Darren Rovell Says Racism Is Okay If The Market Approves; ESPNers Flee

Darren Rovell, a commemorative gift plate from the American Enterprise Institute that somehow talks and writes and uses social media, went there just now on Twitter, and it’s a sight to behold—a service to the nation, in its way. While a market fundamentalist with a neuron or two firing would probably avoid expressions of active enthusiasm over markets expressing the racist priors of their participants, Rovell is blessed with the self-awareness of a bucket of spackle, and so will just lay this sort of thing out there, presumably marveling at his own savvy as he does:

In brief, the argument made by people who find it incredible that it’s easier to market a second-rate Russian women’s tennis player than an all-time great American one in the United States is that the American market is racist in a way that intersects with its misogyny, as evidenced by the fact that it’s easier to market a second-rate Russian women’s tennis player than an all-time great American here. Rovell’s counter—and why he feels the need to hop in here, we have no idea—is that where the market is expressing broad racist inclinations, no real racism is involved. Duh, only an idiot would think so!

This was so bad even ESPNers couldn’t bite their tongues:

The best exchange, though, was one involving Bomani Jones. He essentially said, “Darren, buddy, while you’ve previously insisted winning is #1 in determining marketability, it appears that Serena is less marketable than Sharapova because well-off men (who are disproportionately white) prefer her, and marketers prefer to aim at this demo, which, in this context, well ...”

Rovell’s devastating rejoinder? It’s the sample size!

Darren Rovell makes much more money than many, many people who are much, much better at their jobs than he is.