All White-Guy Basketball League?

**Fandrew** · 01-21-2010, 06:51 AM

Basketball league for white Americans targets Augusta 011910 - The Augusta Chronicle

First thought: This is absurd, archaic, and ridiculous.
Second thought: White guy basketball probably wouldn't be much entertainment.

I hope this endeavor fails miserably.

Jeffrey · 01-21-2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayCarrFan

First thought: This is absurd, archaic, and ridiculous.

Agreed.

Quote:

Second thought: White guy basketball probably wouldn't be much entertainment.

Why not, other than ideological unease over exclusion? Surely you're not implying something unintentionally bigoted (negative against whites, deceptively "positive" about non-whites?).

**Fandrew** · 01-21-2010, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Why not, other than ideological unease over exclusion? Surely you're not implying something unintentionally bigoted (negative against whites, deceptively "positive" about non-whites?).

In a way I am, and I'm using the same logic as the originator of the league. Why would you pay money to watch "fundamentals"? I mean, the general "streetball" he criticizes is the part I really like watching. I love seeing an athletic guy such as LeBron James take off from the free throw line and get his elbow through the rim. No look passes, dunks, ally oops, those are the plays that make me want to watch basketball.

earlessdog · 01-21-2010, 09:47 AM

This made me laugh. Does anyone watch basketball? If so, have you taken note of the majority of the white players? Big, clumsy, and inacurate for a lot of them. An all white league would be utterly painful to watch.

**thesteve** · 01-21-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earlessdog

This made me laugh. Does anyone watch basketball? If so, have you taken note of the majority of the white players? Big, clumsy, and inacurate for a lot of them. An all white league would be utterly painful to watch.

Meh...Sure there's big and clumsy guys...but most big guys, regardless of race, tend towards clumsiness. Shaq built an entire career out of backing over his defenders and a generation of big men have followed in his footsteps. There's also guys like Steve Nash and Kirk Hinrich that are neither big, clumsy or inaccurate. Last I checked, Chase Budinger is a decent size (6'8") and has been a big off the bench contributor in Houston this season.

I don't think there is a coordination boost based on race. A few years ago I watched a few games in a Midwest basketball tournament and watched a white kid go 14 for 15 from the free throw line and hit something like 80% from the three-point line. Big? for his age, maybe...but not clumsy and definitely not inaccurate.

While I don't necessarily agree with a "all white league", I'd love to see a return to fundamentals in basketball. Even Paul Pierce wants to see more fundamentals. I know I'm in the minority, but I've always been more impressed with high shooting percentages and fast/trick passing than I have been with the ability of a bunch of 6'7"+ guys to dunk the ball over some other 6'7"+ guys. I see a fundamentals-based league looking a lot more like the NBA I grew up on in the late 80s and early 90s.

**Fandrew** · 01-21-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

Meh...Sure there's big and clumsy guys...but most big guys, regardless of race, tend towards clumsiness. Shaq built an entire career out of backing over his defenders and a generation of big men have followed in his footsteps. There's also guys like Steve Nash and Kirk Hinrich that are neither big, clumsy or inaccurate. Last I checked, Chase Budinger is a decent size (6'8") and has been a big off the bench contributor in Houston this season.

I think a main point to consider is that Steve Nash would not be eligible to play in this league. That pretty much defeats the entire purpose.

**slap_j** · 01-21-2010, 10:06 AM

Imagine if the topic were picking cotton instead of basketball. I don't think the comments would be so cavalier.

**thesteve** · 01-21-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayCarrFan

I think a main point to consider is that Steve Nash would not be eligible to play in this league. That pretty much defeats the entire purpose.

Sure. I was just using him as an example of a white guy. I don't think there is a huge disparity between white Americans and white Canadians in terms of basketball playing ability. Yes, Steve Nash is incredible regardless of race and nationality, but I think his playing style is one that can be emulated by other players if fundamentals were a focus.

earlessdog · 01-21-2010, 10:35 AM

I definitely wasn't referring to all white players.

Bryan · 01-21-2010, 11:37 AM

this league would violate the equal employment laws (assuming that they are paying the basketball players). Now if it is an all-volunteer, private organization it wouldn't be a legal issue.

And yes, this is absurd and ridiculous.

JerryLove · 01-21-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

this league would violate the equal employment laws (assuming that they are paying the basketball players). Now if it is an all-volunteer, private organization it wouldn't be a legal issue.

Not if they classify as "entertainers".

**redbaron** · 01-21-2010, 04:52 PM

Would it actually make basketball less boring?

watching them run from one side of the court to the other scoring almost every time is a mega yawner. Honestly they could be up by 40 points in the first half and still lose the game, why watch before the last five minutes?

I think the idea of an all ______ (insert ethnicity here) league is stupid, but honestly, basketball has devolved into nothing more than a dunkathon.

metropolis4 · 01-22-2010, 02:35 PM

Who says color of skin has anything to do with one's abilities to play the game?

Hasn't anyone ever watched Pete Marovitch?

penguinofwar · 01-22-2010, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayCarrFan

In a way I am, and I'm using the same logic as the originator of the league. Why would you pay money to watch "fundamentals"? I mean, the general "streetball" he criticizes is the part I really like watching. I love seeing an athletic guy such as LeBron James take off from the free throw line and get his elbow through the rim. No look passes, dunks, ally oops, those are the plays that make me want to watch basketball.

Who said white boy can't play?

This is ridiculous, though.

normajean777 · 01-23-2010, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metropolis4

Who says color of skin has anything to do with one's abilities to play the game?

Perhaps the owners of professional basketball teams in the NBA? Since about 75% of the players that they employ are African American. If white players were better, there would be more of them in the league. Simple.