January 09, 2018
As I've written in the past, you may think Howard Eskin is an ass, and in most cases, I'd agree with you.
But at his best, he's an old-school troll learning – slowly – how to bring his intentionally provocative style of needling from the airwaves into the digital age. His most successful example of this is his ongoing beef with Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley.
Beasley released his first rap single Tuesday — yes you read that correctly. I, too, scoffed after reading TMZ's assessment that the Dallas wideout "can rap." But it really isn't that bad, aside from the vomit-inducing references to Dak Prescott and Jerry Jones.
I'll put it this way: If you didn't tell me it was a professional athlete rapping, I would have thought this was just a run-of-the-mill white rapper (Beasley even addresses the whole "white person rapping" thing in the song in a self-aware way.) You can listen to it here.
He explained in a tweet that he's been making music since college, and while it's secondary to his priorities as an athlete and father, a full album will be coming out this spring.
https://t.co/RJ22vMzIL1 pic.twitter.com/U2ggHf8qfY
— Cole Beasley (@Bease11) January 9, 2018
Again, putting my Cowboys hatred aside for a moment, using your platform to pursue another passion is something I can respect. But Eskin, prodded by his employer, couldn't resist the opportunity for trolling.
So now @Bease11 is a rapper. Do have to admit Cole you are better rapper than receiver. That’s because not very good receiver any longer. New career is good idea. @SportsRadioWIP https://t.co/xOAd5O5mml
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) January 9, 2018
This is the Howard Eskin I can enjoy to a degree. Not the transphobic or sexist comments, or the punching outside his weight class. Instead, the getting directly under a professional athlete's skin, making him respond in anger and then taunting him relentlessly with a tackiness that's worth admiration.
Hey @Bease11 whose your Daddy! Tried to tell you that your #cowboys QB Dak not “special” w/o running game. Cole Beasley, Whose your Daddy. pic.twitter.com/TQWbuGJTc4
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) November 20, 2017
