Brokeback Phil

Phil Jackson, the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, recently made a remark about some Brokeback Mountain strategy involving penetration and kickouts. While this got some laughs from reporters, gay and lesbian groups found it offensive.

Some sports shows questioned whether it was offensive. Shows that had, months earlier, found Don Imus's comments of nappy-haired hos offensive, which eventually lead to Don Imus's firing (although I think he's been rehired elsewhere--man, does he look old!).

Often, many things that don't seem offensive can sound pretty offensive when you simply substitute, say, African Americans for gays, and see how that sounds.

To be fair, I think people are pretty sensitive to too many things. The comments tend to touch on issues that aren't tackled head on. For example, why is the comment "nappy haired hos" offensive? When people call other people "hos", do they really imply that they are whores? When people call someone mofos (or it's more colorful variation), is that what they really mean? Or is it something they say so often that is meant to sound offensive, but not meant exactly as stated.

I'm sure the comments will disappear. Sports is short on memory. There's always some new game being played, some new controversy. A comment like the one made by Phil Jackson will disappear, if it hasn't already. Is that good or bad?