Skip Bayless is not what any of us would consider a thinking man's sportswriter. After all, he's the guy who said Anthony Peeler should have fought back after Kevin Garnett elbowed him in the head last year. (At sportsblog, David Irwin noted the hypocrisy of his claims. "I'm guessing that if an angry pro athlete elbowed him in the face, Bayless would piss himself and go have a good cry." )

So when Bayless took on the role of race in the NBA today during a piece about Manu Ginobīli, I was expecting something out of left field. What we got was one of the most bizarre explanations yet of why white Americans don't dominate the league. Here's a peek into his mind:

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Growing up in Argentina, Ginobili wasn't conditioned as a kid to believe he couldn't compete with black players. That, basically, is what has happened to so many American white kids. They give up basketball by high school, because, as the movie title said, 'White Men Can't Jump.'

Too many American white kids have been intimidated by the prospect of having to compete against black players. But the nonblack players coming from leagues overseas are not afraid of anyone of any color on a basketball court. They are utterly confident doing the things they do best, and the only fear they have is of failure. In many cases, the NBA is also their way out of poverty.

So now we've seen Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovic become stars. Steve Nash, who played college basketball at Santa Clara, but grew up in Canada, has turned into an MVP candidate. The NBA hasn't had an American-bred white star since John Stockton. Sacramento's Brad Miller and Minnesota's Wally Szczerbiak have made an All-Star team, but neither are considered a big "star."
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So, what he's saying is that white players—in America—are somehow conditioned to fear black players because of some unforseen force (Woody Harrelson, perhaps?) that doesn't faze whites from elsewhere, even those who go to college in the States (especially if they might be the myth-busting league MVP).

Right. And don't forget, American white guys don't fear failure or poverty. Mr. Bayless, I believe I liked it better when you were telling Peeler to take out KG.