Yes, you read that headline correctly. And no, I’m never giving PBS another penny. Can’t recall that I ever gave them a first penny, except the money from my taxes that goes to PBS. But, I’m going to petition my Indiana Congressional leaders to move towards ending taxpayer funding of PBS.

At the center of the controversy is a lesson plan on the Thirteen Ed Online (PBS/New York affiliate), a website devoted to helping teachers integrate technology into lesson plans. One particular lesson plan is devoted to trading cards. Sounds harmless and I have no problem with educating kids about the history of baseball cards (and other sports). What I have a HUGE problem with is this section:

After watching the video, the class will brainstorm what they remember from the video and make a list of the “Big Shots” and the “Bad Guys.”

• The “Big Shots” list includes:
  • Gil Hodges, Brooklyn Dodgers
  • Mike Piazza, New York Mets
  • Roger Clemens, New York Yankees
  • Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks
  • Willis Reed, New York Knicks
  • Bobby Thomson, New York Giants
  • Joe Namath, New York Jets
  • Mark Messier, New York Islanders
  • Dennis Potvin, New York Islanders
  • Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees
  • Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers
  • Joe DiMaggio, New York, Yankees




• The “Bad Guys” list includes:
  • Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers
  • Walter O’Malley, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers
  • John Rocker, formerly of the Atlanta Braves
  • George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees

So, you’re going to tell me that taxpayer money is going to fund lesson plans that put Reggie Miller at the top of the “Bad Guys” list? Are you kidding me? Doesn’t PBS have anything better to teach kids than to hate Reggie Miller?

I didn’t even know anyone at PBS watched basketball, but they still seem to be pissed about the 8 points in 8.9 seconds Reggie dropped on the Knicks. We all know Spike Lee, with his courtside manlove for John Sparks, was positively suicidal after the loss, but does that mean PBS has to even the score by teaching a generation of kids to hate #31? Absolutely not.

So, as a lifelong Pacer fan I must take a stand for what’s right! Reggie is a hero in Indiana and doesn’t deserve to be on the “Bad Guy” list. Won’t you join me in this all important quest? It’s a heck of a lot more entertaining than paying attention to the Presidential campaign. (Besides, Bloomberg announced he isn’t running today, so I could care less now. Is that irresponsible?) Anyway, if Congress can waste time on Spygate with the NFL and the MLB steroid scandal, surely they can consider a bill to SHUT DOWN PBS/THIRTEEN ED until Reggie comes off the bad list.

So please write your Congressman or Congresswoman or Congressperson or Congresscanine and tell them to stop giving $ to PBS. Tell all your friends to stop donating to PBS. Tell them not another penny for reckless and potentially damaging education initiatives that teach children to hate the GREATEST PACER of all time. If PBS affiliates around the country start losing donations, maybe they will put pressure on the NY affiliate to stop filling the minds of children with such damaging drivel.

Here are some handy links:

Neal Shapiro is the CEO of Thirteen/WNet. Email him at programming@thirteen.org. Better yet, post a comment on his blog here.

Thirteen/WNET
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New York, NY 10001
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Fax: 212-560-1314
Local New Jersey line: 973-643-3315

Carry on, Citizens!