Apparently, black activists and players are upset because the NBA is only 78% black now, down from 82% a few years ago due to the rise in international stars.
This article really gets my blood boiling. I'm really, really, hoping its satire, and not real. But sadly, I think it is real.
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0322/mcgraw.php
If only people would get as upset over high crime and poor grades.
Full Version: Village Voice article on race
And of course, it's all a conspiracy of team owners and corporate sponsors because racist American sports fans want fewer black players. As if Michael Jordan isn't the most admired athlete in the world.
It also strikes me as hilarious that a leftist publication like the Voice would dare to engage in immigrant-bashing, which is basically what the article amounts to.
On a related note, during a visit to an aunt and uncle in Florida a few years ago, I was amused to hear their neighbor, a black, retired NYC police detective, claim that Latinos were ruining baseball by keeping black players out.
[ May 28, 2003, 01:03 PM: Message edited by: Jerzoid ]
It also strikes me as hilarious that a leftist publication like the Voice would dare to engage in immigrant-bashing, which is basically what the article amounts to.
On a related note, during a visit to an aunt and uncle in Florida a few years ago, I was amused to hear their neighbor, a black, retired NYC police detective, claim that Latinos were ruining baseball by keeping black players out.
[ May 28, 2003, 01:03 PM: Message edited by: Jerzoid ]
I just read this article, and I have to admit I am confused. Not being a huge pro basketball fan, I was unaware of the rule changes, but it seems like the author is mixing a lot of different things into the "race" issue.
1) Different styles of play - the author makes the statement about "black style" and "white style" but then freely admits that what was once "black style" is now "white" and vice versa. So there really isn't a specific "style" of basketball that every black player or white player uses and the point is meaningless. It's not as if some black player can't pick up white moves, and vice versa. In fact, the best players are always adapting their game, no matter what the sport.
2) Rule changes - according to the author, the rule changes, including zone defense (which I have always preferred to watch, and is why I prefer college ball) were designed to increase scoring. Everyone knows American's like points/goals/runs, whatever it is. That is one reason soccer has not quite caught on with older Americans (the kids love it), even with rule changes. To argue or even contemplate that rule changes favoring more offense was somehow a racist action is just confusing.
3) Lack of preparation - the author seems to hit on some of the problems with pro basketball, but because they don't fit into his concept of race, they don't matter. If ratings are falling and foreign players are achieving better, might it not be because the audience got sick of players who weren't that good and now likes players that have all-around skills? Not to mention the foreign players all seem to idolize black American stars.
4) Cornrows and criminals - the author also makes a blatently racist linkage between black players and criminal acts/rebellious actions/out-of-wedlock babies. It may very well be true that the audience does not want to see a DUI-getting,foul-mouthed,indiscriminantly-fathering children player on the court, but that does not mean they don't want to see black players. No one seemed to have a problem with Michael Jordon or Scottie Pippen or any of the last generation of black players that stayed out of trouble. But then again most of them went through 3 - 4 years of college and were more mature than a lot of the over-paid stars now.
I don't think you can dismiss the facts that the NBA is 78% black (and that percentage had to be nearly as high, if not higher, in the golden era of Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkley, etc.), the NBA is far more progressive on GM/coaches/owners/front office personel, than any other sport, when examining what is happening to the sport right now. I think what is really going on is that the style of play fell after too many kids were coming out of college too early and now the league needs to attract fans back, and is using players with all-around skills. Maybe I'm wrong.
1) Different styles of play - the author makes the statement about "black style" and "white style" but then freely admits that what was once "black style" is now "white" and vice versa. So there really isn't a specific "style" of basketball that every black player or white player uses and the point is meaningless. It's not as if some black player can't pick up white moves, and vice versa. In fact, the best players are always adapting their game, no matter what the sport.
2) Rule changes - according to the author, the rule changes, including zone defense (which I have always preferred to watch, and is why I prefer college ball) were designed to increase scoring. Everyone knows American's like points/goals/runs, whatever it is. That is one reason soccer has not quite caught on with older Americans (the kids love it), even with rule changes. To argue or even contemplate that rule changes favoring more offense was somehow a racist action is just confusing.
3) Lack of preparation - the author seems to hit on some of the problems with pro basketball, but because they don't fit into his concept of race, they don't matter. If ratings are falling and foreign players are achieving better, might it not be because the audience got sick of players who weren't that good and now likes players that have all-around skills? Not to mention the foreign players all seem to idolize black American stars.
4) Cornrows and criminals - the author also makes a blatently racist linkage between black players and criminal acts/rebellious actions/out-of-wedlock babies. It may very well be true that the audience does not want to see a DUI-getting,foul-mouthed,indiscriminantly-fathering children player on the court, but that does not mean they don't want to see black players. No one seemed to have a problem with Michael Jordon or Scottie Pippen or any of the last generation of black players that stayed out of trouble. But then again most of them went through 3 - 4 years of college and were more mature than a lot of the over-paid stars now.
I don't think you can dismiss the facts that the NBA is 78% black (and that percentage had to be nearly as high, if not higher, in the golden era of Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkley, etc.), the NBA is far more progressive on GM/coaches/owners/front office personel, than any other sport, when examining what is happening to the sport right now. I think what is really going on is that the style of play fell after too many kids were coming out of college too early and now the league needs to attract fans back, and is using players with all-around skills. Maybe I'm wrong.
I found the article to be pointless.
This article is as moronic as the people who argued lengthening the course at Augusta for the Masters was done to HURT Tiger Woods! 
Yeah, I don't buy what the article is selling.
Basketball, if anything, shows a lack of racism by its audience, which recognizes the skill and effort and dynamic play by both blacks and whites. The superstars of the league are all black. There are a number of black coaches and referees. Many of the TV commentators are black. The players used in advertising are predominantly black. And just look at all the kids (white, black, Asian, Latino) wearing the jerseys of Shaq, Kobe, McGrady, Iverson, etc.
Basketball, if anything, shows a lack of racism by its audience, which recognizes the skill and effort and dynamic play by both blacks and whites. The superstars of the league are all black. There are a number of black coaches and referees. Many of the TV commentators are black. The players used in advertising are predominantly black. And just look at all the kids (white, black, Asian, Latino) wearing the jerseys of Shaq, Kobe, McGrady, Iverson, etc.
The article is just fodder to start a controversy. The best players get to play that is all. If the NBA only wanted white players to play then the NBA would not have changed since the 50s.
QUOTE
dupontred
If only people would get as upset over high crime and poor grades. [/QB]
Who's not "upset over high crime" and "poor grades?" Where have you been? We had a president who for 8 years strove to lower the crime rate, which did occur, and raise test scores, just as the current administration is trying to do. Sheesh.If only people would get as upset over high crime and poor grades. [/QB]
This article is idiotic, and the author, I think, is not some "black activist" but a white guy who also wrote a book on the Cleveland Browns. At any rate, the whole idea of 1) classifying sports into "black" and "white" at this point is just inane, and 2) comparing it to jazz or the marginalization of soul music is equally stupid.
He and the VOICE just wanted to attract attention, I'm sure. It has raised hackles, which is the point. I mean, just look at Sean Hannity or Ann Coulter.
I would add that as others have said, basketball is one of the most integrated games in all of American professional sports. Football's failures are glaring, as are baseball's. Again, I think this guy just wanted to provoke, though perhaps he really believes this crap, like that wacko Jon Entine, who is still arguing about sports-related biological differences among the races that were shown to be false years ago.
After reading the article, I am not certain if this guy is serious or not. It seems like alot of effort went into a bunch of trash.
If he is serious, he needs to take a look at the last Basketball world championships where the USA team was an embarassment. I don't know who was playing on that team, but the rest of the world has certainly caught up to the level of play in our country. To imply that it's race that makes one a good or bad player is in itself a racist statement.
Did I miss the part about Minority Management in the NBA? That's a real topic.
Did I miss the part about affirmative action?
-OOPs, that would mean there would be alot more of a balance of race in the NBA. I don't hear that mentioned.
I truely believe this article is ust a farce trying to stir the pot.
If he is serious, he needs to take a look at the last Basketball world championships where the USA team was an embarassment. I don't know who was playing on that team, but the rest of the world has certainly caught up to the level of play in our country. To imply that it's race that makes one a good or bad player is in itself a racist statement.
Did I miss the part about Minority Management in the NBA? That's a real topic.
Did I miss the part about affirmative action?
-OOPs, that would mean there would be alot more of a balance of race in the NBA. I don't hear that mentioned.
I truely believe this article is ust a farce trying to stir the pot.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.