Deep Thoughts By No-Look McFadden: Episode 51

#1
The entire Jeremy Lin escapade has awkwardly skirted the lines of racism and political correctness. Some have landed on the racism side (Jason Whitlock) and others have paid on the P.C. side (ESPN.com editor fired for “chink in the armor” headline). The best headlines usually dance all over this line, and maybe the finest -- “Amasian,” by the New York Post -- somehow pulled it off without controversy ... no small feet feat.

#2
Speaking of political correctness, how come all the P.C. types conveniently overlook the “Fighting Irish”?

#3
Having trouble following the GOP “debates”? Why the fuck are you following the GOP debates?! Here’s a handy Republican decoder ring that’s a must-have for puzzling it all out.

#4
There’s no way West Virginia junior Deniz Kilicli isn’t at least 37 years old. He looks like he just walked off the set of “300” -- only back when the real Battle of Thermopylae actually took place.

#5
There are few better announcing voices out there right now than Ian Eagle.

#6
As something of a connoisseur of India pale ales, it takes quite a bit to blow me out of the water. But when I stumbled across the hyper-hoppy Stone Ruination IPA, that’s exactly what happened. This heavy-hitting brew from Stone Brewing Company in Escondido, Calif., just might be the best IPA I’ve ever had—and that’s certainly saying something.

#7
It’s never too late (or too early) to take a look back at 2011. Here’s an intriguing summary of the year ... told through Tweets.

#8
It’s interesting how paces and styles of play are over-criticized in basketball. If teams like Wisconsin and Virginia emphasize defense and ball control, how is that different from a program simply running a different scheme in football? There’s room for all styles in sports, and there are fans of street ball and fans of old-school, half-court hoops.

The maxim in boxing is “Styles make fights,” and it is often what happens when disparate styles match up -- and teams are forced to try to impose their system and will -- that make hoops games more interesting.

#9
It turns out wind shear can find beauty even in Alabama. As proof, here are some waves in the sky.

#10
The ESPN documentary project hit another one out of the park with the story of one-time hoops star Chris Herren. In the moving “Unguarded,” Herren’s descent into drug addiction is unflinchingly displayed, and it’s impossible to watch without thinking his wife should be nominated for sainthood. The seminal moment comes when Herren realized that he shaved in the shower for six years because he couldn’t look himself in the eye mirror. Powerful stuff.