Larry Bird uses his race card

What about all those Euros coming over? Do they not count as white? If anything, I think there are more white players now than any time since the late 60s-early/mid 70s.

If you watch the interview rather than just listening to ESPN blow it out of proportion, it's obviously a joke. Larry and Magic are old buddies, and he was making a joke to him.

in what way jason? I am not doubting you but I just saw the clip of bird's comments and it seemed he was serious-- he even kinda paused to consider if what he said was sounding bad. and, of course it did... but that's not the point. how do you answer that question anyway? yeah the united states has probably five times as many white people as black people, whereas the nba is the reverse. and just because larry bird played in the nba doesn't mean he knows why-- if it's cultural, born of a genetic trait, or whatever. the person who should be getting the heat is jim gray. if anything is racist, it's the question itself. but journalists get to hide under the cover of "asking the tough questions." bullshit.

I think Chairman hit the nail on the head. The question itself is moronic. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks about the subject honestly. Whatever the answer is it comes off as silly and cheap. The Euro players have really helped the game but the euros are so behind in defense and intensity its pathetic. ESPN is so full of shit its ridiculous.

Jim Grey is fucking retarded. How he holds a job as an interviewer is beyond me.

the ONLY reason he asked this question is because he knew no matter WHAT the answer (which was actually a reasonable and well thought out answer, the only people who should be offended are white people....) there would be controversy and his little interview show would get more press.

yes there are european players coming into the NBA, yes they are white.

HOWEVER, I think everyone should agree with Bird that the lack of US born white players making it in the NBA is disturbing (as is the lack of mexican players etc). If black people weren't suceeding in the NBA, it would be a big issue and there wouldn't be anything wrong with talking about it.

it is time for people to face the fact that white people ARE a minority in certain areas of life and its OKAY to treat them as a minority and address the issue just as you would ANY other minority (which is done frequently).

the NBA is VERY progressive with minority issues imo. they have a very large number of black coaches (compared to any other league), black executives, and are just getting started on black owners (new charlotte team).

in no way is bird suggesting that white people deserve special consideration in the league, he is bemoaning the fact that there isn't a talented white person climbing the ranks like he did. just like any black talent would if they had succeeded at something and they don't see anyone working their ass off to be the best and follow in their footsteps.

the NBA right now is dominated mostly by athletic prowess, and its not just a cute phrase, its true, white men can't jump (compared to black men...) Bird knew that he couldn't compete that way, so he honed his skills in other ways. he sees the lack of that type of player in the league and he knows its a niche that the slower, less athletically skilled white hicks can fill!!

isiah thomas once said if Bird was black, he would just be another basketball player. that is not true, bird did amazing things, not because he was white, because he was insanely skilled in a way that few players had ever been or ever will be again. THAT comment by isiah was offensive. THAT is what Rush Limbaugh said about Donovan McNaab (just the other side of the coin). Bird was an amazing player, he wasn't an amazing player just because he was white.

Because he was white, couldn't jump etc, he gave hope to the young white kids at home, who may not be the best athletic specimen in the world, but by working their ass off they can still be an NBA star. how can wanting a white (american) superstar in the league be bad, is beyond me.

this is the same exact hope that Spud Webb, Muggsy Bogues, Earl Boykins give to short people. if they find their niche, work hard, they can succeed in the NBA.

and oh yeah, my favorite player is kevin garnett. white people cheer for black people, I just can't identify with him. I am not 7'2'', I don't have zero percent body fat, I can't block a jump shot at the top of its arc. but I see Mark Madsen out on the court and it gives me hope that there IS a place for a slow plodding uncoordinated white person like me on the basketball court! (and man can he dance)

Thats a good post Southern. Gray is worthless. I love how in the snippet I saw Carmelo is just laughing his ass off and LeBron looks conflicted and confused.

my post is better when you read the capitalized HOWEVER as Steven A Smith saying it.

Why is it okay for the Japanese to cheer for Ichiro like lunatics at all the Mariners games.

It's cool for the Chinese to root for Ming.

Mexicans go nuts at Latino fights but give fuckall about black-heavyweights.

It's cool to sell Jerome Ignila because he is black (and highly skilled, yes) as a selling point to blacks too watch hockey.

It's cool for blacks to root for the Donovan McNabs of the world.

HOWEVER, as soon as a white person roots for a white person were a redneck racist bigot.

Fuck that shit. Whites aren't allowed to identify with whites, but every other race can have pride in their race. Fuck that shit.

The only people ever labeled racist in America is whites, and I'm sick of it. I walk into an Asian market and I'm watched like a hawk, nobody gives a shit that he does it to me, but if a Black man walks into a white market and the guy watches him he's a racist.

I'm sick of this double-standard, can't we all just accept the fact that everyone is a little racist and everyone identifys best with those similar to theirselves.

Nothing wrong with your point. However this question was dumb and in the grand scheme of things irrelevant.

..but the point is that whites are a minority in the NBA and it's fanbase is majority white. What Bird said is true, but it's pointless since it won't happen, there's no white guys that are going to compete as the top guy anytime soon.

Ah, but herein lies the rub... Larry Bird is a guy that I like a lot because I think he always goes out of his way to maintain integrity but also express complete honesty about all subjects, unlike that fucking phony Magic Johnson.

However, I'm confused as to what his arguement was about. He cannot ignore that the majority of paying NBA customers (mostly because of ridiculous pro sports costs) are white. So he wants to essentially assuage these white audiences by having more whites out there on the court? His statements speak a lot about society: will whites one day not find a black dominated sport worth watching? I think if the answer is yes, they obviously, the country is fucked. If the answer is no, there's nothing to worry about. Is Bird trying to suggest that the smaller minded (i.e. majority) of white basketball fans need a white savior to be cured of latent racism, much like how someone like Eminem makes it okay for a white CEO to play Snoop Dogg in his Escalade?

Personally, I think the whole think is being overthought. White people make up the majority of America, and the truth is most of America will buy anything. So, that pretty much means in this day and age where racism, hatred, anger and inequality take a back seat to consummerism, most white people will continue to buy anything.

Did I just give a middle finger to intelligent sociological debate?

Yes, the NBA would benefit from a "white" star, but the reason there isn't one is because of this silly ass self-fulfilling prophecy.

There are very few white basketball players in the NBA
There are lots of black basketball players in the NBA
Black basketball players in the NBA are really atheletic
Therefore
White people aren't really atheletic
So
White people can't compete

Causing the loop to continue.

Remember when nobody could break the four minute mile? Then, when it was broken, the new record was beaten some two months later? It was then determined to be more a psychological barrier than anything else. Is it so far fetched to believe that the current state of the NBA is due to nothing more than psychological barrier, preventing "white people" (such a strange term, relegated to American born caucasians) from working as hard as their black counterparts?

Yes, the gulf between the two races isn't genetic, it's based entirely upon work ethic. The last time the hardest working player in the NBA was "white", we all witnessed Basketball Jesus. Why else are European players getting drafted? Does anyone honestly believe that it's because they have some magical genetic trait that makes them more atheletic? No, it's because European players join year round basketball leagues from the ages of 12 on up (and I may even be short changing them a bit). They eat, sleep and drink basketball. Until "white people" start to work as hard as their black and European competition, they'll continue to be the minority, and the NBA will continue to have problems attracting it's base.

Thus why I said the question and even the topic is irrelevant. Personally the white basketball player was never the same after Danny Ferry entered the league. I blame him.

Didn't Gray got in a shitstorm when he asked Pete Rose something really fucking retarded? So retarded that I forgot about it right now.