Quote:
Originally posted by ChuckElias
How many NBA GMs are black (I can only think of one, Wes Unseld, and he's terrible)? How many executives in the NBA's New York headquarters are black? How many NBA commissioners have been black?
None of this proves that the NBA is racist (and I don't honestly believe that the NBA is a racist organization), but if you want to make a case, that's a good place to start.
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There is a difference between personal racism and institutional racism. Personal racism is when someone does something to another person directly. Institutional racism is when a system or practice is keeping a group of people back from opportunity. Just look at the NFL and the way they hired head coaches. It usually was a common practice that a Super Bowl winning offensive or defensive coordinator would get offered a head coaching job the next year. When Marvin Lewis was the defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens when they won the Super Bowl, he was not given an opportunity. His defense was the biggest reason that team was successful; no one even offered the man an interview for the many open head coaching positions. Lewis had to take another position with the Washington Redskins before getting picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals. Many might not look at this as a big deal, but when something changes for an African-American when historically are just as successful, to those watching it raises some eye brows. I could even go on and on about Romeo Crennel and how he won multiple Super Bowls as a Defensive coordinator, to be considered completely secondary to Bellicik. It is not about money, it is about opportunity. I said before I have no problem with the NBA and their age limit. I think the age limit is good for the game because the NBA does not really have a "farm system" to help groom those players. Just when I hear the issues about players not going to the NBA, even when the player is a LeBron James type, people seemed to make the point that they need to "mature" or "grow up" by simply going to college.
Bob,
It is not about whether they are saying a kid should stay or not, it is why he should go to college or go pro. I did not hear anyone say this kid was not "mature" to take a million dollar contract (which he only is going to make around $800,000). When even the top notch players want to go pro, there maturity and intelligence is questioned when they will be guaranteed around 3 million. Why is the kid that comes from the nice suburb making the obvious choice and the inner city kid has to grow up first. It is not just about race, there are issues of social status and class playing in this as well.
Peace