[JRutledge]

I worked as an assistant manager in a particular drug store chain when I moved to my current area. The stores I worked out of had no white people in those stores. The stores were on the south side of Chicago deep in the heart of the inner city. District Managers, Store Managers, Asst. Managers, cashiers, stock people and any other position I cannot think of where African-American. Even the vendors that came into the stores most of the time where people of color. Now that is fine for those areas that have 99.9 percent of their customers were of that race, but what about those that live in more racially diverse areas? Are there the same kinds of opportunity in those stores? Just because there are overwhelming numbers of a certain race, does not mean there is still not forms of institutional racism at works.

I know as an officials I have no problem working in the Chicago Public League and places where there are a lot of African-Americans playing. I also do not just want to be relegated as an official to only working in the predominately African-American areas either. I would also like to work schools where there will be no Black players or coaches on the court. The Class AA State Boy's State Champion was an mostly white team with no African-Americans on any roster spots (a largely Jewish community at that), I would not mind officiating that team, then working teams that are all African-American and cannot win a Regional Title.

I agree that the NBA has a large number of African-Americans in very prominent roles throughout the game. That does not prove there is not discrimination. Discrimination should be judged by whether people in those positions are given the same opportunity. Chuck makes a good point that if only 2 or 3 GMs in the NBA are people of color and the game is overwhelmingly represented, why are there not at least half of the GMs in the NBA a reflection of who is on the team?

None of us here are going to be able to answer this question. For those African-Americans (and women in many cases) observing and looking at the NBA, NFL or MLB, the question is from are we getting the same opportunities as those in similar positions. Joe Dumars was and exceptional player and leader of the Detroit Pistons in his playing days. Elgin Baylor had a Hall of Fame career and was voted one of the Top 50 to ever play in the game several years ago. John Paxon was a marginal player and only had experience as a radio analyst before he got picked to be the Bull's GM. I am not saying Paxon was not qualified for his position, but would someone that has historically been discriminated against get that same opportunity with the little experience he had? B.J. Armstrong who actually worked in the Bull's front office after his playing days did not get the job. So Armstrong, who was also a marginal player on the same teams with Paxon, actually was working in with scouting and front office issues under Jerry Krause. Armstrong did not get the Bull's job or any GM job for that matter. For those that are looking at social justice and fight discrimination, these are specific situations we are looking at. Just to have more people than any other organization than the larger population is not what many are concerned with. I and others are looking at opportunity for those in similar situations or backgrounds.

Peace