The Great White Hope in Basketball

[Saint Zephyr III]

This has been an unusual development that I have seen in the American public, particularly the Caucasian variety, in which a little quirp about having a great white American basketball player has now, across the news, the fanbase; hell, even I'm somewhat a part of it, transformed into something that is on the midst of becoming a truly serious conversation on the makeup of the NBA and perhaps of the entire sport of basketball. Especially in the midst of March Madness, the presence of J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison has erupted this concern, or wish, or whatever it truly is that is within a white basketball fan that seeks the next Bird or even a Stockton, into the public stage, just waiting to dance with the topical linguo that is a part of our culture, a culture that is scared to speak its mind about racial issues, yet where race still determines the course of an entire industry and society.

But look at the atmosphere of this hope...it's, in the most sincere terms, just a sly, semi-selfish feeling about white fans to want a white American player that they can look up and connect with. I'm not calling them racist, just race-minded...I wasn't old enough to know of Larry Bird, yet I understand well enough that he was one of the greatest players of all time, even if he was polka-dotted neon purple. Yet it is the color of his skin that added a feeling among people, an undertone of racial pride like in the classic days of boxing, where specific communities would rally around their blood brothers. Instead, it was a more national stage, a symbol of that inner pride that has been so diluted that even the mention of it is seen, or at least feared to be seen, as an act of bigotry.

After Bird left, there was no type of pride that could be displayed, discussed, or even thought of afterwards. As the world told us, the nation was beyond race, so if you still have these feelings, you're a old-fashioned bigot. Yet the people knew better.

One has to understand that race is not flamboyant like in the movies. It is fear, it is arrogance, it is internal conflict, like a little elephant that every American has in their closet. Yes, we live in a free-minded society, yet our true minds are closed, isn't it? It's like a taboo almost to discuss the presence of race, or rather, the presence of the white race. White Man Can't Jump, as they say...free as a bell, yet Black Man Can Run is a punch in the throat by the P.C. community.

Yet race is so much a part of everything around us. Look at the media. More specifically, look at the sports media. How is it that Ricky Williams holds our attention for a year, yet a white basketball player gets suspended for two years and barely a quirp is mentioned? How Favre's home gets destroyed in Katrina and everyone hears about it, yet Steve McNair loses his ENTIRE HOMETOWN, and you'd never hear about it? How the subject of the recent movie Glory Road was so extraordinarily important, yet the public and even the film saw it in such reluctant and crowd-friendly terms?

Are we of the white community wrong for thinking of this, expressing what honestly brews inside of our minds when we have no true American white man to look to. Am I wrong for even just saying that? Is anyone wrong for mentioning this topic at all? I don't know...me personally, it would definitely be, you know, nice. I've grown up without noticing, yet now it has started to grab me. I don't expect Morrison to be a complete legend, so goes for Redick, but they are certainly a potential duo that can be taken up, and perhaps has already been taken up, by the race as our Great White Hope, the duo that represents us at our peak in basketball, shoving it in the face of the other races that White Man can, in fact, jump as well, and at times, better than the rest of them.

Yet I always had a little racial bias, it's just natural. I generally gravitate in football to white quarterbacks than black quarterbacks. Though it's usually more specific, such as my Italian American heritage. I have a connection to Italian-American coaches and atlhetes, fortunately since a lot of them are among are greatest. My Dad is even more extreme about it, handicapping and betting on Italian Americans or native Louisianians. Still, it exists in me, and it's sorta weird, considering how other people may react to it. I even jokingly, yet slyly honest, say to people that if it's alright to just say that the two best players in college basketball right now is white, to which the response a humorous "Sure" or basic indifference.

Am I racist? Hell no. Most of my favorite players are minorities, my best football team is the Saints, a predominately black team, and frankly, I do have some minorital mindsets, as I go to school in a place where it is 50% Hispanic, 25% Black, even 10% Asian. And it is easier to speak about race there than you would initially think...course, because of my olive complexion, I am sometimes mistaken for a Hispanic, but that's beside the point. I haven't been in a place or situation where there would be consequences for what I say about any racial topic. It's that simple fact that there is fear to say what you want to say that shows a serious issue with this country.

So, there, a little peak at what dwells in my head. So now I wonder...what do you think about all of this? Have you noticed this topic's rise from extreme taboo to a near-serious stage of conversation? Is it racism? Am I just sugar-coating something much, much darker about the white community's wishes and hope?

Do you WANT a great white American player in the NBA, even on a subtle level of interest? Do you think that such wishes are wrong, or perfectly justified? Do you think that a great legend will rise again...is it wrong to think such things?

Time to be honest...what is your truly honest feeling about the lack of a great white player and the wish of a race to want one?

[NJTank]

Well about players being suspended Ricky Williams is an All-Pro calibur player, hes won a Heisman and is a superstar.

Chris Anderson absoulutley sucks and is a bench warmer who nobody cared about before the suspension either.

[IceCap]

Well there's Steve Nash, he's a white, Canadian basketball player. Does that count

[Phil]

I really don't agree with the Great White Hope idea.

Do I cheer for Steve Nash? Yes. Did I cheer for Todd McCulloch when he was in the league? Heck yes, but because they were Canadian.

My favourite player of all time was black, 90% of the league is, but I don't dislike that fact. Am I happy that we are seeing more diversity in the NBA, with Europeans, Asians, and Hispanics now making a bigger impact? Absolutely... diversity is a good thing. But do I have a problem with black players, or conversely, a desire to have a white player to look up to? No.

I cheered against Larry Bird (he was awesome, but a rival). I cheered against Stockton (same reason). I don't really like Adam Morrison (rubs me the wrong way, personality-wise), but J.J. Redick seems like a good enough guy.

But when they step on the court, I don't care if your blue like Tobias Funke, if you play for my team or play a style I like, I have no problem cheering for you.

[Neon_Matrix]

Why not start arguing about how the NHL is too white...

[Discrim]

heh, it shouldn't matter one iota, but for a lot of reasons it's still relevant.

[Jigga]

Kudos to you for your honesty, my man.

Two questions:

1) White dudes in the NBA ARE the minority right?

2) Doesn't America root for the underdog?

Reddick is the , I don't give a damn what anyone says. Morrison is dope. He may even be on dope, but he is straight cash money good. I honestly do hope that White people hope to see a great White basketball player again. Black people wished for a great Black quarterback (check), a great Black golfer (got it), a great Black hockey player (uh huh), and we're still hoping for a great Black NASCAR/Indy/F1 driver (good luck with that one). Hell, I'm damn sure hoping for a Black president during my lifetime (as long as it isn't me or my kid since I guaran-damn-tee his/her ass is getting assassinated).

Right or wrong, it's human nature, and I can't be mad at anyone that wants to see someone that looks/talks/acts/whatever like them succeed! As long as you aren't wishing other races fail, I don't have a problem with it, provided that dude has the game.

[NJTank]

Well rooting for a white player is as natural as black fans rooting for Tiger Woods, I think that will never go away, it only really becomes a problem if you root against someone becuase of what race they are.

[Jigga]

Well rooting for a white player is as natural as black fans rooting for Tiger Woods, I think that will never go away, it only really becomes a problem if you root against someone becuase of what race they are.

Thanks for saying exactly what I said, just with different words...

[DEAD!]

Why not start arguing about how the NHL is too white...

nah, that topic's for Bryant Gumble ...

Certain people would focus more on a player if they are like them, whether is race, gender, country etc.

(I would say more, but I don't have time right now.....)

[pcgd]

I typically dislike most white basketball players. It has nothing to do with their skin tone, just some weird thing.

I liked Larry Bird.

I HATED John Stockton. No idea why.

I hated Nick Smith from Illinois. But everyone did.

I hate JJ Redrick. No idea why, mainly duke.

I hate Adam Morrison. No clue why, maybe the 'stache.

I can't think of a single white basketball player I've liked...ever. What's that make me...an Uncle Wellington or something?

[paynomind]

I think this is less about white than it is about wanting to identify yourself as similar to a star. I'm a huge Ron Francis fan. Why? My last name is Francis. He could be a Martian woman and I'd root for him, cause I see Francis on the jersey and think of myself as being there.

I think what you are talking about is the same thing. If a minor league baseball player was from your high school, you'd like to see him make the bigs. If a player who underwent some specific experience similar to you (college, parents dying, arrested, porn mustache, whatever) had a chance to succeed, youd root for them.

In the case you bring us, the NBA, I think a lot of folks are struggling to find a connection to the game. I know I like NBA far less than I used to, and I assure you it has nothign to do with race. It has to do witht he excitment, quality, and effort put forth by players of the game. My local team sucks, few guys who went to my college are succeeding, the guy who shares my last name is fading fast, and no one is from my hometown. But are there white americans who play? Sure are. There are at least two in the college game right now that you mentioned who will be joining the NBA shortly. But does that mean I will become interested?

Not really. Reddick is the bastard child of satan and a dishrag. i hope he breaks both his knees while blowing Coach K for more playing time, or the president of ESPN for more coverage. I hate the guy. Morrison is a little creepy with this My Name is Earl mustache, but seems like a high-effort player. But, really, all I have in common with him is that we are both male, and both white. Thats not enough for me.

In short, is there a great white hope? Not for me.

[fiasco!]

i only want a great white player if he's on my team. but he has to be great.

but then again, i only want great players on my team, regardless of race, color or creed.

i don't really care, either way.

that said, because of my ancestry, i tend to root for asians in any sport. do i like ichiro, chan ho park, hideki matsui, etc.? yes. do i like yao ming? yes. do i like paul kariya, richard park, jamie storr, and david tanabe? yes.

it's only natural, i think, to root for those of shared heritage.

sandy koufax and hank greenberg were heroes to their generation of jewish folks. fernando valenzuela was a hero to mexicans and mexican-americans. that's just the way it goes, yo.

[leopard88]

I think this is less about white than it is about wanting to identify yourself as similar to a star. I'm a huge Ron Francis fan. Why? My last name is Francis. He could be a Martian woman and I'd root for him, cause I see Francis on the jersey and think of myself as being there.

I think what you are talking about is the same thing. If a minor league baseball player was from your high school, you'd like to see him make the bigs. If a player who underwent some specific experience similar to you (college, parents dying, arrested, porn mustache, whatever) had a chance to succeed, youd root for them.

In the case you bring us, the NBA, I think a lot of folks are struggling to find a connection to the game. I know I like NBA far less than I used to, and I assure you it has nothign to do with race. It has to do witht he excitment, quality, and effort put forth by players of the game. My local team sucks, few guys who went to my college are succeeding, the guy who shares my last name is fading fast, and no one is from my hometown. But are there white americans who play? Sure are. There are at least two in the college game right now that you mentioned who will be joining the NBA shortly. But does that mean I will become interested?

Not really. Reddick is the bastard child of satan and a dishrag. i hope he breaks both his knees while blowing Coach K for more playing time, or the president of ESPN for more coverage. I hate the guy. Morrison is a little creepy with this My Name is Earl mustache, but seems like a high-effort player. But, really, all I have in common with him is that we are both male, and both white. Thats not enough for me.

In short, is there a great white hope? Not for me.

Payno, you just saved me a lot of typing by succinctly summarizing my outlook on this issue.

I will readily admit that I am largely indifferent to the NBA. To me, it comes down to the lack of connection that Payno mentions and what seems to be a lack of the energy and spirit present in the college game.

I will pay attention to the players with whom I have a connection, regardless of skin color. For me, that basically means:

1. Lafayette/Patriot League players (which leaves me with Adonal Foyle -- is he still around)

2. Maryland players (I pay equal attention to Steve Francis, Steve Blake, Juan Dixon, Chris Wilcox, Lonny Baxter and Sarunas Jasikevicius -- a very diverse bunch), and

3. Baltimore area players (Juan Dixon (who was taught in high school by my best friend's wife) and Carmelo Anthony (who went to high school across the street from my office, but who has managed to rub me the wrong way with the ridiculous marijuana excuse and the appearance in a "Stop Snitching" thug DVD), to name a few.

Obviously, there is a mix of black and white in there. As for Morrison and Redick, I don't know enough about Morrison to have strong feelings either way, but he can play from what I have seen. Redick, on the other hand, needs to take motorcycle lessons from Jason Williams and follow a similar career path (I thought I would be gentler than Payno). I hated Shane Battier just as much -- not because he is black, but because he was a self-important Dukie who flopped like he had been shot in the chest if you came within two feet of him while he was shooting a three -- and usually got the call.

Okay, so I typed a lot anyway. There you have it.

[sc49erfan15]

Mostly irrelevant to this thread, but my roommate and I were discussing last night when the last time a white halfback started in the NFL. And by "started," I mean being #1 on the depth chart, not "started a game because the guy in front of him got hurt." I honestly couldn't think of one in the past 10-15 years, unless there's a really glaring oversight.

To make this post relevant...I like Redick. Not because he's white, not because he goes to Duke (I'm neutral on the Duke-Carolina rivalry, actually)...I just do. I'd like to see him become a Bobcat. I strongly dislike Adam Morrison, and I'd feel the same way if he was white, black, brown, or pink and purple polka-dotted. However...like everybody else, I tend to like players that I identify with...I liked Shane Battier, Shane Reynolds, Shane Spencer (while not a Yankee), Shayne Graham (while not a Panther )...we share the same first name, not too many Shanes in professional sports. If there was a white, 5'11", 155 pound, shaggy-haired guy from South Carolina in the NBA or any professional sport, he'd probably be my favorite player, unless he was a douchebag.

Like everyone else has said...you tend to like what you identify with, I guess. Must be natural.

[HatCityEnforcer]

I think this is less about white than it is about wanting to identify yourself as similar to a star. I'm a huge Ron Francis fan. Why? My last name is Francis. He could be a Martian woman and I'd root for him, cause I see Francis on the jersey and think of myself as being there.

I think what you are talking about is the same thing. If a minor league baseball player was from your high school, you'd like to see him make the bigs. If a player who underwent some specific experience similar to you (college, parents dying, arrested, porn mustache, whatever) had a chance to succeed, youd root for them.

In the case you bring us, the NBA, I think a lot of folks are struggling to find a connection to the game. I know I like NBA far less than I used to, and I assure you it has nothign to do with race. It has to do witht he excitment, quality, and effort put forth by players of the game. My local team sucks, few guys who went to my college are succeeding, the guy who shares my last name is fading fast, and no one is from my hometown. But are there white americans who play? Sure are. There are at least two in the college game right now that you mentioned who will be joining the NBA shortly. But does that mean I will become interested?

Not really. Reddick is the bastard child of satan and a dishrag. i hope he breaks both his knees while blowing Coach K for more playing time, or the president of ESPN for more coverage. I hate the guy. Morrison is a little creepy with this My Name is Earl mustache, but seems like a high-effort player. But, really, all I have in common with him is that we are both male, and both white. Thats not enough for me.

In short, is there a great white hope? Not for me.

Payno, you just saved me a lot of typing by succinctly summarizing my outlook on this issue.

I will readily admit that I am largely indifferent to the NBA. To me, it comes down to the lack of connection that Payno mentions and what seems to be a lack of the energy and spirit present in the college game.

I will pay attention to the players with whom I have a connection, regardless of skin color. For me, that basically means:

1. Lafayette/Patriot League players (which leaves me with Adonal Foyle -- is he still around)

2. Maryland players (I pay equal attention to Steve Francis, Steve Blake, Juan Dixon, Chris Wilcox, Lonny Baxter and Sarunas Jasikevicius -- a very diverse bunch), and

3. Baltimore area players (Juan Dixon (who was taught in high school by my best friend's wife) and Carmelo Anthony (who went to high school across the street from my office, but who has managed to rub me the wrong way with the ridiculous marijuana excuse and the appearance in a "Stop Snitching" thug DVD), to name a few.

Obviously, there is a mix of black and white in there. As for Morrison and Redick, I don't know enough about Morrison to have strong feelings either way, but he can play from what I have seen. Redick, on the other hand, needs to take motorcycle lessons from Jason Williams and follow a similar career path (I thought I would be gentler than Payno). I hated Shane Battier just as much -- not because he is black, but because he was a self-important Dukie who flopped like he had been shot in the chest if you came within two feet of him while he was shooting a three -- and usually got the call.

Okay, so I typed a lot anyway. There you have it.

I'm in the same boat, leopard....and I have to agree, payno hit it right on the head with his take....

I do kind of follow the NBA, but I only really get into it during the playoffs...regular season doesn't do it for me for some reason...mostly b/c I prefer the college game...

Much like you, I do the same thing in following guys regardless of skin color, nationality, religion, sexual preference, political outlook, etc. Which means....

1.--Players that played at UConn (Cliff Robinson, Rip Hamilton, Ray Allen, Ben Gordon, Emeka Okafor, Jake Voskhul (if he's still even playing), Kevin Ollie, Charlie Villanueva)

2.--Players that grew up in Connecticut (Ryan Gomes (Waterbury), Marcus Camby (Hartford), Vin Baker (Old Saybrook).)

Pretty much, there's only 1 white guy in the mix, and I'm not even sure if he's still in the league...

As for Redick & Morrison...I've watched both play against UConn (Redick in the 2004 National Semis out in San Antonio, Morrison in the finals of the Maui Invitational this year) and on some selected games that happened to be on national television over the course of their careers.

Morrison's got my respect as a very talented player from what I've seen of him. I don't follow the Zags or the WCC all that much (games usually aren't on till mega late and with work in the morning most nights, yah..), but I don't know enough of the other stuff (well, outside of one article in ESPN the Mag earlier this year that I kinda skimmed through) to make a call on either liking or disliking him.

Redick's another very talented guy. I don't like him and much like you, I'm hopeful he either gets motorcycle riding lessons from Jason Williams or driving lessons from Bobby Hurley

It's not b/c he's white, it's mostly due to the instiution of higher learning he attends. Simply put, I despise the Dookies. I respect the abilities on the court, but I just hate the team. You could probably put ANYONE in a Dook jersey and I'd probably boo them and tell them they suck (or something else to that effect that I won't repeat here ). I will give credit for the skills though...as much as I hated a vast majority of players that have called Cameron Indoor Group Home their home court, I can respect talent.

[yh]

I'm white and I used to root for JoJo White, but he was black.

Carry on.

Oh, and Joel, glad you put that "he has to be great" qualifier in there - it gets you out of the whole Darko conundrum.

[mjrbaseball]

Am I racist? Hell no.

Hell yes.

At least in my view.

Noticing racial differences, even acknowledging that there are racial differences, defines one as a racist. The only reason ever to acknowledge skin color is as a physical characteristic, no more / no less than hair color or eye color. Any of these are utterly meaningless to a person's accomplishments. There is no reason there should ever be any mention of these characteristics.

(And no, I am not being simplistic. I have what I consider a realistic attitude that I encourage others to adopt. And I can't think of a single reason that someone would not adopt this attitude.)

[OnWis97]

Am I racist? Hell no.

Hell yes.

At least in my view.

Noticing racial differences, even acknowledging that there are racial differences, defines one as a racist. The only reason ever to acknowledge skin color is as a physical characteristic, no more / no less than hair color or eye color. Any of these are utterly meaningless to a person's accomplishments. There is no reason there should ever be any mention of these characteristics.

(And no, I am not being simplistic. I have what I consider a realistic attitude that I encourage others to adopt. And I can't think of a single reason that someone would not adopt this attitude.)

Whether or not St. Zephyr is racist I make no comment on.

However, I disagree with the rest of this post. I think that it is important to have diologue on race--to discuss our cultural differences and distrust of each other. Why is it that certain races make more money on average, etc.?

I think that when there are multiple races involved that race is ALWAYS an issue. That does not mean that everyone (or even anyone) is a racist. A black and white married couple have racial issues with each other, I suspect--even if it is little cultural things--this does not mean aruguments, so much as jsut being an underlying thing that is always there. And I am sure it exists in a sports locker room--even if everyone gets along and are friends.

Acknowledging race does not make one a racist. In fact, sometimes it is flat necessary.

[mjrbaseball]

Whether or not St. Zephyr is racist I make no comment on.

However, I disagree with the rest of this post. I think that it is important to have diologue on race--to discuss our cultural differences and distrust of each other. Why is it that certain races make more money on average, etc.?

I think that when there are multiple races involved that race is ALWAYS an issue. That does not mean that everyone (or even anyone) is a racist. A black and white married couple have racial issues with each other, I suspect--even if it is little cultural things--this does not mean aruguments, so much as jsut being an underlying thing that is always there. And I am sure it exists in a sports locker room--even if everyone gets along and are friends.

Acknowledging race does not make one a racist. In fact, sometimes it is flat necessary.

Ah, but acknowledging difference in races is exactly what causes the very problems you speak of. We are all people -- that's it. We are all individuals, so there are definite differences there. But there is no in-between: We are individuals, and we are part of ONE group. There are no intermediary groupings. And any intermediary groupings that you perceive are created by people for the sole purpose of causing a schism. So don't acknowledge them! Simply say that people are people, and let that be the end of it.

Yes it is that simple. Yes I believe it can be done. I believe everyone can do that, and I believe someday everyone will do that. I believe in the greater goodness in all of us.

All I ask is that you try.