I don't even care that Larry Bird said what he did, but the media had better skewer him as much as they did Isiah Thomas more than 15 years ago. Hell, I expect the same thing they did to Rush to be done to Bird. Let's see if it actually comes to fruition.
(edited by Reverend J Shaft on 9.6.04 1408)
Behold, the chalice representing the power of my fro! Be afraid, L.A. Be very afraid!
OK, I realize I'm a Pacers fan, and am therefore biased... but did you actually read the article, or did you just read the first sentence or two and say, “OMG~! LARRY BIRD IS A RACIST~!”?
You wanna talk about inappropriate comments, go ahead and talk about Isiah Thomas. What he said was, “Larry Bird wouldn't be nearly as popular if he weren't white.” Larry simply said the NBA could use some more white players-- but went on to say that the best athletes in the world are African-American.
There's a big freakin' difference there, and you don't need to be a sociologist to figure it out.
“Finally, finally, my God finally, Chris Benoit is the Heavyweight Champion of this world!” --Jim Ross, WrestleMania XX
Two-Time Wiener of the Day (5/27/02; 7/3/02)
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
But everyone who watched Space Jam knows that Larry isn't white. He's clear.
So just out of curiousity, what is the correct answer when someone asks you (as Jim Gray did (or at least the article states that he did)):
Does the NBA lack enough white superstars in your opinion?
Heck what's the correct answer when someone asks you:
Does the NBA lack enough black superstars in your opinion?
Didn't Spike Lee get asked not so long ago whether he felt that black kids needed more black role models? Is that racial? Is that a significantly different question than either of the above?
It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing milkbone undershorts.
The only part of what Larry said that I took offense to was the white guy guarding him, because Bobby Jones played some damn good defense against him in the early 80's. Of course, if he's just having flashbacks to the days when Kelly Tripuka, Kiki Vandeweigh, Jack Sikma or Paul Mokeski tried to guard him, those were guys you would know before the game Larry could go for 40 easy against. As for the league needing white superstars, Honest question: Take the foreign ballplayer out of the equation, and name the best white player in the NBA today.
Originally posted by redsoxnationThe only part of what Larry said that I took offense to was the white guy guarding him, because Bobby Jones played some damn good defense against him in the early 80's. Of course, if he's just having flashbacks to the days when Kelly Tripuka, Kiki Vandeweigh, Jack Sikma or Paul Mokeski tried to guard him, those were guys you would know before the game Larry could go for 40 easy against. As for the league needing white superstars, Honest question: Take the foreign ballplayer out of the equation, and name the best white player in the NBA today.
Brad Miller, Kirk Hinrich? After that, I got nothin'.
(Not Bob Kohm)
In the context of baseball, the use of drugs hurts only the player. In the context of baseball, the use of alcohol hurts only the player. In the context of baseball, womanizing hurts whom? Maybe the wife of the player? In the context of baseball, felonies are crimes against society, not against baseball. In the context of baseball, gambling is the only crime against baseball.
Gambling, in the context of baseball, is a capital offense and Rose has richly earned-- hell, he agreed to-- his death sentence. Let him hang.
Bob Kohm, co-owner of Rotojunkies.com (rotojunkies.com) , and a large market kind of guy.
Originally posted by Reverend J ShaftFrom USA Today.
I don't even care that Larry Bird said what he did, but the media had better skewer him as much as they did Isiah Thomas more than 15 years ago. Hell, I expect the same thing they did to Rush to be done to Bird. Let's see if it actually comes to fruition.
(edited by Reverend J Shaft on 9.6.04 1408)
As much as I hate Isiah, he was just jokingly commenting on remarks Rodman made. Bird and Isiah held a press conference not too long after that incident where Larry supported Isiah.
Originally posted by redsoxnationThe only part of what Larry said that I took offense to was the white guy guarding him, because Bobby Jones played some damn good defense against him in the early 80's. Of course, if he's just having flashbacks to the days when Kelly Tripuka, Kiki Vandeweigh, Jack Sikma or Paul Mokeski tried to guard him, those were guys you would know before the game Larry could go for 40 easy against. As for the league needing white superstars, Honest question: Take the foreign ballplayer out of the equation, and name the best white player in the NBA today.
From what I remember, Bobby Jones covered McHale and Maxwell a lot more than he covered Bird on D.
Mentioning Sikma brings flashbacks of the between the legs pass Bird made on Sikma to set up the Chief for a layup.
Originally posted by ekedolphinOK, I realize I'm a Pacers fan, and am therefore biased... but did you actually read the article, or did you just read the first sentence or two and say, “OMG~! LARRY BIRD IS A RACIST~!”?
You wanna talk about inappropriate comments, go ahead and talk about Isiah Thomas. What he said was, “Larry Bird wouldn't be nearly as popular if he weren't white.” Larry simply said the NBA could use some more white players-- but went on to say that the best athletes in the world are African-American.
There's a big freakin' difference there, and you don't need to be a sociologist to figure it out.
Dude, did you actually read my comment? Or did you just read the last part and say, "“OMG~! HE THINKS LARRY BIRD IS A RACIST~!”? Where in the blue hell do I say "racist"?
What Isiah actually said was "If Bird were black, he'd be just another good player." And actually, he didn't even say that, he agreed with Dennis Rodman (who was the one who said it). I don't think Bird is racist and I even agree with some of what he said. But if you can say something as imflammatory as
"I think it's good for a fan base because as we all know the majority of the fans are white America. And if you just had a couple of white guys in there, you might get them a little excited. But it is a black man's game, and it will be forever. I mean the greatest athletes in the world are African-American."
and get away without the media jumping all over him, then it's a little hypocritical. I think people will, for the most part, let it go because he was complimentary in his generalizations, but replace the words "African-American" and "black" with "white" and vice-versa and see what people think then.
So back off.
(edited by Reverend J Shaft on 10.6.04 1051)
Behold, the chalice representing the power of my fro! Be afraid, L.A. Be very afraid!
I dont see how anybody shold be clamorring for the press to hammer Bird. He said he hated having white guys gaurding him, because he himself felt the white defenders were inferior players, and it insulted his game.
What he said about the game is true, most fans AT GAMES tend to be white, or at least they were at every game I have been to. Most of the best players are black. Some good white players MIGHT make people come out more, but I think better basketball would do that as well.
redsoxnation said "Take the foreign ballplayer out of the equation, and name the best white player in the NBA today."
They did this today on PTI and had a list of pretty good players. Wally XZSerbiak, anybody named Barry, Jason Williams, that point gaurd from Chicago, that OTHER white guy in Memphis, (not Pau Gasol, the guy they got from Miami) and Kornhieser asked if Jason Kidd and Mike Bibby counted, which gave me quite the chuckle.
Mike Miller, from Orlando, but point taken. I'd forgotten completely about half of those guys that they had on their list.
(Not Bob Kohm)
In the context of baseball, the use of drugs hurts only the player. In the context of baseball, the use of alcohol hurts only the player. In the context of baseball, womanizing hurts whom? Maybe the wife of the player? In the context of baseball, felonies are crimes against society, not against baseball. In the context of baseball, gambling is the only crime against baseball.
Gambling, in the context of baseball, is a capital offense and Rose has richly earned-- hell, he agreed to-- his death sentence. Let him hang.
Bob Kohm, co-owner of Rotojunkies.com (rotojunkies.com) , and a large market kind of guy.
1. No 2. No 3. No I'm a NorCal transplant (since March 2004) and while I can't say I'm a diehard Sonics fan, I live a few blocks from the Key and loved going to games. I loved watching Delonte West try to dribble only with his one good hand.