I mentioned the Vogue controversy in the Breakfast Links, but I'd like to devote more than just one line to it.

Personally, when I saw that cover at the newsstand a couple days ago, my first thought was nothing more than "Lebron...cool", and my second thought was my stock "Gisele really isn't that hot" reaction. And it wasn't until I read about the controversy, that the idea of it being a racist cover even entered my head. Now, I think I should be happy that I just saw a guy and a girl, but maybe there's something to what the woman in this interview is saying. I mean, according to Donnie Deutsch, the photograph would've been the same if they used Jeremy Shockey, another tough sports guy. But I don't think of Lebron as an "enforcer" like I think of Dennis Rodman or Charles Oakley. And I was trying to think of other white athletes, like Shockey, that may have struck the same pose. In Basketball, ummm...maybe Dirk Nowitski? I don't see him posing like that. Maguire or Canseco in Baseball? No, Canseco would probably strike his normal prettyboy pose, and Maguire would do the pre-steroids All-American guy thing. What about football? Guys like Bill Romanowski or Howie Long (man...I'm old)...they might pose like that, but they're totally different types of players. I'm not saying I haven't seen athletes in this pose before, but did they have to choose that shot?

In the end, I don't think there's anything even remotely racist about it. Like they say in the video, it's a celebration of athleticism. But maybe it would've been a good idea to think about how it's perceived by all people. Then again, the creative process is tough enough, let alone trying to walk on eggshells worrying about who you'll offend. I don't know...it's a tough call.

What do you guys think? Vote in the poll, or leave a comment. (And for the record, can I just point out that lately we've been having some really good discussions, without commenters resorting to calling anyone, particularly me, a douchebag. If we could be known as the site that inspires serious debate on all sorts of issues, while also posting links to fart soundboards...well, I think that would be pretty cool.)

Finally...on a totally unrelated topic...If Joe Scarborough uses the phrase "liberal Manhattan elitists" one more time, you'll be reading about a local blogger jailed for walking into 30 Rockefeller Plaza and kicking the morning anchor's teeth in. I'm turning the tv off now.