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You don't become the NBA's all-time scoring leader because you like to pass the ball. That philosophy applies to blogging as well for hoops legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who fired arguably the lowest-percentage shot of his professional life Wednesday with a baffling essay blending identity politics, film criticism and Barack Obama flag-waving. Or, as the Abdul-Jabbar playbook calls it, "Horton Hears a Racist":

Like John F. Kennedy, Obama will inspire a younger generation and invigorate the older generation to take greater part in their government, society, and community. But there are many obstacles this New Era will have to face. A sagging economy. War abroad. Faltering education.

And, worse of all [sic], the movie Horton Hears a Who.

"Hey, it's just a cartoon," you might say. But this particular cartoon will be seen by millions of children around the world. And they will come away with a clear impression that a single son is worth more than 96 daughters. Those boys are inherently more valuable than girls, and more likely to be successful (in this case, in saving the world) than girls.

And there is soooo much more to digest where that came from; you really must read it to believe it. Or maybe not "believe it," but... you know. On the court, of course, a common reaction to such violent rim-clankery is to exclaim to an unsympathetic ref that you were fouled. Alas, that excuse doesn't fly in Abdul-Jabbar's case because clearly no one was guarding him. All we can imagine from a look at the replay is that he was just trying to do too much with the ball as time ran out; glum coaches told reporters afterward they would continue to develop the big man's outside game in the days and weeks ahead.