All -White Basketball League Sparks Controversy Tuesday January 26, 2010 The All-American Basketball Alliance is different from other minor league basketball organizations. To be eligible to play in the league, one must be an American citizen with parents who are both white.
Don "Moose" Lewis, AABA commissioner, said the reasoning behind the league's roster restrictions is not racism, according to the Augusta Chronicle. Augusta, Ga., is one of 12 Southeastern cities where the Atlanta-based AABA wants to launch teams.
"I don't hate anyone of color. But people of white, American-born citizens are in the minority now. Here's a league for white players to play fundamental basketball, which they like," Lewis told the Chronicle.
Lewis went on to say that the AABA will emphasize fundamentals rather than "street-ball" played by "people of color." If that's not racist, it's at the very least a generalization based on race. Not all basketball players of color play the same kind of ball or grew up in the inner-city playing "street-ball." Kobe Bryant grew up partly in Italy, and Michael Jordan grew up in North Carolina. It's certainly inaccurate to suggest that all black basketball players have the same style and to insinuate that NBA players, arguably the world's best, lack fundamentals is patently ridiculous. Lastly, if basketball players of color have changed the game so drastically, how have NBA players from Spain, China, Eastern Europe and elsewhere managed to compete? If they can go toe-to-toe with the mostly African-American NBA, certainly white Americans are capable of doing so as well. And the reason players from all over the world successfully compete in the NBA is that they, like NBA players, start off by learning the fundamentals of basketball.
Furthermore, Lewis' argument that whites are the minority now needs to be fleshed out. Whites are certainly not a minority group in the U.S. While they make up a minority of players in the NBA, this is nothing new, so why an all-white league now? If the NBA had historically kept whites from playing in the league, it would make sense that they would need their own league, but this isn't the case today nor has it ever been. Those who run the NBA, such as Commissioner David Stern, are white. Most NBA coaches are white, so if whites make up a small percentage of NBA players, it can't be blamed on racial discrimination.
The all-white AABA does amount to discrimination, though. Requiring players to have two white parents is discriminatory. Whites, after all, aren't the only minority in professional basketball. You don't see many Latinos, Asians, Native Americans or Middle Easterners on the court either. So, why isn't the AABA open to those players?
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:51 pm Posts: 14534 Location: Mesa,AZ
I think the argument could be made that white people aren't as athletic as black people, so there could be some purpose for an all-white league, but their rationale, as well as the fact that only Southeastern cities are going to have teams, sure makes it seem pretty racist.
_________________
John Adams wrote:
In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
I just can't believe enough people thought this was a good idea to create a team ... let alone a league.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 5:51 am Posts: 17078 Location: TX
What's wrong? There are a plethora of all black or all minority organizations out there. One is ok but the other isn't? Is that the way we move beyond racism in our society?
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:38 pm Posts: 20059 Gender: Male
Buffalohed wrote:
What's wrong? There are a plethora of all black or all minority organizations out there. One is ok but the other isn't? Is that the way we move beyond racism in our society?
on this note, are there any other race based leagues in this country? not that i'd be against it even if it were the first of its kind necessarily, but i've never heard of this happening in the modern era (as in, post-desegregation of the major sports).
_________________ stop light plays its part, so I would say you've got a part
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum
