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Podcasts Take Two
Sports Roundup: World Series, Clippers & Lakers rivalry and more
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Oct 23, 2013
Listen • 12:41
Sports Roundup: World Series, Clippers & Lakers rivalry and more
Red is for the World Series which starts tonight, blue is for the Dodgers off-season so far and is white the color of a non-athlete? Joining us to answer that question is Andy and Brian Kamenetzsky, who have covered sports for ESPN and the L.A. Times.
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on April 7, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Lakers 109-95.
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on April 7, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Lakers 109-95.
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Red is for the World Series which starts tonight, blue is for the Dodgers off-season so far and is white the color of a non-athlete? Joining us to answer that question is Andy and Brian Kamenetzsky, who have covered sports for ESPN and the L.A. Times.

It's time for the red, white and blue edition of the Take Two Sports Roundup.

Red is for the World Series which starts tonight, blue is for the Dodgers off-season so far and is white the color of a non-athlete? Joining us to answer that question is Andy and Brian Kamenetzsky, who have covered sports for ESPN and the L.A. Times.  

The World Series starts tonight in Boston between the Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals, and while it's not the sexy match-up that many wanted (Dodgers vs Red Sox) it really reflects two of the most successful baseball teams of the last decade. The Red Sox swept the Cardinals in 2004, and between the two they have won four of the last nine World Series.

Just days after wrapping up a playoff run, the Dodgers seem to be coming apart at the seams? What's going on at the Ravine? What could that mean for next year? Or will this blow over?

Moving on to basketball. The NBA season is less than a week away, and while the Lakers and Clippers have developed a healthy rivalry lately. The Clippers have riled up some Purple and Gold anger with a move that some say is just sports blasphemy: Ex-Celtics coach and new Clippers coach Doc Rivers has arranged for the Lakers championship banners and retired jerseys to be covered during Clippers home games in Staples. 

Every year the NBA does a survey of the league's general managers asking boring questions such as 'which team will the Finals,' or 'who will be the MVP?' Way at the bottom of the survey, the answers to one seemingly innocent question are getting a lot of attention: Which player makes the most of limited natural ability? 

Top voter getter was Kevin Love which he tweeted "It's the White Guy Award!" In fact, 9 of the 15 players mentioned were either white or at least not African American. Never mind the fact that Kevin Love's father played in the NBA and comes from an athletic family, his uncle is also Mike Love lead singer of the Beach Boys.

While blatant racism seems to be shrinking more and more in the sports world, when it comes to evaluating an athlete's athleticism, it can be difficult for some to take race out of the equation.