This post was originally posted at The New Democrat on Blogger

Jimmy the Greek reminds me of Richard Nixon at least in one sense and he reminds me of Richard Nixon’s great quote at his White House farewell address in 1974. Where President Nixon said “that you’ll never know what it is like to be at the top of the mountain until you’ve been in the deepest valley”. Meaning you’ll never know what it is like to be on top until you are on the bottom. Both men were at the top of their professions and both fell to the bottom. Like falling off of a mountain and hitting the ground.

Jimmy the Greek was at the top of his profession, the gaming industry, perhaps the top sports better in the United States. He was so hot and successful and even popular that he lands himself a gig at the number one sports show in the country the old CBS’s NFL Today. The top pre-game show in the country in the 1970s and 80s. With Brent Musburger, Irv Cross, Phyllis George the best pre-game show not just in this period, but still all-time as far as popularity, commentary, the interviews, the people they brought on.

The Greek goes from being at the top of the gaming industry and sports broadcasting profession, to at the bottom and for what, because of a stupid ignorant comment that he made about African-American athletes. Saying that they “are naturally superior athletes because of how they were bread from slavery”. Breaded from slavery, it sort of sounds like someone talking about how animals are raised. Not the way you would talk about human beings. And because of that moment of stupidity he goes from the top of his profession, to someone who people didn’t want to associate with and be with.

Tools of the Trade