wondered whether the Jamaican Americans who made our track team so successful might carry some special speed gene from their tiny island. In college, I ran against Kenyans, and wondered whether endurance genes might have traveled with them from East Africa.

At the risk of being labeled the next Mengele, I don't really find the topic offensive. If the Amazon reviews are to be believed for this book, though, a lot of the stuff seems overly simplistic. There's also a "so what?" quality to it. If I'm buying a thoroughbred yearling, you better believe I'm looking at bloodlines. If I'm an NFL GM, not so much.

I guess the shorter way I'd put at it is that genetics probably play a huge role, but the science is way too complex (and premature) to break into Gladwellian -- or if I want to be mean, Lehrerian -- nuggets. And, thankfully, we're not as a society going to be controlling athlete genetics the way we do with livestock, so I don't get the practical use of it. Some people are genetically more athletic than others. Thesis!

The difference being that thoroughbreds are purposely bred for particular traits, unlike human beings.

During the Second Half, Bernstein claimed to be eagerly anticipating the release of David Epstein's The Sports Gene, and specifically noted his interest in Epstein's idea that athletes of certain races and ethnicities might be genetically predisposed for success in certain sports. You can't make this shit up!

Remember when Dan was the guy who relentlessly skewered the stereotype of the white grinder and the black Natural Athlete, and went hard after anyone who dared to call up his show and try perpetuating it? Now Dan himself is obsessing over chiseled black bodies, fat Venezuelans with insufficient African bloodlines, and the need for all of them to entrust their financial affairs to Really Smart People. It's so weird.

Also Devin Hester can't learn a playbook because he is a dog or something.

From the wrong thread:



Just out of curiosity, I risked being tracked by the government and went to Sailer's page. Scrolled down and:

http://isteve.blogspot.com/2013/08/epst ... genes.html


I don't know what to do anymore. It's officially too fucking much.

What happened to Ike's post that started this thread?

The intellectual company Dan keeps is hilarious. He loves to hate on rural gomers and the Hardcore South but I'd imagine that most of his economic and racial ideas are about in line with your average Vermilion County teabagger.

I went to a Vermilion County Teabaggers game and had a great time. Their promotions department really understands it's about getting you to come to the ballpark.

Just out of curiosity, I risked being tracked by the government and went to Sailer's page.