Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Bruce Levenson Isn’t a Racist, He’s a Businessman
TIME ^ | 09/08/2014 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Posted on 09/08/2014 1:23:46 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Sure, there are assumptions he makes that are cringe-worthy—but the questions about how to attract more white fans were entirely reasonable.

Well, the pitchforks are already sharpened and the torches lit anyway, so rather than let them go to waste why not drag another so-called racist before the Court of Public Opinion and see how much ratings-grabbing, head-shaking, race-shaming we can squeeze out of it. After all, the media got so much gleeful, hand-wringing mileage out of Don Sterling and Michael Brown.

The only problem is that Atlanta Hawks controlling owner Bruce Levenson is no Donald Sterling. Nor is his email racist. In fact, his worst crime is misguided white guilt.

I read Levenson’s email. Here’s what I concluded: Levenson is a businessman asking reasonable questions about how to put customers in seats. In the email, addressed to Hawks President Danny Ferry, Levenson wonders whether (according to his observations) the emphasis on hip-hop and gospel music, the fact that the cheerleaders are black, the bars are filled with 90 percent blacks, kiss-cams focus on black fans, and timeout contestants are always black has an effect on keeping away white fans.

(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: atlantahawks; brucelevenson; nba; racism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: newnhdad
What he doesn’t get is that Levenson saw what white liberal guiltest Ballmer paid for the Clippers and Levenson wants some of that!

This whole thing struck me as odd from the start. I'm thinking that Levenson wants a quick sale to somebody with deep pockets, and doesn't want the league getting in the way, so he's playing the race card on himself.

21 posted on 09/08/2014 1:52:04 PM PDT by GreenHornet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“If you have a y chromosome, why waste it?”

I hear ya man! My neck of the woods kinda guy!


22 posted on 09/08/2014 1:52:16 PM PDT by poobear (Socialism in the minds of the elites, is a con-game for the serfs, nothing more.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

The problem, of course, is that he fired himself. This is getting on the par with confessions in Stalinist Russia, for God’s sake. He should have kept his mouth shut - he’s only making it worse for other Americans who want to write and think freely.


23 posted on 09/08/2014 1:54:18 PM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard III: Loyalty Binds Me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

He did not “blame” anyone did you read the memo?

He realized that when everyone associated with the franchise at all levels is black, they are not attracting or welcoming white patrons.

To which I say, duh.


24 posted on 09/08/2014 1:55:13 PM PDT by Williams
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The CEO Koonin has had 7 calls today from multi billionaires. :-)


25 posted on 09/08/2014 2:00:26 PM PDT by jwalsh07
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07

RE: The CEO Koonin has had 7 calls today from multi billionaires. :-)

WOW, so many billionaires with too much money to throw away :)

Quick, tell Obammy and company that Uncle Sam wants their fair share...


26 posted on 09/08/2014 2:04:41 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Pearls Before Swine
...Kareem definitely has a race chip on his shoulder from time to time.

But seldom, and I suspect if I were black I'd have at least a little one, for the individuals who hate me just because.

27 posted on 09/08/2014 2:08:34 PM PDT by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed & water the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS NOW & FOREVER!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SoFloFreeper
“I’m a racist, I just discovered that...so I better sell. Where is my billion?”

It is a very ominous sign when the players and sports media can basically strip an owner of his enterprise because he is politically incorrect.

If I were the owner of such an enterprise I would be looking for ways to monetize my investment before the value started to evaporate.

28 posted on 09/08/2014 2:12:23 PM PDT by oldbrowser (We have a rogue government in Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07
Kareem gets the business part. What he doesn’t get is that Levenson saw what white liberal guiltest Ballmer paid for the Clippers and Levenson wants some of that!

I think you are onto something. :)

29 posted on 09/08/2014 2:15:20 PM PDT by EveningStar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Going to a game is suppose to be fun - NOT one more place people have to prove they’re not afraid or uncomfortable. It’s time to move out of the neighborhood - leave sports to the ‘black community’...


30 posted on 09/08/2014 2:16:31 PM PDT by GOPJ ("If America was a house, the Left would root for the termites." - Greg Gutfeld)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07

I heard a Fox News person suggest pretty much the same thing today.


31 posted on 09/08/2014 2:17:29 PM PDT by EveningStar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

you have zero understanding of the last 10 years.


32 posted on 09/08/2014 2:17:35 PM PDT by roofgoat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07

Maybe we can get Jerry Jones to write a racist email.


33 posted on 09/08/2014 2:18:06 PM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Williams
Time to stop thinking that everything which values white people is “racist”.

Did you read the email? How does he "value," white people? He said white men are pansies, wimps, and don't like black people. If that's valuing someone, please, don't value me.

I have a question: are you a male? Did you have an orchidectomy?

34 posted on 09/08/2014 2:19:20 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: GOPJ

Why do you “have to prove,” you are not afraid. Are you a man or a mouse?


35 posted on 09/08/2014 2:21:04 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
For example: “My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a significant season ticket base.” On the other hand, I have no evidence that he’s wrong on either count. Even if he is, the question still needed to be raised, because racism is a realistic possibility as to why whites in Atlanta may not be coming.

White people fearing crowds of young blacks isn't racism. It's common sense.

36 posted on 09/08/2014 2:21:12 PM PDT by Hugin ("Do yourself a favor--first thing, get a firearm!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Williams

You sound like a leftist.


37 posted on 09/08/2014 2:22:38 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Pearls Before Swine

I’ve seen identity politics being practiced on this site, so it’s fair to say it’s endemic to American politics now.


38 posted on 09/08/2014 2:25:14 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: roofgoat

I see reality. You are living in a world created by MSNBC.


39 posted on 09/08/2014 2:27:23 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

I try to be objective, but like Jesse Jackson, I examine my surroundings.

That’s not my point though. It’s that Kareem has sometimes been objective, sometimes not. This time he is.


40 posted on 09/08/2014 2:30:30 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson