Monday, September 8, 2014

How Big is the Race Issue in the NBA? Atlanta Hawks to Go Up for Sale After Racist Remarks

While watching football this afternoon, I heard announcers talking about a second NBA team going up for sale after the owner made racist remarks. After hearing this, I was in disbelief. Another owner? Even if Donald Sterling wasn't the only owner with a racially insensitive mindset, how could another owner do this, and get caught? Upon listening further, I discovered that the Atlanta Hawk's owner, Bruce Levenson, admitted wrongdoing after an on-going, two-month NBA investigation that was made public this weekend. The investigation stemmed from an email he sent to team executives concerning business challenges with the struggling Hawks franchise.

According to his email, Black fans had “scared away the whites.” Mr. Levenson said, “I think Southern whites simply were not comfortable being in an arena or at a bar where they were in the minority.” He had earlier told the executive team that he wanted “some white cheerleaders” and “music familiar to a 40-year-old white guy,” and thought, “the kiss cam is too black.” The comments above are only part of the incriminating email.

In a league that, for all intensive purposes, is dominated by African American players, there are still owners who have a state of mind that is wholly intolerable. While Mr. Levenson has since provided a thoughtful apology on the matter and has indicated he will sell the team, the question still stands: how many more NBA owners have similar views? What is it going to take to change societal views about racism when some of the worst offenders are the very people leading our organizations? I applaud the NBA for their vigilant oversight in recent months, but it is clear that the focus on the leadership positions must continue if racism is to be eliminated in the NBA long term.

1 comment:

  1. I completely agree with you, the NBA is handling this situation correctly by punishing the racist owners. In the twenty first century I find it very suprising to find a person who is so involved with others of The opposite race to be so hateful.

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