A controversial summer continues for the NBA.
On the heels of the Donald Sterling saga, the association has again encountered a racial issue. Per ESPN, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson will sell his share of the organization after two-year-old messages were uncovered.
As transcribed by Adi Joseph of USA TODAY Sports, Levenson made comments about the factor of race in Atlanta’s inability to sell tickets.
4. Regarding game ops, i need to start with some background. for the first couple of years we owned the team, i didn’t much focus on game ops. then one day a light bulb went off. when digging into why our season ticket base is so small, i was told it is because we can’t get 35-55 white males and corporations to buy season tixs and they are the primary demo for season tickets around the league. when i pushed further, folks generally shrugged their shoulders. then i start looking around our arena during games and notice the following:
— it’s 70 pct black
— the cheerleaders are black
— the music is hip hop
— at the bars it’s 90 pct black
— there are few fathers and sons at the games
— we are doing after game concerts to attract more fans and the concerts are either hip hop or gospel.
Then i start looking around at other arenas. It is completely different. Even DC with its affluent black community never has more than 15 pct black audience.
Before the politically incorrect statements could be torn apart by the public, Levenson took swift action to remorsefully apologize and remove himself from office.
NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote a piece for TIME in which he argued that Levenson is not a racist, but instead a business man. Abdul-Jabbar argued that Levenson’s comments were made in a pure attempt to improve Atlanta’s business and marketing schemes.
Despite making the playoffs, Atlanta ranked No. 26 in percentage of seats filled during home games in 2013-14, per ESPN.
Regardless of how you may feel about Levenson’s comments, it’s easy to see why he chose to step down. The media backlash is significantly lighter when a public figure owns up to their mistakes and pays their debt to society.
In Levenson’s eyes, stepping down appears to be a part of that debt.
As for the remaining issues, the preliminary question is simple: how did the investigation begin? Exposing racist tendencies is progress, but the NBA didn’t go NSA on its Georgia-based organization.
That’s where it reaches a new level of crazy.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Hawks general manager Danny Ferry was caught making questionable comments about Miami Heat star Luol Deng. Deng and the Hawks met about a potential contract offer, but the two-time All-Star opted to sign with Miami.
Ferry had the following to say about the 29-year-old who was born in Wau, South Sudan.
“He’s still a young guy overall,” Ferry said, league sources with direct knowledge of the probe told Yahoo. “He’s a good guy overall. But he’s not perfect. He’s got some African in him. And I don’t say that in a bad way.”
Marc Stein of ESPN confirmed the report via sources of his own:
ESPN sources say that the player referred to in the initial Hawks’ background report that triggered the ensuing investigation was Luol Deng
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) September 8, 2014
I’m not sure what, “Having African in him,” means, but it could’ve been an innocent comment. It also could’ve been a display of prejudice or systematic racism.
In a time like this, where Sterling’s discrimination has exposed the NBA’s higher-ups to criticism, intention is of little relevance.
The comments have struck a chord with many, both in and outside of the NBA community. In a predominantly black league, people of power within the NBA seem to be doing everything they can to alienate themselves and others.
Even if Levenson’s comments can be perceived as business-driven and Ferry’s as innocent, the damage has been done. Their reputations have taken a hit and their time with the Hawks is running out.
Ferry reportedly reached out to Deng’s agent to clear the air.
Ferry called Ron Shade, Deng’s agent, to apologize. “I have no reaction, but we’ve spoken,” Shade tells Yahoo. Ferry reached out to Deng too
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) September 8, 2014
It still isn’t over.
Zach Klein of WSB-TV in Atlanta obtained a letter penned by Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon. In it, he requests that Levenson terminate Ferry for the controversial and damaging comments which were made about Deng.
Gearon’s fear of a public fallout is now being realized.
If Ferry’s comments are ever made public, and it’s a safe bet to say they will someday, it could be fatal to the franchise…we are especially fearful of the unfair consequences when we eventually get thrown under the bus with Ferry.
We are calling on you, as majority owner and NBA Governor, to take swift and severe action against Ferry. Our advisors tell us there is no other choice but to ask for Ferry’s resignation, and if he refuses, to terminate him for cause under his employment agreement.
Nearly three months have passed. Ferry is still employed.
Ferry, the 1989 Naismith Player of the Year, played in the NBA from 1990 to 2003. Since then, he’s worked in the front office for the Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs, respectively.
This could be Ferry’s last stop for quite some time.
Commissioner Silver has altered the standard that NBA owners and front office members are held to. Sterling’s lifetime ban was a swift and powerful decision, but its lasting impact had yet to be seen.
It’s now known.
Within months, Silver’s ruling against Sterling has resulted in two organizations, the Los Angeles Clippers and, potentially, the Hawks, being sold. Both sales were the result of race issues.
Over the next few weeks, more information will come to light and the Hawks’ intentions will be clarified. A front office clean out could be on the horizon.
In a matter of hours, the Hawks have gone from possessing a bright future to potentially hitting the reset button. New ownership can provide a spark, but another change at general manager means another new mentality.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer, a longtime Spurs assistant coach, could be let go if a new general manager takes over. That’d have nothing to do with Budenholzer’s coaching ability, but instead the tendency for a GM to hire their own coach.
The progress that’s been made for what could become the Eastern Conference’s Spurs may be lost. Fortunately, a different form of progress has been achieved.
The NBA’s tolerance level for racism doesn’t exist. The question is, will the Hawks exercise that same strict mentality with Ferry?
Around The League
- Marc Stein of ESPN reports that the Phoenix Suns are interested in signing Slovenia star Zoran Dragic. He’s the younger brother of current Suns guard and reigning Most Improved Player Goran Dragic. That connection should tell you all you need to know. If not, try this: Zoran Dragic is shooting 45.8 percent from 3-point range during the FIBA World Cup.
- He may not be a star, but big man Gustavo Ayon has been a hot commodity as NBA free agency winds down. He’s a skilled player whose size and FIBA play for Mexico makes him an attractive option. According to David Pick of EuroBasket.com, Ayon spurned the NBA to play for Real Madrid of Liga ACB. “Gustavo Ayon, I’m told, has committed to multi-year deal with Spanish Real Madrid. He’s ACB inactive, per source.” Pick goes on to report that Ayon has multiple outs in his contract and will play in EuroLeague. From there, his future is up in the air.
- According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas, the Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Charlie Villanueva. “Per source, Mavs have agreed to sign veteran F Charlie Villaneuva. No guaranteed $.” Villanueva, 30, hasn’t averaged double-figure scoring since 2010-11.
From reviewing the case I can’t see anything at all that Levenson has done wrong, that would warrant him to resign.
However, he correct to understand the real culprit is the American Media (and associated Special Interest Groups who have ties to the media) for blowing out of proportion anything that can be construed as Politically Incorrect. Where is the original Bill Mahr now (he coined the term Politically Incorrect, before he was eventually fired due to politically correct pressure) before switching to ultra Progressive politics?
Ultimately, Levenson’s accuracy of his one (of thousands of) EMail will be proven correct, when they try to sell the franchise and find only hip-hop buyers or a depressed price for the very reason of his astute Email. What we have learned is that owners have to be more discrete (can’t use written Email’s) when discussing business matters having to do with Race.
Fortunately, the media was willing to report the editorial of the esteemed Kareem, who came to Levenson’s defense.
Regarding Danny Ferry, one poorly chosen joke on a conference call should not define a person. Who (black or white) is not guilty of poor choice of words at one time or another? We don’t know the context of his “African” joke. Maybe one of the others had made a prior remark that he was responding to?
I would rather let Danny Ferry’s Duke colleagues vouch for his integrity – Billy King would be the fellow GM who would know Ferry well and would have as much impact as Kareem.
Bottom line is that the our whole society is being dictated by Special Interest Groups, who are driving the News.
We no longer can see much REAL NEWS like ISIS (unless a shocking TV/Internet beheading is shown). Its SHAMEFUL and worst of all, our younger generation is buying into this FAUX News (Like Redskins team name) because they don’t know anything else.
Levenson marginalized a group of fans who actually showed up and paid money for his sub-standard product, and his observations were strictly based on the color of their skin.
The media isn’t at fault, an Owner who stupidly sent an inflammatory email on the company’s server is. He needs to take personal responsibility-like politically correct screamers like you usually tell people they find whiney.
Politically incorrect is code for purposely or accidently being offensive then finding fault with the offended. In short having a lack of respect for people who disagree with your point, yet you find fault in those who do not agree with your view. What a hypocrite. You should strive to be on the side of correct as much as possible is what I say.
By the way Nill Maher was fired and had his show canceled for saying “We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That’s cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it’s not cowardly.”
Do you support his free speech like Fox News tells you or are you glad he lost his job for disrespecting America like Fox News tells you?
Laughable. You are quick to give forgiveness for a billionaire who got caught-TWO YEARS after making ridiculous statements and a GM who is the son … of a GM who certainly should know better.
When Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Bosh Durant and other stars show up in Atlanta, so do the White fans Levenson wishes came on a regular basis. In short his problem is with his white fans not his black ones.
Here is the rest of the quote not in this article about Deng,
“But he’s like a guy who would have a nice store out front but sell your counterfeit stuff out of the back.”
If you think that is an appropriate joke say it at work or put it on social media with your employers name and see if you get fired.
The Hawks are 26th in their ranked attendance not because of black cheerleaders or hip hop music, it’s because they stink , have NEVER advanced beyond the 2nd round of the playoffs and have bad ownership-not because of politically correct pontificators…oh and no stars which is what people pay to see.
Bottom line is our part of our society is being dictated by Special Interest Groups, LIKE FOX NEWS who cater to angry old Caucasian audience who feel this is “Their country” and not “our country.”
All Americans should be appalled by ISIS’ beheadings in my opinion…and ALL Americans should be angry at bigoted remarks by those who know better Like Levenson and Ferry.
But because people like you are mad and pouty at other issues you deflect your anger on offended people and justify wrong because it makes you feel good. How un-American.
False on many issues. Bill Mahr was fired because he made the cute remark at the wrong time and his ABC Network (especially the Nightline host) never appreciated some of the unique content of his program, before he switched to joining the Ultra Left. However, recently, he made a joke about holding your woman and smacking her a couple of times, but didn’t get in trouble because he was already a favorite of the Special Interest Police.
Yes, we are being run by Special Interest Groups today, and its False to accuse people who call out excessive Political Correctness to be associated with Fox News, who I mostly despise (I’m a true educated moderate). However, people who don’t listen to them (in addition to the other News) will not correctly understand All legitimate sides of an issue.
Levenson’s remarks in his ONE Email was 100% correct, because the Hawks had made the playoffs almost every year. They don’t Stink. He correctly compared them with the WIZ who hadn’t been making the playoffs but have a different “culture” at the games. Even Kareem pointed that out, and I’m sure fellow Dukie, Billy King would come to the defense of Danny Ferry, who also isn’t a Racist. Ferry was reading a scouting report (not his words), and today Commissioner Silver came to his defense and said it didn’t warrant any further action.
We live in a Reverse McCarthy society these days, where the extreme left Special Interest and Lobby groups have become the Police of any poorly worded statement (including that by Stephen A Smith who was Pussy Whipped a few weeks ago for telling the truth about women deserving a share of responsibility for Domestic arguments). This is allowed because the current youth in America (who the media desire because they spend so much of Daddy’s money), who talk about demanding Freedom (eg vs NSA), will yell murder if someone touches their Internet. Maybe we need another 9/11 to remind young people what IS important and not all this Faux News that the Networks are promoting to get ratings.
Back to Basketball – I’ve heard so many times from people who expressed how White America turned people off to the NBA in past decades because of the Culture they saw getting into the NBA. Commissioner Stern knew about this and tried to “clean up” the NBA (he’d be fired today if any of his private remarks became public with the new instant TMZ-like media now available). Apparently ATL is the one place they weren’t able to clean up.
(Its interesting how White America still hasn’t been turned off to the NFL nor has the use of PEDs been exposed).
I hope Dominique Wilkins DOES buy the Hawks, because it will prove that Levenson was right all along, and the pricetag will accordingly be depressed – compared with the sale of Clippers.