I agree, Matt. I don’t see what has been combative. In academia and other circles, if someone makes claims, they are often highly criticized and debated. Analogies are often used and one of Kool-Aid is quite appropriate. After speaking with James on the phone, he does not believe his points and beliefs are debatable and are simply fact. He said that his positions are so objective that there is not even a point in debating because it is simply facts that he is presenting. Clearly, any sort of debate then would seem “combative” to him, but I see it as being critical and appropriate, especially when James argues that Western coaches and scientists have provided next to nothing for sporting compared to Russians/Soviets.
