Behold the power of a single aggrieved viewer: A long-time Clippers play-by-play team was suspended for making offensive comments about an opposing player during a game. Here’s a transcript of the remarks that got them in trouble:

The Wednesday exchange began when Haddadi entered the game and Smith said, “Look who’s in.” Lawler responded, “Hamed Haddadi. Where’s he from?”

Smith answered, “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.”

Towfighi, in an e-mail to The Times, the Clippers and Fox Sports executives, took umbrage with the fact that Smith mispronounced Iran and Iranian.

Here is the rest of the on-air exchange:

Lawler: “There aren’t any Iranian players in the NBA?” repeating Smith’s pronunciation of the word “Iranian.”

Smith: “He’s the only one.”

Lawler: “He’s from Iran?”

Smith: “I guess so.”

Lawler: “That Iran?”

Smith: “Yes.”

Lawler: “The real Iran?”

Smith: “Yes.”

Lawler: “Wow. Haddadi — that’s H-A-D-D-A-D-I.”

Smith: “You’re sure it’s not Borat’s older brother?”

Lawler laughed and Smith continued, “If they ever make a movie about Haddadi, I’m going to get Sacha Baron Cohen to play the part.”

Lawler: “Here’s Haddadi. Nice little back-door pass. I guess those Iranians can pass the ball.”

Smith: “Especially the post players.”

Lawler: “I don’t know about their guards.”

Another wrestler dies young.

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Jesper Parnevik went well beyond the requirements of chivalry the other day and it was awesome to behold:

“I would be especially sad about it – I really feel sorry for Elin – since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with him,” Parnevik said. “We probably thought he was a better guy than he is. I probably would have to apologise to her and hope she uses a driver next time rather than a three-iron, I would say.”

I can’t ever remember one jock taking sides against another like this. It’s kind of awesome. (I have a vague memory of Iverson saying something critical of Kobe during the Colorado affair, but I can’t find anything in the magic Google machine about it.)

Woods has been the subject of much discussion among Galley Friends who seem disillusioned that he isn’t the good guy that they thought he was. I argue that Woods is a good guy–by the standards of professional athletes. Compared to Michael Vick or TO or A-Rod, Woods is a great guy. But he’s also a pro athlete–which means that on the continuum, he’s probably closer to those fellows in general deportment than he is to Bob in accounting.

I’d argue that this sudden realization is the reason that the Woods story has become so fascinating. He’s the premier athlete of his time and he’s cheating on his wife. No surprise there. But he’s not cheating with Jessica Biel. He’s not having an affair with Miranda Kerr. He’s consorting with the type of girls you’d expect your average NBA sixth man to be banging. I suspect that that’s what people find so surprising, and hence interesting.

Bonus: Galley Friend X warns that Tiger appears to be headed for sex addiction defense:

It’s OBVIOUSLY going that way. This has become so ridiculous that he absolutely has to do it for purely financial reasons: i.e., it’s the only way he’s going to be able to keep Elin out of divorce court for the near future.

But here’s the real fun: he’ll come up with some story that combines sex addiction with his lost opportunity to have a childhood. (You heard it here first!) Tiger Woods is about to construct nothing less than A Classic Michael Jackson Defense, except that he tastefully substituted NYC/Vegas partygirls and A PORN STAR for underaged boys.

I hope not. Just about the only thing that would make me think less of Woods at this point would be if he went into public-confessional/apology mode. Despite everything, there’s something refreshingly old-school about him just disappearing and taking his lumps.

Count me in:

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Imagine what the conversation was like on JournoList.

That’s a description of John J. Miller’s new historical novel The First Assassin. Sounds pretty irresistible to me.

I know Miller slightly and he’s one of the true gentlemen of the Washington press: a good guy, a diligent reporter, and a solid writer. I’m looking forward to reading his book.

Galley Brother B.J. sends along the goods. Awesomeness quotient: high.

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