Etan Thomas Gets His Dylan Thomas On

Left-wing sports blogger Dave Zirin praises Washington Wizards forward Etan Thomas for speaking out against President Bush's handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Thomas has long been beloved in the black community for his activism, and in a speech, he said he agreed with Kanye West's assessment that "George Bush doesn't care about black people." Zirin claims Thomas' speech "has the power to topple tyrants," which is pretty impressive for a guy who can't guard Tim Thomas.

But whatever your thoughts on Thomas' politics, one has to admire not only his outspokenness, but also ... his poetry. Yep, Thomas has published a book of poetry, and it's full of all kinds of great stuff. Our favorite:

Now I look upon my culture, I see ballers, sure I do Hard corers in Haute Couture, in furs Enough to make my ancestry - stir My brothers among me, Kwame a black walnut tree, Lorenzo in his Benzo, give Stevie Blake his Vitamin D Gheorghe, the Great White Way, My endocrine Giant is dying on the parquet My soldier in hardwood war, Haywood I ask: What sound is made from the clapping of one small hand? A heart bigger that the prostate gland of Abe Honest, Master Pollin, an ego so kingly swollen, let me go, Because the Foggy Bottom Metro is still an underground railroad

Honestly? That s the best poem about Abe Pollin s prostate we ve ever read.

Etan Thomas Rises To The Occasion [Edge Of Sports] More Than An Athlete: Poems By Etan Thomas