When he referred to the fundamental he actually meant traditional, so he was only willing to work with white players and coaches, because that was the way basketball used to be. He claimed that Black people were simply too good at basketball to compete with other white people, who according to Moose, play by the more appropriate set of rules. It became crystal clear after this statement that he was a racist, essentially a textbook example. He blamed black people for ruining the game of basketball, and even went so far as to talk down to a black athlete who took part in the segment. He was shocked that this 'boy' talked down to a white guy, and that this was ok in today's society. I was infuriated at this man who was blaming blacks left and right for ruining his all white basketball team in high school, and eventually the sport in general. What do you guys think...?
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Daily Show
This evening while I was watching a repeat of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, there was a segment that caught my eye. recently I have noticed an increase in the number of shows that have a theme or segment relating to the topic of race. On this particular segment, a 'reporter' named Jason Jones was interviewing this man called 'Moose', who claimed that basketball had lost its connection to what he called the 'fundamentals'. To me this meant dribbling drills and doing lay ups and other assorted basketball moves, so I was confused because all of those occur in the NBA. To solve this dilemma, Moose is trying to set up an alternative NBA basketball league which will focus on these fundamentals that he kept referring to. Like always, this word had to be unpacked because it was a serious case of loaded language.
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Well, I have not seen this episode, so I don't know how valid this point may be....but usually don't they do spoofs on that show? I mean, this man they were interviewing--was he acting? To me it seems like they are making fun of how basketball was played years ago and just highlighting that there are many more black players these days and the competition of it (as in all sports) keeps going up and meeting the needs of the fans to see something spectacular.
ReplyDeleteIf however, this is a real interview of a man with this real opinion...then I am shocked. But usually when a person uses the term "fundamental" they usually aren't talking about anything I want to hear anyway (example of fundamentalists in religion comes to mind...). He needs to wake up. He probably wasn't a very good basketball player in high school and needs someone to blame.
I am willing to give this guy the benefit of the doubt (am I really doing that?) and say that he was being sincere. First to answer your question about fundamentals... the fundamentals of basketball are the one handed speed dribble and possibly the switching of the ball to the weak hand (note: I did not say "crossover"), the chest/bounce/overhead passes, layups, freethrows, and the set shot. Another important part of the fundamentals is the "triple threat" position that one is taught to line up in, so that he or she can either dribble, pass, or shoot.
ReplyDeleteNow think about what we see in the game of basketball today. Crossovers (sometimes through the legs), behind the back dribbles and passes, one handed passing, and alley-oops. Freethrow percentage has definitely dropped and the idea of a fadeaway jumpshot would give someone of his mindset and aneurysm. Yet all of these are present even at the high school level. Layups are now often replaced with high flying dunkers in the NBA (even high school, see McDonald's All American Dunk Contest).
He seems like one of the odd breed that wants to see the "purity" of the game preserved. However, black athleticism was infused after the wild and crazy ball handling Bob Cousy and "Pistol" Pete Marovich, both of whom were white. Jason Williams (the white one) is one of the flashiest and non-fundamental players the game has ever seen. I know that MIchael Jordan redefined the game, after Larry Bird (also white) and Erving "Magic" Johnson saved the NBA, and his game was far from fundamental, but is that bad? Maybe for the game, but not for the NBA. The NBA is a business. What puts people in the seats? I don't care if you can make the best layup of all time, but I want to see the 360 degree rotation in mid-air, followed by a thunderous dunk; and there are white guys in the dunk competition every now and then. The NBA is supposed to be the best players in the world, and it still is. The difference is that with the evolution of the game, that began with white players, has forced more modifications upon subsequent generations and redefined "talent." Now talent equals dollar signs.
So I say, let this man have his all white league, the best white players will still be going to the NBA. No one will grow up saying "I want to play in the all white league" because the American Dream is to play in the NBA and get paaiiidd (emphasis added). His league will fail, because of a lack of talent and showmanship and, more importantly, by how it will be interpreted (Kelly's response is spot on) the public.
I think that if in fact he was blaming black individuals for ruining the game of basketball that is completely absurd. This is simply racist because if is not only black players that play not fundamentally it is also the white, asian and other ethnic players as well, seeing that the NBA is actually quite divers.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if you know anything about basketball and the continually changing dynamic of the game talking about fundamentals is not so hard to wrap your mind around. Basketball has changed dramatically from the time is began. The development of new training tool, new supplements, and specialists in body development have change pro-athletes. There is a bread of player that never existed when basketball originated. The game today had changed from a complete non contact sport with no three point line to a totally different game; where refs let such things as traveling and contact slid and the three point line not only exist but has been pushed back due to the increasing ability of the players. Not only that but the media and societies need for excitement and high scoring games has changed the dynamic. This man is not wrong in saying the fundamentals of the game are being slashed.
However, it was in no way appropriate for an individual to blame this on a certain race. Also, it is in no way appropriate to suggest that creating a league that focuses on fundamentals would therefore not include african americans. Those statements are bluntly racist and I would have been uncomfortable viewing the program if that was the case.