America's preoccupation with race is both transcended and magnified in sport, so perhaps it's no wonder that things have been getting tense lately both on and off the field. Nationally, the latest blowup came when black pro basketball player Latrell Sprewell was given an unprecedented year-long suspension for assaulting his white coach, setting off a heated debate over thuggery and lack of due process. Locally, Gopher basketball coach Clem Haskins--fresh from winning a Big Ten championship and being named NCAA Coach of the Year--was chided for hypocrisy and excessive pride after one of his players was convicted of domestic assault; meanwhile Vikings coach Dennis Green accused team owners and sportswriters of... More >>>