posted by Sam Richards
So this guy, Don “Moose” Lewis, wants to start a basketball league for white guys because, among other reasons, white guys need a place to play that “traditional brand of basketball” that they know and enjoy. (That photo to the right is what the roster would look like.) It’s easy to scoff at Moose, and not just because of his nickname–because on the face of it this seems blatantly racist. But my thinking is that the issue is more complex than it first appears–and this is why I want some other people to weigh in on the matter.
Moose says “he’s filling market niche,” that there are plenty of (white) guys to don’t like the upscale tempo of basketball that is played professionally today and they should have a chance to complete in venues where they can earn a living. And there are lot of people who would (and should be allowed to) pay money to watch them play. Good point, Moose. Unfortunately for Moose, there are undoubtedly black and brown men (and women) who want to play “white ball” and so they’ll also have to have a chance to show their (white) skills in the slow lane, so to speak?
Maybe I could overlook this moose-sized oversight if Moose didn’t reveal his hand by saying the following:
“With players on other professional teams carrying guns, attacking fans in the stands, and going through the motions of playing the game, fundamentally sound [W]hite players are a vanishing species…Fans have spoken to the AABA asking to restore on court sanity to the game of basketball. Their pleas are our mission. Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league.”
First off, the name looks like ABBA, that notoriously white band from the 1970s. 
Bad sign. Second, his words sound more like the standard white racist stance on black and brown people and less like a businessman responding to a market need.
Nonetheless, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and imagine that there are people out there who want to watch a slow style game that only native born white people know how to play. If so, then rock on to his bad self and let’s get to the tip off. Just don’t throw the ball too high…since the white brothers can’t….well, you know….jump. Here’s Moose explaining himself:
I think this is racist when the guy in the story says things like getting back to fundamentals and going back to the old days, doesn't he mean basketball before black people could play professional basketball. This league is really going to suck, what does he mean get back to fundamentals, I guess nobody will be aloud to dunk and you have to pass the ball five times before your aloud to shoot the ball. I wonder if their going to wear really tight short-shorts too? I can't imagine anybody actually going to these games except the poor wives of these guys. This isn't really a new idea white people did the same thing with baseball, it's called slow pitch softball and guess what… it sucks too.
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Oh man this is great! An all white basketball league… That’s probably going to last, what, 3 weeks at best!
Especially since he plans on starting this league down south, an area predominantly occupied by black and brown people. Starting this league in Alaska or upstate Maine is one thing, but down south? Is this guy really serious?
I don’t think it’s as much a race issue as it is a terrible business decision. All of the good white players are going to go to the NBA no matter what, and let’s face it, there aren’t that many of them (before I go any further I should say that I am white). Basketball is a sport dominated by black and brown people because they are just better at it…there’s no other explanation, we have hockey they have basketball.
I asked one of my black friends how he though he’d make out if he created an all black and brown hockey league and he laughed in my face. Which is fine, I expected that response, because I’d do the same if he asked me about the white basketball league.
Here’s the thing, some white people do make it to the NBA (there are actually quite a few, but most are coming off the bench…that’s what I mean when I’m saying that there aren’t many in the NBA) just like some black and brown do make it into the NHL. Why can’t we just accept the fact that this is the way it is supposed to play out?
No two people are created the same, we all have different like and dislikes, some are smarter than others, and we complete different activities with varying levels of ability.
Going back on the race issue, I don’t think Don is trying to make this a racial issue, he’s not trying to upset the whole black community by doing this, he is just a silly businessman that failed to think this one all the way through.
If you really think of it, across most aspects of sport, especially our major sports in this country, there is a monopoly on each major genre. The NBA is too strong and powerful to ever face competition, especially from an up-and-comer who is trying to create a league of one single race. How is this man going to out-bid David Stern and many of the team owners to pull a white man away from his team, fans and exposure? It’s never going to happen.
I just think this is a bad decision on Don’s part; he is spending money that he is never going to get back. Dude, this is coming from another just like yourself, call it quits now because your not going anywhere with this “brilliant” idea of yours.
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As an avid basketball fan, this type of news is simply hilarious. First of all, this league has zero chance of ever developing, which is why we can look at the details and laugh. Although most of the argument about “fast”, “black” basketball being disliked is far from the truth, there is however one aspect that does have some legitimacy and should be addressed. The notably bad off-the-court behavior of some of the athletes is something that is truly intolerable and is something that does need to be disciplined more harshly. That doesn’t mean we need to make a white league however.
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goldenboybrodie Reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 4:59 am
Yeah you right this has no chance i really laugh at this but at the same time sad like who would really try to come up with a league for all white people this is outrageous I feel sorry for them two promoters for this because mark my words they will get the bad end of the stick for this one this is just unacceptable talking about this is just entertainment he is really make of fun of the white people saying they have no game and can really ball with other races because they can’t perform high enough if I was white I would take this in a disrespectful way .
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"I wanna go back to the days where black people were selling me my hot dogs and wiping my chair, I miss those nostalgic days" After I establish this, I'm moving south, establishing a farm, employing only black workers, making them live in shacks, not paying them, and beating them for not doing what I want. It's not racist, I'm just filling a niche; im sure there are some colored folk out there who fantasize about re-living the slave days. After all, it's just a niche business!" HAHA! This is what one of my best friends (who happens to be white – I am black) said after I showed him this atrocious piece of garbage. What utter nonsense to say that this "sport" is not racist against black people. Like the president of the NAACP said, if it looks, sounds, and walks like a duck, its a duck. This man is clearly insane. Not only is he crazy to think that he can get away with this, he is also a nut to think he is actually fulfilling any niche at all. There is a reason that professional basketball has the form it is in now. Yes, there are probably more black athletes on the court than white, but hey, maybe the white folks need to practice more? By saying there needs to be a slower paced game of basketball, played only the way that white folks know how, he is implying that black people are better at the sport. Saying that players carry guns and start trouble, he is obviously talking only about black players. I bet there are a few players that have acted out of line, but I also bet there have been a few white players to start trouble as well. He is making a fool out of himself and anyone that would join his potential league. He must be the dumbest racist ever! Imagine the recruitment posters! "Do you suck at basketball? Do you want to play anyway? Are you white? Come play anyways! It's the all white league, just for losers like you and me!" At least most racists try at assert themselves as better, this idiot wants to segregate because he can't compete with the better players! What a joke. Send this mockery of a man back to the slave days, he would clearly be happier there. Hopefully the media will quash this story and it will never be spoken of again. Or if all else fails, and somehow this dunder gets this sham up and running, everyone of all colors will boycott this nonsense and bankrupt him – I can only hope his loan provider is a black man!! Good for a laugh, though.
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After reading this, I decided that this league mostl likely won't be too successful because I personally don't believe theres any more room in America for minor league basketball teams. There already is the NBDL, the national basketball developmental league, where they dont exactly pack arenas and the players salaries are not even close to that of an NBA contract. The way that Moose Lewis approaches this situation comes off like a racist. I realize he's trying to stir up controversy to get this league some attention, but when he explains his reasoning he just sounds like a an intolerant racist. If he wants to start a league with a slow tempo style game that focuses more on fundamentals, I'd say that is just fine. However restricting leagues to players of only a certain race seems like a backwards step in our society. I do agree with what the man in the NAACP said when he explained that there is no place for such a league in America. We have come so far throughout history and this country is more about equality now than ever, and starting a league that only allows whites is a step in the wrong direction. I also don't think many people want to see a slowed down game. It's just not as entertaining to the average fan, so the idea in itself is just bad in the first place. Fans want high flying up paced action rather than the slow down work for 24 seconds to get one shot. Even if this league was to come into existence, the players who are the highest talented will show and because these players are more talented, they won't have to focus as much on fundamentals because they can get away without sharpening all of their skills. In this sense, i believe this potential league would eventually evolve into an NBA like league. So in my opinion, this league is just an awful idea thats stirring up more controversy where it isn't needed. However it does leave questions to be asked such as "what about the white man in professional basketball?" Currently the number of white American born players in the NBA is at an all time low. Some might say what's fair is fair and if white Americans can't perform at a high enough level then they just won't be able to compete in the NBA. However I have seen segments on television that focus around racial profiling of white players. No matter what Sam tried to explain during class about all people having the same chance of being good at sports given the right resources, blacks are more athletic than whites on average and that's all there is to it. I've had a basketball in my hands since i was born as my father was a college basketball coach with an office right next to a gym. I've played a ridiculous amount of basketball in my life but I'm still slow and white and that will never change. But that doesnt mean that there are other white players out there who are capable of competing in the NBA. Some are capable but don't get the chance because of racial profiling. Some scouts see a player, and if he's white then they automatically assume his athleticism is inferior because of skin color. I don't know any solutions to these problems, but they are certainly situations we can take into consideration and works towards for a better tomorrow.
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This is a very interesting idea, but I believe that it is misplayed and misunderstood. What "Moose" seems to be wanting to do is create a league that players a slower teamwork-type game with skilled outside shooters and many plays and passing rather than the popular fast-paced one on one type game that we currently see being played today in the United States. Moose is referring to this game as a "white-style game", which is very interesting because as much as it might be true, it really has nothing to do with race.
Today we associate the black players of the game with the fast athletic skilled players who can jum out of the roof and have the ball-handling skills to take anyone one on one. then, we usually associate the white players as being the more slow-paced guys who don't much more than having great shooting three point shots and feeding the ball to their temmates.
When Moose refers to this and if he does great a white league, What happens to the exceptions to this rule? What happens to the black guys who much rather play this style game? this then brings up the controversy of segregation and excluding blacks solely for the color of their skin. It isn't fair to segregate due to skin tone, even if the stereotype seems to segregate playing styles. Instead it should be more of a variation in playing styles; making a more arena-based basketball format for one type of player and a slower-paced system for others. This shouldn't be an issue of race.
There is another issue that comes up if this type of scenario may occur. How does one decide what type of basketball style they play? Is it chosen by a third party of what league they are "allowed" to play in or would one just decide for themselves? If it is the latter, why wouldn't a more skilled, athletic-type player join the more slow-paced shooting league so he could stand out as a star? Then if this may occur, what is the real point of the two leagues? Over time, the leagues will become mixed and we will be back to where we are now. We would just have two leagues with the similar style play.
The very simple fact is that the reason there is not room for the "white" players or the more slow-paced shooting-type players is because the game that is played today just does not have room for it. The reason there is no room for it is the simple fact is that the NBA game is simply better. The game is just better. Simple as that.
The NBA is the professional basketball league for a reason. It is because it is the absolute best players in the world. So if his desire is to create a new league, it might as well be a minor league or semi-pro.
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I think the idea of an NBA league strictly for white players is an awful idea. There are so many reasons why this would not work. First off, the quality of basketball would be atrocious. The players would not be nearly as athletic. This “white only” league would be a completely different style and stress 5 vs. 5 much more. The style of play has more similarities to high school basketball than it does to the NBA style of play. Although it would become more of a team game, this is really not entertaining even the slightest bit. As a white fan I would much rather watch LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant dunk and hit game winning shots than see a 5’10 white player execute a fundamentally sound back-door lay up. These guys are professionals; the best in their trade, why wouldn’t anyone want to watch the best athletes in the entire world compete against each other. Clearly this guy is way too opinionated and knows absolutely nothing about basketball. This league would get very little to zero fan support. The only way this league would last one season is if they could put people in the seats, which they wouldn’t be able to. Lets say there is an “all white” league team in Los Angeles, I do not know one person that would rather watch the white squad over Kobe Bryant. I think everyone would even watch the god awful Nets play instead of a bunch of semi decent college players that all just happen to be white. It is really just a formula for disaster.
The NBA does need to clean their image up though, especially due to recent events. David Stern can’t tolerate players attacking fans, the majority of the players carrying guns into the locker room, consistent drug violations and anything illegal that anyone could associate with the “Thug” stereotype. All David Stern’s weak suspensions do is give people like this guy firepower. What’s hard to understand is that if David Stern kicked guys like Ron Artest and Gilbert Arenas out of the NBA, it really wouldn’t hurt it all that much. It would hurt the teams a great deal, but who cares it is their fault. They invested in these guys, with all the millions of dollars put towards scouting and drafting; they should have realized that the negatives outweigh the positives for these players. Kids idolize professional athletes, what kind of a message is David Stern sending the public by not kicking players out of the league that have deserved that punishment. I’m all about giving someone a second chance, which is exactly what Michael Vick is getting now. Ron Artest should have been suspended for attacking that fan in Detroit. David Stern should not be commissioner of the NBA or he should strive to be more like the NFL’s commissioner Robert Goodell.
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As a white male who has played basketball his whole life, my dream has always been to play professional basketball. Growing up it was my goal to play basketball for my entire life. I did whatever I could to get myself to become a better player and hopefully potentially make a living off of the game of basketball. Of course I didn’t make it to that childhood dream, but I would do anything to play professional basketball. Having said that, I would without a doubt, never, ever, play in any type of league like this man is trying to make. To me, this is like something that would have happened 50 years ago. A league with all white men is completely racist. Not only will this fail as a business project, but this is almost like taking a complete step back in terms of race relations. When you talk about playing in a professional basketball league, it should be about playing with the best players that are available. It shouldn’t be about the best “white” players you can find. There shouldn’t be a league with its own race. It is just not right and shows just how much racism is still left in America today. We have passed laws that deal with discrimination and to me this violates just about every single law that the government has made. The funny thing about this is that this man, who has decided to try to get this league off the ground, really thinks this is a genius idea. I don’t know if he has been living under a rock or what. First of all, when you pay to watch professional basketball, you usually watch to pay to see the best talent and the best players in the world. This league will not showcase that. This will only show SOME of the best “white” players in the world. Now I know some people will play in this not because of race, but just for the love of the game. Some people don’t look at this as a race issue, when in actuality it really is. I consider myself one of those people who would love to play no matter what, but in terms of what this league’s image is already seen as by people, I would not in a million years play in this. After taking this class, I don’t think there could be any type of “X” amount of dollars that could get me to play in this league. It remains to be seen if this league will eventually go through with this idea and put this product on the court, but if it does it will be sickening. Like I said before, this will fail as a business venture and it will fail as a social issue.
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First off, this guy is absolutely insane in thinking that there is a "niche" for an all white league in the Unitized States. The National Basketball Association (NBA) thrives on athletes that can make amazing plays, like dunking and blocking and a number of other athletic talents that the NBA displays on a nightly basis. If he actually decides to build an all white league I am also pretty sure that players shown above like David Lee and Kevin Love would definitely stay put in the NBA instead of leaving for a miniature league that could be considered racist league.
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Although at the end of the video above it says that this guy Don "Moose" Lewis is supporting other sporting events that include athletes of color, the reasons why he can up with this "white league" makes me believe that he is indeed racist. Minorities, especially Africans Americans and Africans, have slowly but surely ingrained their presence in America's three major sports, basketball, baseball, and football. I think Mr. Lewis feels threatened that these minorities have basically dominated and taken over these sports and feels the need to reinstate white supremacy. Personally I have the absolute opposite opinion, minorities have brought a great deal to sports in the United States. They have given these sports global attention; specifically in the NBA there are superstars from all over the world. Yao Ming and Dirk Nowitzki are prime examples of this, Germany and China have both adapted basketball as a sport of interest. Minorities have also raised the level of competition to new heights in those three major sports.
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Even though Mr. Lewis is trying to present his idea as only a business opportunity, just the thought of what his motives are racist in themselves. Secluding a sport to only white Americans is extremely racist; do any other countries have any kind of leagues like that? Not that I know of. I am against this idea of an all white basketball league and I understand why people are reacting in a very negative manner, but I also believe there are much more serious circumstances of racism that we need to address before this. I remember blogging on a previous post about extremely high levels of racism in European soccer. Mr. Lewis's idea of an all white league is a small though that I think will never happen for a number of reasons. Racism and discrimination is not welcomed in sports but guys small idea really isn't going to affect anyone. I think one of the major parts of sports is bringing white people and people of color together to achieve one common goal, to have all races work and play cohesively in a fun environment, this is league would be a step in the wrong direction.
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So, I am not even going to try and convince myself that I do not possess any latent racism. After reading this I just feel that forming this all “white” league is racist. I understand what others are saying as far as fulfilling a niche because for some reason certain groups of people are underrepresented or not at all represented. However, I do not believe that this is truly the reasoning behind starting such a league, especially with the comments made by Moose.
I am not fully aware of the statistics of “white” males in the NBA, but I do know that they still exist. I also know that they are just as good as the “black and brown” players. Moose states that by creating this league it would be mere entertainment for fans. Those fans would enjoy the “fundamental” style and slower pace. That this would put people into the seats of a stadium or basketball game; implying that this is what the NBA is lacking. First, to be quite honest I do not know one basketball player or fan that thinks that the NBA lacks entertainment. People pay their money to see the players become excited, dunk on each other, and complete crazy plays. While aspiring basketball players spend tons of hours practicing and training to be of NBA quality.
Second, I believe the creation of this league is offensive to all NBA players. Moose is also implying that the NBA lacks the fundamentals of basketball. Although I am not that much in tune with basketball’s fundamentals, I agree with others who have said that there are plenty of players who are significantly well in the fundamental aspect of the game. Third, I do not know many people who would rather watch a slow paced basketball game than face paced game with a group of diverse athletes.
My point is just because some “White” athletes do not excel in or are qualified to be NBA players do not mean they exclude others; their could be others who feel the same. If is the case with the NBA then everyone mine as well begin creating leagues for specific races in every sport. For example, baseball is significantly represented by Hispanics/Latino (a); while hockey is significantly represented by whites. So does this mean that we create race oriented leagues to satisfy everyone? If this is the case than our country has not learned anything from the past and is encouraging discrimination. I agree with the NAACP President of the west region, allowing this would be step backwards toward what our country has strived for with equality. We are suppose to be a land of opportunity and creating race oriented leagues will be one slap in the face for those who come to America thinking otherwise.
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I think I'd have to play both sides of this argument. On one hand, hes right, white American players are diminishing from the NBA. There was a documentary on sports center showing just how much that the number of white players has decreased. However, i think its amazingly racist for someone to create an "all white basketball league" It is not a business strategy, it is a mind set that is completley skewed, White people just need to work harder. Race does not make you a better basketball player, the amount of time you spend playing and practicing the game does.
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Moose seems like he’s being honest and believes what he is saying. If there was a bald headed angry looking guy promoting an all white league then his intentions would be a little more obvious. But moose on the other hand is an funny and interesting individual. My guess is there is some unconscious racism in moose. Creating an all white league seems pretty racist to begin with. His explanations for the league didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me either; I really don’t get the points he was trying to make.
Here’s something that I was pondering after watching the video. Lets say that moose is really being completely honest and doesn’t have a racist bone in him. If the whole world believes that moose is a racist because he is doing a somewhat a racist thing and the whole world treats moose like a racist then is moose a racist? Because he has all the characteristics of a racist. Another thing to consider is if you think that moose is a racist, you may hold some assumptions about moose that may not be true. You may even discriminate against or talk down to him if you saw him in real life. Now is your discrimination any different than any other form of racist discrimination? Are you just as much a part of the racism problem as racist people are? Even non-racist people can be as much a part of the problem as racist people I think. We are all somewhat responsible based on our assumptions about other people and how we choose to interact with others. Hanging back and pointing fingers, or getting angry and hateful at other racist people only adds more hate and moves us further from solutions. Discrimination comes in a lot of different forms and I think we all carry it around to some degree.
So what is the solution to racism, and can it be solved? If we see other people being racist, what can we do exactly? You can’t really force anything on them that would only create resistance and more conflict. It’s hard to change other people’s beliefs. I think the only thing we can really do is work to resolve the hatred and discrimination in ourselves only.
Race relations works best when you can learn something about yourself because that’s where the real change comes from. When we get closer and open up to one another and experience new things these racist models thoughts, beliefs that we have inside of us start to be revealed and we learn more about ourselves which is real progress. We may even realize that we have more racist thoughts in us than we first thought or didn’t know about. Moose is an example of someone that may be racist at an unconscious level and may not even realize it. Or he may just be lying to the cameras. But, my point is, making judgments about other racist people is just as much a part of the racism problem as racism is.
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Wow!! This dude is WILD. Ha.. I think it is pretty funny that this guy wants to start an all white basketball league. Is he going to get like the entire Gonzaga basketball team to graduate and come join his squad? Or maybe since Stephon Curry is gone, he can recruit Davidson’s roster. Personally, I enjoy watching NCAA and NBA basketball. True, the NBA is dominated by black guys. But these are guys who play the game better than anyone in the world. I love the high flying dunks and the fast paced tempo of the NBA’s players bring to the game of basketball. If I want to watch slow paced, boring basketball, I will tune into the WNBA. Sorry, ladies, I love you, but I cannot stand watching women play sports. I can do women’s gymnastics, maybe a little figure skating, even some tennis here and there. Oh, and how can I forget – women’s beach volleyball!! Regardless, there is a reason why the WNBA is floundering. Slow paced basketball, basketball minus the slam dunk, BLOWS!! I guess the gentleman might argue that it is not the slow pace, but the fundamental aspect of the game that is missed. I would also guess that he would argue that the women do not display these fundamentals. Whatever. I definitely feel that women play fundamental basketball, so this guy should just tune into a Spark’s game.
I mean how outwardly racist can you get? Let’s start a white-only basketball league. Can you even say that? This dude is nuts and I am not even sure why anyone is giving him the time of day. I would love to see the discrimination loop hole this guy is going to jump through to start this league. I just do not see how it would be possible. Law suits left and right. Rightfully so. Does that mean that the NBA is only for black guys? As a white male, I am definitely feeling discriminated against if that is the case – not that I would ever play in the NBA. I just think that we need not even waste our time talking or debating about such a whack idea. This guy is clearly a noodle. Maybe he can create an all white team on NBA 2K10 on his XBOX. Better yet, I am in a fantasy basketball league with my friends. Let’s get this guy a Yahoo! Account and he can create an all white fantasy team and get his a$$ handed to him in our fantasy basketball league. I would love to post some trash talk on the board as he comes in last place week after week. Regardless, slam dunks and alley-oops have made the game of basketball fast paced and entertaining. This dude is a noodle.
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This article actually made me laugh, like why can’t they just play in a regular league. Or are they not good enough? If I was a white "all-American" I would not want to play on such a team. This man is promoting a racial team and doesn't believe has being racist at all. Where is his head? And anyways where is he going to find Americans that are completely Caucasian? Nowadays everybody is mixed with another race! I personally wouldn’t want to play on a team like this just because his views are wrong and anyone who doesn’t see that is blind. If u feel u need to belittle urself that much to get on a basketball team then u probably shouldn’t even be playing. Players should be able to adapt to certain situations and take the good with the bad. Not give up and start playing on an all white team. For the video he doesn’t think he’s being racist at all!!! He's directly promoting a racist business idea that he believes will work. I fell the only people who will attend the games are people who are racist or just want something to do. It kind of reminded me of people who think they’re not racist because they have black friends. LOL! wtf! Id actually love to see how many people would support this "all white" basketball team. I feel there would be hardly any supporters but hey if this Lewis guy is actually crazy enough to start such a team why wouldn’t people attend the games. The thing I find the most racist though is how he says players have guns and attack the fans. I feel as if he’s talking about black individuals. Just because one person acts out doesn’t mean their entire race would do the same thing. Lewis shouldn’t start a whole new league because one thing went wrong. How about we work on ways to fix the problems not just start new ones. Let’s be honest skin color doesn’t make a basketball team good player/players make a team. Lastly, I don’t think a league think this will ever come about. I feel it won’t be socially accepted in America today. Although such a topic will cause great controversy, just want Americans love another thing to bitch about.However, such a topic will cause a considerable amount of attention. Things like this are exactly what the media loves to talk about, so here's one more controversy we'll be seeing on the news next.
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It is hard to believe that someone is actually trying to create an all white basketball league. First of all after listening to this guy and reading the article I have to say that this is definitely racist. No matter how hard he tries to spin it and make excuses for himself he is still trying to create something that blacks have fought against so hardly in their history in the United States. He is attempting to segregate and call it filling a business niche. As Sam said in class there is no inherent trait possessed by black people that makes them better basketball players. It is simply what different groups of people grew up playing due to their environment. If this man wants to create an all white basketball league does that mean that there should also be an all black hockey league and an all hispanic baseball league? Obviously this can not be done so it should not even be thought about for any sport including basketball. It makes me think that he is more racist because he is only considering the so called problem of too many blacks in the NBA. Apparently he does not have a problem with too many whites in hockey. Besides this, I do not know what type of business need he thinks he is filling. Who honestly would choose to go watch a bunch of white guys play basketball instead of watching the best qualified players, no matter what color, compete against each other. Like a lot of the other commenters said even though this does seem racist it does not bother me much because I know it is going to fail miserably. I can not think of one person that I know that would want to buy a ticket to go to an all white basketball game. He is purposefully creating controversy by creating a racist league and then attempting to validate himself by using stupid excuses of why it is not racist. I can not tell how much press this story is actually getting because this is the first time I have read about it. If it is getting a lot of press than I am sure there will be a lot of backlash towards this guy and his idea will get killed in a matter of time. There is no way that this league gets to a higher level than it is already at and he will never be able to create a league where white NBA players actually switch to his league. That would mean that these players would be admitting inferiority and that is not something a professional athlete normally does. With the clearly racist motivation for this league there is no way there will ever be a niche that it will successfully fill.
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I don’t see how this league could possibly exist, especially if it is a professional league, where the players are getting paid. That’s the player’s jobs, instead of going to an office, they play basketball. You would be denying all other races of the opportunity to “work” at a certain company, unless they were white. What if a big name corporation like Microsoft decided to only hire Asians? Would that be considered racist? Is that any different than this league? Both are companies that hire people, discrimination shouldn’t be allowed in this type of thing.
Lewis’ reasons for making the league are ridiculous. He says he wants to avoid players carrying guns and fighting in the stands, he is obviously talking about the two black players who did those things. He has to realize that 80% of the NBA is black and therefore statistically 4 out of every 5 crimes that are committed should be by a black person. I don’t know the statistics but I think it is close to that. So his plans are obviously racist or at least slightly racist.
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This could possibly be the dumbest idea that I have ever heard. It is overtly racist, and I would bet that nothing Moose says could make me think otherwise. The qualifications for the league are proof enough: Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league. It is just absurd, and obviously Don “Moose” Lewis is doing and saying anything he can to justify that the league is not in fact racist. Sports are an entertainment industry so I am sure that there will be some people who do choose to watch some ABBA, I mean AABA, games even if it is just a watered down talent league. I do not know who would want to pay to watch less talented athletes play an awesome game when the NBA is the greatest basketball league in the world and takes place in this country. Besides, if you go to watch an AABA game it is kind of like supporting the racist nature of the league. While I do not agree with the idea of the league, I do agree with some of Moose’s quote: “With players on other professional teams carrying guns, attacking fans in the stands, and going through the motions of playing the game, fundamentally sound [W]hite players are a vanishing species.” The NBA is filled with great players, but it does need to finish cleaning itself up. When guys like Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton are brandishing guns in the locker room and Ron Artest is going up into the stands to beat up fans, it just gives the NBA a public relations black eye, and I am sure it’s not helping to win the support of racist fans. Another thing about the NBA is that the players do seem like they go through the motions until the game matters. The end of games and the playoffs are the only time when I feel like I see all of the players playing to their full potentials. Some like LeBron, Kobe, and Dwyane Wade play hard at all times, but the same cannot be said for the whole league. The final part of his quote is the main reason this stupid league is being set up, but it is true. Last year my friends and I went through every NBA roster to see how many white Americans were on each team. I think only a few had more than one and some had zero. I thought that this was pretty interesting. Something has to be said about this. There were white Europeans on teams but when you go through the league there really are no difference-maker white American players. I don’t know what the explanation is but to me the black athletes are more athletic and just better. By the numbers it just seems like it has to be a fact. I don’t know why there are successful white Europeans. Maybe because they work very hard on skills from very young ages so they can make it to the NBA. Basically the point of this blog was that Moose is an idiot and a racist but I am sure people are still going to watch some of the AABA games and that it is pretty interesting that white Americans are being eliminated from the NBA. It is not in a racist way. It is just do to talent. No more are the days of the Pistol Petes and Larry Birds. I would like to see another star white American in the NBA but I would never go watch a league full of mediocre ones that weren’t good enough to make an NBA roster.
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In recent years, the population of professional white basketball players in the NBA has drastically fallen. The players in the sport are mostly black. There are even a higher percentage of international players than the percentage of white players from the U.S. Although, there is major difference in percentages, I feel that the NBA is not racist in terms of fairness for all players to have an equal chance to get into the professional sport. Just as other sports have evolved, so has basketball. It is a sport that requires not only skill, but athleticism. It may be a stereotype that black people can run faster or jump higher – however it is clear that black people have dominated the sport in the past couple years. The recruitment process from high school to college to NBA does not discriminate against any race. It allows the best players compete for the limited spots where only the best can get in. The whole point of the NBA is to exhibit the top players at the highest level of competition. If you cannot make the cut, it is not because you are white, but because you are not qualified for this level of basketball. The NBA is not the only league. There are plenty of professional basketball leagues that allow players who fall short of the NBA to compete and get another shot at a later time. These leagues are open to many players who still want to pursue a career in basketball.
I feel that creating an “all white” league is extremely racist and unfair. When a league only accepts a certain race it is considered discrimination. Even though white people are underrepresented in professional basketball, it does not mean that a person such as Dan Moose can create an only white league. Also he is saying that white people play fundamental basketball, whereas black people do not? Just because some sports athletes grew up in the city playing pick-up games or “steetball,” does not mean that they do not play without fundamentals. Basketball is not just about fundamentals. You can coach a player to have fundamentals but it is how a person uses them with their athleticism. I feel that if you are creating a league such as this one, you should promote white players to play in it rather than require “only white players.” Just as Duke has a bunch of white guys on their team whom are fundamentally sound and play good basketball, does not mean they discriminate against black players which they have had on their team.
Basically, there should not be a league where only a certain race can play. Instead, the league should encourage white players to play and continue improving their skills as basketball players. Even though white people are underrepresented in the professional basketball leagues, it should not suppress them to not pursue their dreams of becoming one.
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This is simply discrimination, even before he stated his reasoning, which didn't help his case anyway. He is stereotyping black people to be violent which he says affects the game of basketball. Apparently in his opinion, white people play basketball fundamentally and black people otherwise. How the color of your skin affects your ability to play a sport is shocking to me. Like we learned in class, a sport that requires a skill, like tennis, baseball, hockey, or basketball, does not rely on the color of your skin. Most of the time we find white people playing hockey and tennis while the NBA is predominately black. This does not mean that either "race" has the upper hand in either sport. If you practice in either sport, you can excel. Just like white people in the NBA. To create a basketball league for white people only is like saying black people are too good at basketball, so we need to create a league where white people can excel. This would be embarrassing to join a league because you are not skilled enough. The black people in the NBA tend to be very good at basketball. This means white people need to adjust and learn how to play the game against the best. Why settle for less? This sounds like an excuse for white people pulling out the race card and saying they aren't good enough to compete. Maybe anyone considering to join this league just needs to step up their game and stop blaming it on fundamentals. If one style of play is guaranteeing more success then that should be the predominant style to play a sport.
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Alright, here’s what I have to say about this whole situation. This probably wasn’t the best idea that this guy could have but I don’t see a huge deal. There are exclusively black groups all over the world, even at Penn State there are all black fraternities and sororities. This is where I find it a little confusing, we can have all these “black” groups, but as soon as an all white group comes onto the radar, it is immediately pegged as racist. It doesn’t make any sense. It kind of seems to me like a double standard. And you can’t argue with the guys point about how when basketball was a more “white” sport, it was a lot different of a game, so this league is just going back to that and the fundamentals of the sport. For example, how many white basketball players do you see in the slam dunk contest? I don’t know if I ever have and I watch it every year. It’s just that black players are flashier than white players. It’s not a diss to anybody, I actually enjoy watching the top 10 every morning on sportscenter that normally features some of these flashy plays, it’s just simple fact. There is also no arguing the fact that the NBA is a mostly African American sport at this point. Which is not an argument on behalf of the man creating this new league, it’s just a statement of opinion. However, the idea of a whole league just dedicated to white athletes is a pretty big stretch, so that’s why I don’t necessarily condone the ideas of this man, but that just goes back to my confusion of all the exclusively black groups. Even the black man in the video from the NAACP I feel is sort of being a hypocrite. He is angered at Moose’s lack of understanding that what he is doing is racist, where the black man himself is in a group composed of all one race. So isn’t that sort of reverse racism. White people are racist when they have groups of only their race, but it isn’t a problem when its groups of only black people. I’m just baffled that people can judge people on what they do, when they themselves are doing the exact same thing. Like I stated previously, I don’t think that this all white basketball league is a good idea, but I don’t see why it’s a big deal and considered racist. We don’t call the NAACP racist because it’s all black people. We don’t call black fraternities or sororities racist because they have no white brothers or sisters. So I don’t think that this man should be considered racist for basically doing the exact same thing.
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I feel that this man is being very racist in this idea that he is presenting to the world. How can he classify all black basketball players as "gun carrying" and as people who disrupt the crowds? Why is he bringing outside stereotypes into the sport of basketball when in fact all he is trying to do is just create a whites only basketball league? What is not racist about any of that? Nothing. That is the answer to that. Absolutely nothing. This Moose person is just someone trying to cover up his racism with dumb reasons as to why his ideas should be put into action.
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This guy is an idiot. First of all, an idiot because who wants to watch a bunch of white guys in slow-mo throwing a ball around? Where is his niche market? I want to see the business plan. But mostly because even if his sentiments were my own I would never express them the way he just did. He could have made atleast a decently sound argument for the need of a predominantly white league except he ruined it as soon as he opened his mouth. I think the ability to recognize your own racism is probably a lot harder then criticizing someone’s own. So I’m going to stop while I’m ahead, put down my finger, and realize we all can be a little racist ourselves sometimes. Still though, this guy—putting the racist title aside—is a fool.
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I think the all white basketball league may appeal to an older generation. Older people are used to watching all white players play and a lot of them lost interest when African Americans took over the nba. I do not think African Americans are inherently better than white Americans. All the great African American basketball players today have been playing basketball, whether it is in the slums or in a nice neighborhood, all day and every single day. Players like lebron james and dyawne wade say they would wake up every day go to the park and play basketball all day. I think the few great white American basketball players achieved there success this way as well. There are a lot of white European basketball players joining the nba because there is a strong interest and they have been playing their entire life. The interest in basketball for white Americans seems to be there but only few end up having the work ethic to succeed at the next level. I think there are more African Americans because more of them had a strong work ethic and kept practicing and got to the next level.
Also the national basketball association is mainly based on strength, speed, and athleticism. The college game is more fundamental and strategy based. That is why I think more white and black players that are not physically dominant can excel at the college level. In college you need to have a good head on your shoulders listen to your coach and be unselfish to win. In the nba it seems one giant physical player can carry a team.
The best white players should play in the nba because they deserve it. I know this league would never happen but if it did no great white player would ever want to play in it. You put out the best 5 people no matter what race they are. I just think that the interest for basketball is much higher for African Americans so the amount of African Americans who succeed to the next level is going to be much higher than white Americans. Same thing happens with baseball. The interest in baseball is much higher in Latin American and as you see most the Major League Baseball rosters have lots of players from Latin American. It is funny however that all the best white European basketball players play in the National Basketball Association and all the best white American players play in the European basketball league. I can not think of another sport where that is the case. Most of the all time college greats can now be found playing for a random team in the European basketball league.
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After reading this article I wasn’t really sure how I felt. Yes it does seem to be racist because it doesn't give other races a chance to participate in the league. But then again there are plenty of other organizations and events that exclude white people. A few people brought up the Miss Black Penn State pageant and I also feel that it is comparable. Regardless it is hard for me to take his idea serious. Creating a subpar league to accommodate for slower white players seems ridiculous and pathetic. I personally would be embarrassed to call myself a professional sports player if I were on a team in a league created only for those who couldn’t compete. I googled the word racism and this definition stuck out to me: "the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races." Forgetting everything else, this is my main reasoning that this league isn't racism; well at least not towards blacks. It does not operate on the grounds that whites are superior, but rather the opposite. If anything (even though it is being established by a white man) this league is racists towards whites. It’s claiming that whites are not and cannot be as good or fast as blacks.
In his attempt to fill the market niche Moose is simultaneously making himself look like a fool and offending many groups of people. This can be seen in his explanation for the Whites Only league. He says that current professional players are “carrying guns, attacking fans in the stands, and going through the motions of playing the game.” This reasoning for a white’s only league is extremely disrespectful and generalizes entire races based on the actions of few players. It is absurd to believe that simply because players in AABA are all white Americans that none will carry guns, and will be perfectly behaved. It doesn’t matter what race or nationality an athlete is, there is always the risk of players not being completely well-behaved. The majority of NBA players are colored and set a good example and focus on playing the game. To make the generalization that they are the cause of any problems found within the league is laughable. Yes they may be involved with the majority of incidents that occur, but they make up the majority of the league so that makes sense.
Overall this idea is simply pathetic. Moose’s argument for the league is very unconvincing because it lacks common sense and legitimacy. I can only hope that colored people aren’t under the impression that all white-Americans support this pitiable idea. Also, I’m curious how white basketball players reacted to AABA because I couldn’t imagine many being in support of a league created to showcase their “slow” speed.
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I do not think an all white basketball league is acceptable and I will not support this league in anyway. I will not watch it or attend any games. I do not think this league is going to last very long either. To be eligible to play both parents have to be Caucasian. So what exactly is Caucasian? I’m pretty sure that most people who consider themselves Caucasian have some black or brown ancestry. If starting an all white basketball league doesn’t seem racist, just listen to the following quotation of Don “Moose” Lewis:
“With players on other professional teams carrying guns, attacking fans in the stands, and going through the motions of playing the game, fundamentally sound [W]hite players are a vanishing species…Fans have spoken to the AABA asking to restore on court sanity to the game of basketball. Their pleas are our mission. Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league.”
This makes it sound like white people do no wrong. By having all white players, sanity will be restored on the court. That is insane. Where are the fans that want to see a slow paced game with average or below average players?
I think that professional players should be just that. They should be professionals. For example professional basketball players should the best players not the whitest or blackest or brownest, but the best player. At least that is my opinion. If I were going to pay to see someone play basketball, I would want to see someone who can play better than I can. The main reason people flocked to see Michael Jordan play basketball was because he was really good at it, maybe the best player ever, not because of his color.
I guess starting an all white league should be legal, but I do not find it appealing in any way. I can’t imagine people jumping on this bandwagon. Well, I can’t see any educated people backing an all white league. I’m sure there are white racist people who think an all white basketball league is just what this country needs.
Lewis says that this league will put people in the seats. I would bet that this league is going to fail. I mean how appealing is it to watch white men who aren’t good enough to play in the NBA play basketball? If this league does happen is ESPN going to give it any airtime? I still question why anyone would think this is a good idea. I don’t watch many NBA games, but when the Lakers are playing the Magic, I’ll watch. I like watching the best players play, not mediocre players.
Maybe ABC could televise these events before the next Bachelor show.
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Why is it considered racist that someone would like to start a basketball league where it only features white American men playing? Everyone knows that the white American man playing in the NBA is a dying breed. So is it so bad that somebody would like to keep these players around for the future generations of all white American men? I challenge anyone to name five white American men who have secure starting positions on their respective teams. You can’t because there are not five white American men who start for their respective teams. There are not five white American men simply because white American men are not good enough to play basketball with the rest of the world anymore. Be it athletic skill or just the will for white Americans to put their sons in a sport that will get them nowhere. Maybe you could say the typical white American man has more money than a man of color or foreigner and for this reason they find less motivation in trying to become a real basketball player and not just a day to day player. Is that racist to believe that white American men can’t compete with the rest of the players in the NBA? Because if it is than I guess you could consider me racist. Hating on men of my own color, guilty as charged. Some people can be ridiculous. To actually believe that people would join this league, let me restate that, to actually believe skilled white American men basketball players would join a league like this is just flat out dumb. This league would have no money from the beginning and wouldn’t be able to afford the “best” which is to say average basketball players. The league from the beginning would start off as a “retirement” league for old white American piece of shit players. That and the young gun white American men who couldn’t make it big in the National Basketball League. And than to think that people would actually pay to see this shit show called basketball… hahaha… nobody even pays to watch NBA games anymore. Hardly anyone even watches NBA on TV so if you honestly consider somebody literally creating a basketball league for only white American men, than you need to start thinking like a normal person would and stop considering that as a possibility. So what is the deal with white American men playing basketball? Can anybody give me a real reason for why they suck so badly. Is it just them being stuck in a league that doesn’t want to see the white American playing anymore because how it is possible that at one point some of the greats were white Americans is beyond me.
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This is definitely a very controversial decision for Lewis to form a “whites only” league for basketball. While the concept of the team goes back and forth from being racists, some of his comments were definitely racist. And I agree with the head of the NAACP that was interviewed that this is definitely a step back in time. This is true. We shouldn’t be separating races on sports teams, instead we should take a step further and include everyone. Lewis may have had good intentions about this basketball league, but he should probably rethink everything, and listen to the feedback he is receiving.
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This is an odd issue that almost reverses segregation yet again. I see where this coach is coming from, though, seeing as traditionally we see black americans on the basketball court and fewer white americans. To the eyes of the unknowing and easily persuaded public, black people in the NBA and even below tend to jump higher, move quicker, pass harder, dunk crazier, and basically do everything better than the white people playing the same game. This is a huge stereotype that is fulfilled by a lot black americans in the league, and therefore could be considered to be mostly truth by the majority of the public.
That being said, this is a question of racism. Is this a racist league? Is it racist to exclude black people from a sport that they currently dominate? In my opinion, yes. This is racist. The name itself lends itself to scrutiny; the All-American Basketball Alliance. They cannot be serious with this name. If they were going to have any shot and arguing that this all-white league was not at all an issue of segregation or racism, they should have picked a better title. By saying that it is All-American, they are implying that since it is entirely black, that this perfectly white team is the representation of Americans in basketball. It is ridiculous that something with a subjective name like that could even be formed in the first place and exist more than a couple of days.
This type of league is a bit too reminiscent of the time of segregation when there were no teams of mixed color, and that blacks are not worthy of lets say, "having nice things". This man literally created another league and basing its players first and foremostly off of skin color, and secondarily on talent. The only difference between this current league and the types of segregation back in the day, is the view of black people in the matter. The reason a separate league used to be formed in the times of racism was because white people thought black people were not worthy of the same level of things as them, and that the are lesser of people. In this current situation, this league, although not technically stated by the creator, was probably created because we all know that for some reason in the game of basketball, the majority of black people have had a slight advantage over some white people in the game, and these white people were tired of their race getting cut from predominantly black teams. These opposing predominately black teams do not have white people on them almost always because of talent-related reasons. But I have a feeling that this all white league exists today because they want to create an even playing field, and by that I mean completely separate the field in half. Have the great white players on one side, and the great black players on the other. That way the white players' talents won't be overshadowed by the even better black players. That, in my opinion, is what the real issue is here. And for that reason, I cannot blame the coach for wanting to create this league. But at the same time, it doesn't make it any better that is so closely mirrors the bad times back in the day.
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I think this idea certainly has some racist elements to it, but it’s hard to say just exactly how racist it is. It’s racist in the fact that the league’s creator feels that black players are inferior to white players because they don’t play with the same fundamentals and ignore the “traditional brand” of basketball. However, it’s not necessarily racist in that white players are underrepresented in professional basketball, so giving them their own league may not be a bad thing. We’ve seen this in other venues, even in sports. In the early part of the 1900s, women were underrepresented in professional golf. What did they do in 1950? They founded the LPGA. In an ideal world, the racial proportions of the general population would be the same as the racial proportions in every sport. However, in professional basketball, the proportion of white players to black players is not equal to that proportion in the population.
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continued…
One thing that I do think is pretty clear is that this Lewis guy has some screws loose. He says that this league will promote “something that puts people in the seats.” Not a bad thought, if it weren’t for the fact that this brand of “slow pace” basketball ISN’T the type that actually puts people in the seats. Fans want to see an upscale tempo with plenty of dunks and alley-oops. Will this league produce such fireworks? It’s very doubtful, and not many people would want to watch. He says that it’s “nostalgic-type entertainment,” but what people are going to tune in? There’s only one demographic I think that will consider it “nostalgic,” and that’s older white men that played this “white ball” when they were younger. Of course, it’ll be a challenge for Lewis to get aging group of men out of their reclining chairs and into the seats in the arenas.
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continued…
Lewis says that he is targeting slower tempo basketball that emphasizes sound fundamentals. The requirement to play in the league, however, is that you have to be white. Huh? Why isn’t he targeting players that play a slower tempo of basketball and that have sound fundamentals?! The fact that he’s drawing a comparison between these qualities and American-born Caucasian players is inherently racist. There are plenty of black players that play with these qualities, and plenty of white players that don’t. Why doesn’t he have some sort of evaluation or try-out session in which a group of judges determine if the specific player fits this mold for the league? By calling it “on court sanity,” he’s saying that the basketball that black people play is unkempt and sloppy. He’s identifying a stereotype, and by not allowing black people to play in this league, he is saying that all blacks fit this stereotype.
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This has “BAD IDEA” written all over it. I do no see the point of having an all white league and if Moose says it is for the white men who do not want to play the up tempo that is played in the National Basketball Association today then this league would produce no revenue because the games would not be exciting enough. After reading this I immediately thought of watching my high school team play their games. Unfortunately my high school’s basketball team was entirely white and most of the schools we would play were white as well. These games were not very exciting. These white players who do not want to play at a high tempo is another way of saying they are not good players. If they cannot play in the National Basketball Association then they should not be making their careers out of playing basketball. They need to find another profession, one that they are good at.
Yes, most of the NBA seems to be dominated by black players now but who cares. It is a sport that anyone can learn and work hard at to be able to play as a profession. The best players that have ever lived were mostly black: Michael Jordan, Julius Irving, Dominique Wilkins, Wilt Chamberlain, and it goes on forever. I don’t see many great players coming from a league such as this. I love to watch the NBA; no new basketball league needs to be created.
If a league like this was to be created there are many ways that it can spark some racial tension. This white league could cause the white men in the NBA to leave their teams and join because of some racial tension there causing all kinds of scandals and the ones who do not leave could be criticized too. It would not be well for either league. I can also see a championship game created between the two leagues like the old days when the AFL and NFL would play each other to decide the best team. The winner of such a game would definitely spark some racial debate that either or race is better than the other because they beat the opposing race in a game of basketball. It just does not seem appealing to me at all. This game would also be like the battle between Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Byrd. I was watching a documentary about the two of them that racism was so bad during their reign that when the two played each other on the court people considered it to be a battle of the races. Black people in Boston rooted for Johnson in LA because they did not want the white man to win. This kind of racism is needed again. We’ve grown as a country and I like to think we are better than that.
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BAD
BAD
BAD
IDEA
What the hell was they thinking about to start this up we are trying to leave our past not bring it back to present ughhhhh this really hit me hard why? They really need to ask themselves why? This is something TP really get smacked in the mouth about I just can’t believe this……man I really hope this will not go through because if this do this can really start havoc. Lord help us with this one. I just can imagine what is going behind the scene with this one come one (all white league) wow
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I don’t see how this league could possibly exist, especially if it is a professional league, where the players are getting paid. That’s the player’s jobs, instead of going to an office, they play basketball. You would be denying all other races of the opportunity to “work” at a certain company, unless they were white. What if a big name corporation like Microsoft decided to only hire Asians? Would that be considered racist? Is that any different than this league? Both are companies that hire people, discrimination shouldn’t be allowed in this type of thing.
Lewis’ reasons for making the league are ridiculous. He says he wants to avoid players carrying guns and fighting in the stands, he is obviously talking about the two black players who did those things. He has to realize that 80% of the NBA is black and therefore statistically 4 out of every 5 crimes that are committed should be by a black person. I don’t know the statistics but I think it is close to that. So his plans are obviously racist or at least slightly racist.
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I believe that having any organization, group, club, or any other membership entity that is exclusive to any race leads to disastrous consequences. I think that there is no need for such exclusivity. I also feel that this case is extremely racist. Why would a league composed of "white only" males not be considered racist? Isn't that bringing the racist barriers up and even more to the forefront? As well, isn't saying that these white males need to just find a way to play on their own level asserting the stereotype that black people are better at jumping and basketball than white people? I think so. Isn't this what leads to problems and false speculations, which then leads to the reasoning behind broadening and separating ourselves even further from people of other color?
Now you would pose one such question in particular due to my response to whether or not forming an all-white basketball team is not racist. Such questions include are already established and deemed credible organizations such as the NAACP necessary and broaden the color gap we still grapple to overcome within society everyday? The answer to this question is "yes" because I do not think such organizations are no longer necessary, and I think just like this basketball league it just divides us even further. Regardless of color I think there is no reason to separate and set exclusive rules. This just in turn promotes and enhances racism, whether directly or indirectly, and brings it further to the forefront. Do I think these such organizations be eliminated? No. I think that these organizations should allow anyone to join these organizations. I know for a fact that even organizations that are race specific at Penn State welcome anyone, regardless of their race. Now, I am sure these organizations will have the majority of members as the race initially intended to join the organization, but giving other individuals who are not of this race, but who are interested in understanding the culture and lifestyle of this race can bring down barriers and stereotypes previously thought of or possessed by those of other races. These such members can be of inspiration and insight for those individuals who currently stereotype and make incorrect judgments about this such race. Just as what is taught and stated in Race Relations, it only takes one mind and new first-hand insight to change the mind of many others or at least get them to think further or think before using pre-assumed stereotypes to explain ideas, actions, or basketball for that matter. Facts and first-hand experiences can replace these such explanations instead.
I do not think there is any need for such separation or sound enough reasoning behind why there should be such a “league of its own” so to speak. This is not what post-segregation era is about, nor should it be. Let’s not take steps backward. I think such actions are unintelligent and unacceptable.
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I can’t help but state that when I first read this I laughed to myself. Like really? A league that only “players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league.” Like what is this? I pictured a sort of Dodgeball-esque scene unfolding in my head. Before the Average Joe team gained the help of legendary ADAA champ Patches O'Houlihan they were a bunch of misfits who did not even know the rules of the game. This is how I picture this league. I picture them not knowing how to play, slowly jogging down the court, grandma shooting the ball for free throws and the highest score would rival that of a high school girls game. I know this may sound equally racist in that white guys can’t play basketball but it seems as though Don “Moose” Lewis is portraying this league this way.
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He is saying that non-white people can’t play because they are too good and would ruin the slowness of the game. REALLY? Come on. That is just absurd. I bet Larry Bird would not agree with that very much, or Jerry West or Steve Nash, Rick Barry, Bill Walton, Bob Cousy, Pete Maravich, Dirk Nowitzki, John Stockton or even Kevin McHale. Would these people be allowed to play in this league? They are all players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race. Or would they ruin the “traditional brand of basketball” that they know and enjoy, the one without the upscale tempo of basketball that is played professionally? Where is he cutting the line here? At how good someone is or at how white they are?
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So if Moose was really filling this certain market niche then shouldn’t he be making all different kinds of basketball leagues for all different types of people? One for Asians, one for left-handed people, one for short people, one for super tall people, one for average people, etc. The list can go on and on forever.
Additionally, I would not want to pay to see a slow-paced game of basketball. That is what little league basketball is for, and those kids are probably way cuter than most of these guys would be.
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Also, Moose just sounded so incredibly dumb when he tried to explain himself. Black, white and brown people equally are just as reckless as anyone else. It is not their skin color that makes them carry guns or attack fans or play the game. It is the love of the game and the annoying fans trying to get the players to make a wrong move. Fans were asking to restore the on court sanity of the game of basketball, not to slow it down.
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You know, to be perfectly honest with you, I am not completely sure of this man’s intentions or motives in creating this native-born all white basketball league. I mean he says he is trying to fit a “niche” in the entertainment market. However, in order to fit a niche in the market, there also has to be a need for that “entertainment” as he calls it. Honestly, I have not heard people complain about the fact that there are not enough white players in the NBA. And it’s not as if there are no good white players in the League either. Look at Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Pau Gasol for starters. Anyways, if this league turns out to be successful, I will be shocked. This gentlemen is likely to face a lawsuit of some sort, maybe even from the NAACP. I just don’t think that there is a place to discriminate against people based on any differentiation factors in today’s society. I would understand if he was serving a niche market, but you can not say that you have a niche market when there is really no proof of the need for such “entertainment.”
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This man is basically does not man white people to feel like they cannot be the best at something so he is blaming it on the color of their skin, when in fact he should just accept that white people cannot be the best at every single thing. The NBA does not exclude white players and is not just “black” basketball. White people play basketball everyday because they enjoy it and it is their hobby, why do they need to make it into their living when they clearly are not good enough to play in college basketball or the NBA to begin with? It simply does not make sense to ban any players who are not white. These plays of other races just want to play basketball like every other white person who cannot make it into the NBA. Even though “moose” is not intending to be racist about his new sport, that is definitely the outcome….January 29
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Saying that white people have a different style of play basically means that they are not good enough to play in the NBA. Try and restate it anyway you want, but if you are creating a league for whites only because the NBA is too fast paced then you are admitting that this other league will be slower and not as good. I would be embarrassed to participate in the white only league. One of the reasons people play sports is to play against the best competition. In order to find the best competition, you have to let everyone participate. This league is just defeating the point of having a professional league.
This type of league is also reflects badly upon our country and its great advances is has made with race relations. People have tried to use segregation before it did not turn out so well. Granted this is a different situation since there is still the NBA but maybe the white players in that league would want to play in the all white league which would create a problem since that would lower the number of whites in the NBA which is already not very high. A worst case scenario would be if this league actually caught on and all the whites moved to the league and we were left with a white league and a black league. Then one league might not have a big enough audience and not get enough funding so it might collapse, thus leaving us with one league of one race. This is a very farfetched idea but there is always a possibility that it could happen. Even if it happens to a lesser degree, it would not be good for the sport of basketball. If this idea gets the go ahead then what is to stop college teams from starting all white teams? There would be a league for the white style of play so kids in college would want to practice it and possibly try out for the league. The black students would still only have the NBA, which white students could still play in. This would be very unfair to the players who are minorities.
The classification of who is a pure white person and who is not would also bring up a lot of issues. I have a feeling that there would be a lot of debate on whether or certain players believe they should be allowed to play or not and it could get out of control. I believe that this league is a very bad idea and that the person who thought of it should definitely reconsider. Also, he should accept that he is a racist. He is excluding people based on their race. If that is not racism then I do not know what is.
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The All-American Basketball Alliance; because apparently black people aren’t American? That’s at least the impression that I got from Don “Moose” Lewis’ proposal for an all-Caucasian basketball league. "Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league,"-Here's a league for white players to play fundamental basketball, which they like."
The NBA though, is hardly the only professional basketball league in this country. Wikipedia lists 23 mens leagues, ranging from the National Basketball Association’s Development League (NBAD) to the Louisville Hoopfest Basketball League (LHBL) and the Iowa Basketball Exposure League (IBEL). What Moose is saying is that white people can’t, and do not desire to play pro level ball. Furthermore, he also infers that the actual quality of the game played in the NBA is not strategic –calling it “street ball”. Mr. Lewis of course claims no racist intent, citing "I don't hate anyone of color. But people of white, American-born citizens are in the minority now.”
In an interview on the Daily Show, Moose told viewers that he was “a child of forced integration by the government –You want to deal with racism? Friends of yours, whites on the basketball team are pushed off the team because now all of a sudden you’ve got very talented black athletes that are going to the same school, and the coach wants to win. I’ve lived racism.”
To me, that sounds more like bitterness rather than simply filling a “market niche”.
I think it is kind of absurd though –not just that Moose conceived this idea to begin with, but that he genuinely doesn’t believe that this move is basically segregation. He was also asked why he felt the need to make the league all white, instead of simply creating a “fundamentals basketball league”. He replied that “Blacks overall are better athletes when it comes to the game of basketball.”
The funny thing is that even though there may have been some pull for watching fundamental basketball –if played by the best fundamentally skilled players. But who’s going to watch average guys play basketball? For younger people, they can play it themselves, and older people can watch their kids’ high school games. Chances are; if this league gets viewership, it’s going to be from people who simply don’t want to support black athletes.
I wonder then; how many more Americans hold racist beliefs, but would not actually consider themselves racists? The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) voiced that Moose’s league "attempts to set back what we've been trying to do for 100 years,” and “If [they] can do anything to stop it, [they] will.” Hopefully they wont have to do much.
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The first thing that came to me as i was watching this video was: racist. We know how bad it sounds and in earlier posts, several people talked about the mr and ms black penn state and how that excludes people who arent black which is the same thing "Moose" is trying to do with this all white team. He feels the need for "traditional" basketball is in high demand. I just feel its wrong to exclude anyone who isnt white to play even if theyre great qualified players.
The mr and mrs black/brown penn state is a way for minorities to try and have a voice of their own because the regular mr and mrs penn state is just assumed to be the one where white people get picked, not always but its just expected. I feel like this issue taps into a bigger issue that lies in our country and its that were still fighting for equality of all. White people no theyve had an unfair advantage whether they want to admit it or not. i saw an interesting comic in class one day about the white boy using the black boy to get on top of the roof without the black boy's permission.
After the white boy was on the roof and the black boy wanted help getting up, the white boy told him itd be racist if he helped him up the roof. If "moose" is filling a niche its the niche of "traditional" basketball without all the fancy footwork, but he talked about eliminating the fights that happen at basketball courts and the hype that comes with it.
Black players are not the only ones getting into fights which is what he was getting at. He said there is a demand for a slower paced game not that theres a demand for white players only, separation in business is stupid. There would be a better revenue of profits if the team was inclusive of all talented players that respect the style the coach is trying to incorporate.
I dont see something like this having much mainstream support and i thought there were equal opportunity laws when it came to forming a sports team. I just dont know where this kind of segregation is going to go. I know minorities have a setback but i just wonder when this disparity is going to finally end. When can we all line up evenly at the starting line?
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-All white basketball league? I don’t see the need for why this guy will feel the need to create such a team in the first place. I don’t see how this will start a business and what his point is. There are black and whit people in the NBA league today and people from different backgrounds and cultures. I don’t see how this is giving people a chance when it’s leaving out so many other people. How can you prove that someone is fully Caucasian, when here in America today hardly anybody if fully Caucasian (whatever Caucasian is suppose to be). The AABA is trying to restore court sanity in the game of basketball?? What does that even mean? A lot of sports tend to get violence, hockey being one of the top sports where fights break out in almost every game, that’s a predominantly “white” sport”. Even if he wasn’t trying to come off racist, it basically just is what it is you can’t say a lot of white guys don’t like the upscale tempo of professional basketball without sounding racist because basketball is dominated by mostly minorities. I can’t believe that he actually thinks that he is going to get somewhere with this when its 2010 and the NBA has been something that started since 1946. Who does he think he audience will be and how does he think he will make any time of profit. This just doesn’t even make sense to me at all. Someone made a comment about how white men are underrepresented in the NBA and I don’t think that is the case. There are some great white ball players who do get their chance in the league. Just because minorities might be better in the sport doesn’t mean they are underrepresented.
In regards to the comment that “the_situation “ said “the NBA just is not into decent white folk, but would rather spring for a young, high flying black person to ‘wow’ the crowd with dunks. The reason for this is because dunks are what the majority of the fan base wants. So, with that in mind, is it really wrong for Moose to please a different fan base by having a slower tempo, “white” style of game?” What does that even mean? The NBA isn’t into “decent white folk” so the people that play basketball are not decent? Is this because basketball gets violent every now and then? With men running up and down a court and all the testosterone I would assume it would get violent every now and then just like hockey are those guys decent or should we get “decent black guys” to play that sport. The NBA is doesn’t look for “high flying black person to “wow” the crowd with dunks”, there so much more than that half the people that do play basketball can’t even dunk. “White style of game” I don’t even know what that means basketball is basketball its either you know how to play or you don’t. There is no need to make an all white league it will just bring more controversies to America and we already have enough to deal with.
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