This
week's
topic:		 The National Basketball Association's 100 percent White ownership, and the players' union that is 85 percent Black have been gridlocked in a five month negotiation which has killed the NBA's season this year. The players assert that race is a factor in the negotiations, the owners deny it.
Who do you believe and why?



Submit Date: 9 JAN 1999
Name: Brandon Swanson
Email: "Lasher702@yahoo.com
Response: In response to Urban Gurilla: Who the hell are you to say I am rascist!!! I inflicted no suffrage upon you or your people, your comments about me is the same old s%*& that makes it impossible for humanity to unite. And to speak quite frankly I was never speaking on behalf of YOU PEOPLE. I was speaking on the fact that I am a basketball lover and I followed the damn lockout from beggining to end. The truth being I still say rascism wasn't a part of the talks untill an over payed player opened his big a&* mouth. And if you think about it and you love the game of basketball so damn much if the players(all the players) were limited to how much they could earn then we could all enjoy the sport instead of WHITE PEOPLE WITH A S%*& LOAD OF MONEY. So frankly you can kiss my hispanic a&*.


Submit Date: 4 JAN 1999
Name:
Email: "bradfo43@ccvax.mmc.edu
Response: The players, because race is a factor in every aspect of American society. This is just one of a myriad of examples of how white men exploit Black men by throwing them a comparatively few crumbs, while they make the real money as the overseer, working his slaves.....


Submit Date: 4 JAN 1999
Name: Columbus
Email: "lowbide@netscape.com
Response: What sorry excuses as humans we have become; we sit around and talk about how the white man control basketball and how bad the players have it.But you cheer or say nothing about how white people bomb the hell out of people who share your color (Iraqs).We should know by now, what the white man can't control he destroys or starved to death; we have forgotten what genocide is. What we should be concern about is the 1.5 million people that have died from the so call(genocidal) embargo. Just remember what Columbus did to the Arawaks Indians; but what the hell! we celebrate is birthday to.


Submit Date: 4 JAN 1999
Name: covi
Email: "yemi@france-mail.com
Response: I'm a young black person from France so my opinion will probably sound different because i have a slight idea of racial matters in America. According to me if race is not the major factor in that case, i think that it is the reason why these discussions are lasting.The fact that black people (often coming from poor families) are arguing for money is regarded as a provocation by white people.


Submit Date: 3 JAN 1999
Name: Darnel Tanksley
Email: "DarTanksle@aol.com
Response: David Duke, the nationaly avowed white rights avocate and one time acknowledged member of the Klu Klux Klan, has the upper hand in wining the U.S House seat of the recently Speaker of the House-Designee (by unaminous Republican proclamation), Bob Livingston. Bob Livingston, one of the leaders in the campaign of hate against the President, obviously represents a district that has hatred for the Negro. As your President is attacked by these very people, you talk basketball. Hmmm...


Submit Date: 2 JAN 1999
Name: james walden
Email: "walden4christ123@hotmail.com
Response: I think both the owners and the unions are 'money hungry' . Let 'em both see that we as americans do not need them to enjoy sports.


Submit Date: 2 JAN 1999
Name: Bonnie Jackson
Email: "bonjac@aol.com
Response: It probably smacks of racism; however, it is a mute point. Why? I think of racism as being perpetrated against people who are defenseless and lack control. In this instant, the power is in the hands of these well played professional. Unfortunately, this scenario reeks of 'plantation ball'. Once again, 'ole master' (the ownership) is standing with his whip (the contract) in hand , and the slaves (the players) are being controlled by this instrument. What our Professional 'boys'(it is hard to called this group of professionals 'men') need to do is stage an uprising. Have we not learned anything? Do we grow, move forward? Are we so weak that we have to rely upon the 'ole master' to do everything for us? The power is in their hands! Let me repeat this, the power is in their hands!! Now is the time for these 'boys' to walk away, become men and form their own league. Legally, maybe it is not that simple. But, it is doable. When was the last time you went to a game to see a 'owner' perform on the court? And, while we are at this, when was the last time you saw a 'white boy' control the outcome of the game? And believe me, if they build their own league, the people will come, they loved to be entertained. And, the Black Professional Basketball Player, is the entertainment. Repeat….The power is in their hands, they just have to grow up, become men and use that power. And before they(ole' master)turn all of their potential stars into 'crack heads', marry them off to white women, totally assimilate them, please go back into your neighborhood and give the young brothers a hand, go back to your Black Colleges and give them a chance (they once were the only ones to give you a chance before prostitution was legalized in the 'Big 10'). I have a dream……….(whatever happened to it?) Did we get our freedom to become slaves once again? Does anyone remember when we took care of our own?


Submit Date: 2 JAN 1999
Name:
Email: "Urban_Guerrilla@webtv.net
Response: The white male ego is probably the largest in all existence! He demands to be the most important creature there is...anywhere. You will agree with this assertion when you follow follow everything he does. Weighing his every action against his every other action, will reveal his true character! He requires the best of everything for himself; What's left, is not worth having. African-Americans have been victims of his Subterfuge, Palliatives, and Clandestine acts (and this doesn't scratch the surface!!! Each segment of the White Power Structure has its duty to perform. This may or may not be intentional in its entirety; Nevertheless, the results are the same..."Depravation...!" White-America has a bad habit, they wait until it is beyond the simple stage of solving a problem before they act upon it. The Horrible Reality of White Prejudice, and Racism against African-Americans Will Exist FOREVER...


Submit Date: 30 DEC 1998
Name: Tara
Email: "thpotter@att.net
Response: Race in America is always a factor, but in this situation, the only color at stake is green. NBA teams are businesses and business owners are supposed to make more than their employees to survive. I thought I read somewhere that the players are already taking home 80 percent of the profits anyway. I have friends in the league who barely play and their minimum salary is 2 million. I have a very hard time feeling sorry for them.


Submit Date: 28 DEC 1998
Name: jim dandy
Email: "blackandwelldone msn.com
Response: there is no question race plays a major role in the failure to reach an agreement between the two sides.the fact is the owners don't want to break their invisiable glass ceiling should not surprise anyone.the money thats paid for salaries is like comparing ten pennies to a hundred dollars,there is no comparison. we all know that what is shown on the surface rarely describes the underlying reasons of any actions.


Submit Date: 28 DEC 1998
Name: jasbuie
Email: "
Response: It is all about who is in control and who is not. Players are tools to be use by the owners. They have the money, they run the show. If they felt that players could do it without them, they would work together to end this strike. It will end now after the owner has "taught players a lesson". No Play, No eat. If Blacks were smart in business as are whites, we would not be"owned" by the people with the money. When will we learn.


Submit Date: 26 DEC 1998
Name: Gar
Email: "GY13WEBTV.NET
Response: I believe the players. Historically, whites have shown EXTREME hatred for us in their actions. But, when they spoke about race relations it was in total contradiction to their deeds, so the owners statements about race not being an issue follows a long pattern of DOING ONE THING AND SAYING ANOTHER!!!


Submit Date: 25 DEC 1998
Name: Malcolm
Email: "Malclm7@aol.com
Response: In my opinion this is just the owners snatching back some of the rope they allowed the players to have. You know the old saying "Give a black man a rope and pretty soon he'll want to become a cowboy" But at the same time in snatching back the rope they also kill another bird. What happens is they plant or even water the seeds about the race issue. As long as anybody even thinks that race is an factor then their goal is accomplished.


Submit Date: 23 DEC 1998
Name:
Email: "Urban_Guerrilla@webtv.net
Response: In answer to Lasher702: When you speak against my African-American Race, you're speaking my language! First, you should mind your own Hispanic/Hispano business. You haven't suffered enough to speak for African-AMericans. Your marital status proves your tendencies parallels the White Racist Males; that is, you love our women but you Hate A-A Men! You mentioned the A-A Players Avarice. It's the Skills, and Talents of the A-A Players that makes the owners Rich! Why shouldn't the A-A Players get a BIG SLICE of the Juicy Pie Their Skills, and Talents Create??? Without Them, the owners would have Empty Pockets! The next time you want to Shoot off your Big Mouth, go into that White Racist Office (where you work), and Punch out some White Racists Noses!! You might get more satisfaction. The Brothers Don't Play That!!!


Submit Date: 22 DEC 1998
Name: Danny Walker
Email: "dwalker@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu
Response: From where I stand it looks like it is about money not race. I think if the league had 80 percent black ownership and 80 percent black players they would still be arguing about money. For my brothers and sisters to bring up race everytime they have a disagreement with white folks does us an injustice.


Submit Date: 20 DEC 1998
Name: Brandon Swanson
Email: "Lasher702@yahoo.com
Response: I frankly have no time to listen to some over payed basketball player bitch about race when I go to work a predonimately white office that cant stand the fact that I'm hispanic and my wife is afrincan. SCREW THEM I seen no rascism until they (the players) start squawking about it. African-american players in general make 50-85% more then their white counter parts, so to say the owners are being rascist is frankly stupid and is the type of thinking that makes this world revolve around race!!!!! If they wanted to see an end to this dispute then the players should take a cut and not be so damn greedy.


Submit Date: 19 DEC 1998
Name: K. Bernard Strong
Email: "strong1989@aol.com
Response: Unfortunately, race is a factor in everything that transpires in this Eurocentric culture. However, in these specific negotiations, race plays a minimal role. Racism is much more of a factor in the mindset of NBA Playeres and is becoming evident in negotiations and comments. Alonzo Mourning's, recent comment, is a clear indication that the players are losing this battle. His comment is the "blink" that the owners want to see and a confirmation that "when you hurt--you holler". The players, though athleticly gifted and possessors of good moral character, simply do not undertand that: 1. Racism will always be relegated to the back row in the minds of a capitalist. and 2. Reward is a function of risk--not a function of fairness or should be's. In conclusion, players are killing the goose that lays the multi-billion dollar egg and race "ain't got nuttin' to do wid it!!!"


Submit Date: 18 DEC 1998
Name: Darnel Tanksley
Email: "DarTanksley@aol.com
Response: In America race is a factor in everything. But at the current time we Negroes can vote, sit in the front of the bus and play pro sports. Still at a time when Negroes could not play pro sports and Babe Ruth was king, the Babe made a lot of money for his day, tho it was a mere fraction of what the owners were making. And the amazing fact is that when this White Babe Ruth could no longer hit home runs, Baseball KICKED him out even tho they are still making money off of him to this day. So now in 1998 if the very rich White owners and the very well off Negro players want to argue about who gets what slice of a trillion dollars, let them go ahead, I see no need for a race riot. But when 90% of the games are only on cable and back row seats cost $50 I feel Black and White America will speak in a common voice.


Submit Date: 17 DEC 1998
Name: K. Copeland
Email: "kyc_56@hotmail.com
Response: Not that it makes a whole lot of difference as far as percentages go, but, isn't Magic Johnson a part-owner? And seems like I. Thomas was an owner before. If they can be owners, why don't some of these other guys with the big money, invest in a team or better yet, form another league? New things are created all the time because, there are differences that can't be worked out.


Submit Date: 17 DEC 1998
Name: JANIE DIXON
Email: "SIS.@W.COM
Response: WELL I THINK THAT IF THEY HAD MORE BLACK COACHES THERE WOULD NOT BE MANY PLAYERS ON THE FIELD. BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOTT OF VERY GOOD PLAYERS WHO COULD BE COACHES. I AM NOT SAYING THAT THERE ARENT SOME GOOD WHITE PLAYERS TOO, BUT THERE ARE A LOT MORE BLACK PLAYERS WHO ARE GREAT. THANK YOU


Past discussion topics