The Oregonian asks author, poet, director comedian and basketball fan Sherman Alexie (Spokane / Coeur d'Alene) about his penchant for stirring up trouble on just about any issue.

"If I stay in my circle and stay with the Indian thing, I can get away with a lot more," Alexie says. "The second I talk about sex, people just panic. That's really what panics people. Even liberals."

"Sometimes I try to find something else to make them uncomfortable," he adds.

Alexie lives in Seattle, Washington, and says he's constantly recognized. "I'm distinctive-looking enough that people notice me," he says. "I couldn't commit a crime."

Being in Seattle allowed the author to attend lots of Sonics games. But now that the team has moved to Oklahoma, he's no longer interested.

"Not my team," he says.

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Native American writer Sherman Alexie enjoys being an offensive threat (The Oregonian 10/3)