More great horse racing coverage from the NY Times
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/sp...pagewanted=all


An entire article about the color of Hansen's skin.

It's well written ...but so was Mein Kampf.

What good is writing any piece of work when the concept of the piece is so brutally stupid?

Occasionally I've had an editor call me or E-mail me and pitch me a column idea that I thought was terrible. If it's a halfway decent human interest story I'd insist someone in general Sports do it. If it's a real dopey pitch - I'll say something like "that's honestly a horrible idea" and try and sell him on a worthwhile subject.

I've never been pitched on any topic worse than the color of a horses skin. I can only imagine the brutality I would do if I ever attempted to write about a subject that freaking stupid. I really do admire the skill of that writer.

Meanwhile... in news slightly less interesting than the skin color of a horse... The last five Derby preps have been very mediocre.

100-to-1 shot won the LA Derby in a race that could've been timed with a sundial. Union Rags and El Padrino didn't get a setup -- but neither could catch a snail 2nd place finisher. Illi Derby was an eyesore.

Blueskiesnrainbows (off a 12 length drubbing by Fed Biz last time out) almost lasted in the SA Derby. The hapless Teeth of the Dog was a respectable 3rd in the Wood.

All five races failed to produce a figure near as fast as the Sunland Park Derby.

Someone should inform them that I'll Have Another's pony for the Santa Anita Derby was Lava Man...or they might do the next piece on barn goats or something. Maybe send them a picture of Shackleford's bloody mouth and they could do a big feature on horses who bite a tounge and run anyway.

You love Ryan Goldberg... He did that Pittsburg Phil piece and focuses on historic-themed long reads.

Dr. Hansen apparently has something special planned for the Blue Grass paddock.. :rolleyes:

He's a damn good writer.

I probably couldn't have made it five sentances without mentioning slavery and Aerosmith quotes.

Dr. Watson will be hoping he flys in the real Hansen to perform the smash hit Mmmmbop as he makes his enterance onto the track.

"He is the color of alabaster, a striking white vision set against the bays, browns and chestnuts he has left behind in all but one race."

"Breaking among a dozen darker rivals in the Gotham.."

More pathetic racism, in a not so clever attempt to promote continued class separation in our beloved sport.

Do you think all of the "darker" horses will show up with hoodies on?

I'm just happy that the words illegal or breakdown weren't used in the article.

Probably just a typo. They can always go back and edit it in the online version.

Instagram just sold for more than the NY Times is worth. I'm sure they're a little bitter...lol

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/0...han-instagram/

Nothing to do with the Times piece, but Lava Man was easily the most worked-up horse in the post parade. He was ready to run. :D

Give Goldberg a break...it's Pesach! He's probably backed up from all of the matzoh.

I'm sorry, but considering the latest stuff about racing coming from the Times, I'll take ANYTHING non overly negative.

So you read it?

I'm an audio book fan. I lay down at night a lot and let someone else do the reading for me.

A fan of pirated audio books I should say.

I didn't make it very far with Mein Kampf...but I atleast gave it a try because I had heard it was "well-written" and sold a ton of copies.

It's pretty sad that a screwy little dictator wannabe like Hitler was able to impose his will strong enough to win control over a country as big and powerful as Germany.

Germans can be pretty sick people though. Have you ever seen German porn? There's nothing like German porn. It's the most vile of all brand type porn. German Goo Girls is too much even for me.

The audio book I'm trying right now is 'How to win friends and influence people' ... I'd love to write the rebuttal to that book ... 'How to burn bridges and infuriate people'

Germany was in the tank when he took over, they were up for just about anything, hence the porn.

I suppose the same could be said about FDR in our country?

My grandfather hated Hoover more than anyone.

His anti Hoover rants as late as the year 2007 were comical. When he would pick me up from school, I'd sometimes tell him that my history teacher said Hoover was a great president and very mistunderstood just to piss Gramps off and get him to swear and rant about how idiotic my teachers all must be.

The next racing column will probably be about the blue greyhound.

My Grandfather was very similar, he only respected Eisenhower, everyone one else was a "dumbass". Not just presidents, everyone.

I thought the article was fine for it's audience, 95% of whom, I'm guessing, could not have named a single Derby contender. Maybe after the article those readers can name Hansen and have learned a little genetics, to boot.

--Dunbar

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455538/ I think the way to lose friends and alienate people is to make them sit through a Megan Fox and Kirsten Dunst film, but I could be wrong.