Samuel Abt of the New York Times reports…
No jokes, please, about that extraordinary bicycle race, the Penal Tour de France, that is wending its way around the country in a pack composed of convicts, prison officials and policemen. Hold the wheezes about how, if a low-ranked rider wins, it will be highway robbery, or, as a tumultuous sprint to the finish develops, somebody will get away with murder. Nothing about how, instead of a yellow jersey, the leader will wear one with black and white stripes. Above all, no references to a breakaway, in French an echappée or, shudder, an escape. Well, maybe one. It comes from Daniel, a 48-year-old prisoner in Nantes, whose last name was not given when the Tour de France Pénitentiaire was announced there last month. More…
Matt Poms of USA Today reports…
A report from the Orlando-based Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport has given the NBA an “A” on its 2009 Racial and Gender Report Card, but showed the league could improve in a few areas. The group, directed by Dr. Richard Lapchick of the University of Central Florida, concluded the league “remains the industry leader on issues related to race and gender hiring practices.” The NBA received a score of 94.9 in the race category, down slightly from its record high of 96.2 last year, and an 89 for gender. That mark was the highest in league history and rose from 84.5 last year. The report praised NBA commissioner David Stern, noting he has “taken the lead on diversity issues in sports.” Under Stern’s watch this past season, 35% of employees in the NBA league offices were people of color, and 43% were women. More…
