The Dan Patrick Show: Today’s show is brought to you by the word “perspicacity”
NBA Commissioner David Stern strives to further develop our vocabulary. He’s clearly the William F. Buckley of sports commissioners:
William F. Buckley Jr., who marshaled polysyllabic exuberance, famously arched eyebrows and a refined, perspicacious mind to elevate conservatism to the center of American political discourse, …
Stern always sounds kind of snippy when he’s on the show, but I guess that’s because he has steeled himself to deal with DP’s smartypantsness. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig comes across as more relaxed.
And since I never gave props for two great words dropped previously in this blog, all hail rrgirl for doofetti and Scoop for uxorious.
(In a stage whisper so that the right-wingies won’t think less of me):
I always liked Buckley. I used to watch Firing Line when I was a kid; it was pretty heavy stuff and a little over my head at times but I was impressed with Buckley’s intelligence and wit. He would attack an opposing opinion, but he would never attack the person who stated that opinion. You don’t see much of that anymore.
I’m humbled.
Comment by rrgirl — 24 April 2008, Thursday @ 14:13:39
I adore David Stern. He seems like the exact opposite of what one would expect from a basketball commissioner. Yet despite being so far in personality from the normal basketball fan/owner/player, he has done a great job in turning the image of the sport around and moving the NBA through some tough times. He has prevented it from becoming a ‘thug’ sport as football seems to be grappling with and also seems willing to work with changes within the sport unlike baseball that seems to hate the idea of being pro-active.
It doesn’t hurt either that he is, if not the William Buckley as you suggest, at least the William Safire, of commissioners. The only reason I don’t put him in the Buckley camp is that that Buckley had a revolutionary agenda behind that cool facade which I don’t see in Stern. And also that Buckley seemed to look down on his less erudite opponents. Stern just seems amused (though you are right, he comes ready to do battle with DP, but that may be because he knows DP will battle with him - and Stern does do it jokingly).
Comment by hawaii — 25 April 2008, Friday @ 12:02:52