Wednesday, May 24, 2006
This Day in American History
On this day in 1950, ‘Sweetwater’ (Nat) Clifton’s contract was purchased by the New York Knicks. Sweetwater played for the Harlem Globetrotters and was the first black player in the NBA.
Even a cursory glance at the two teams left in this season's NBA playoffs will tell you that the last 50 years have been nothing if not an ever widening gateway of opportunity for black Americans. The idea that this nation is in its soul racist is laughable. But what to do with a movement that has achieved all its goals. As Duke Ellington once said, but not about the NAACP, "Dis band should disband."
Even a cursory glance at the two teams left in this season's NBA playoffs will tell you that the last 50 years have been nothing if not an ever widening gateway of opportunity for black Americans. The idea that this nation is in its soul racist is laughable. But what to do with a movement that has achieved all its goals. As Duke Ellington once said, but not about the NAACP, "Dis band should disband."
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 8:09 AM 
Comments:
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Let me see if I got this straight- the fact that most of the men in the NBA are black leads to the conclusion that
racism is no longer a problem?
Roger, you are so middle-aged, you are so reactionary, and you are so WHITE. And I think you live on the moon.
racism is no longer a problem?
Roger, you are so middle-aged, you are so reactionary, and you are so WHITE. And I think you live on the moon.
# posted by 
: 4:49 PM
: 4:49 PM
By the way Roger, the last time I looked there were 4 teams left in the NBA playoffs, not two. Do you know something I don't know? Please share this insight so I can make a quick call to my bookmaker.
Also, have you made a cursury glance at the four teams left in the NHL playoffs. Does that tell you anything about the soul of America?
Also, have you made a cursury glance at the four teams left in the NHL playoffs. Does that tell you anything about the soul of America?
# posted by : 4:56 PM
: 4:56 PM
Sorry, I don't really like pro basketball so I was wrong--4 teams right now--and the fact that there were no black players before May 1950, plus the current rosters, I think does give you an idea about race and opportunity in America. There are also more blacks in the NHL than there used to be. Are you implying that good solid hockey players are kept out because of their race? Do you have the name of one? Could the relative lack of black hockey players be a result of a lack of interest? Possible? Likely? More likely than your knee jerk anti-American tendency to blackguard our country.
I am middle aged and I am white. I believe you are too. If you mean by reactionary that I automatically hate communism, guilty as charged. I don't think you mean it that way. Pot, kettle, black. You are stuck in the 60s while we've actually moved on and some of us can recognize a difference from the 50s and early 60s when blacks were discriminated against and had only a separate but unequal doorway of opportunity and now where they dominate some fields. Your statement about where I live is about as accurate as the rest of your comment. But keep trying, you waited a whole paragraph before going ad hominem this time. Progress?
I am middle aged and I am white. I believe you are too. If you mean by reactionary that I automatically hate communism, guilty as charged. I don't think you mean it that way. Pot, kettle, black. You are stuck in the 60s while we've actually moved on and some of us can recognize a difference from the 50s and early 60s when blacks were discriminated against and had only a separate but unequal doorway of opportunity and now where they dominate some fields. Your statement about where I live is about as accurate as the rest of your comment. But keep trying, you waited a whole paragraph before going ad hominem this time. Progress?
In my experience, it's more effective to play zone against Roger, but I will switch up occasionally and play a hominem.
# posted by : 9:14 AM
: 9:14 AM
Roger, not surprised you don't like the NBA considering your politics, but hey, just focus on Nash and Nowitski.
My point was that using the racial makeup of the NBA to reflect on the soul of the USA is as absurd as using the racial makeup of the NHL to do so. And yes, I understand that deep down, LaBron James always wanted to play hockey, but was prevented from doing so because of his race. He would have made a hell of a goal tender.
By reactionary I mean You're one of the ilk who have been running things for the last six years and now you can't clean up the gigantic mess that you've caused. I certainly don't mean to blackguard America, just Republicans. But keep up the good fight against the communists and don't ever let those ad hominems get married to one annother.
My point was that using the racial makeup of the NBA to reflect on the soul of the USA is as absurd as using the racial makeup of the NHL to do so. And yes, I understand that deep down, LaBron James always wanted to play hockey, but was prevented from doing so because of his race. He would have made a hell of a goal tender.
By reactionary I mean You're one of the ilk who have been running things for the last six years and now you can't clean up the gigantic mess that you've caused. I certainly don't mean to blackguard America, just Republicans. But keep up the good fight against the communists and don't ever let those ad hominems get married to one annother.
# posted by : 10:04 AM
: 10:04 AM
LaBron would be slow to the stick side, and unable to guarde the 5 whole adequately. What mess? You mean a hugely strong economy? Strong start in the decades long war against militant Islamicism? You can look at the near full glass and whine about not having the meniscus over the top, but it certainly doesn't make you happy to do so. Apparently nothing does.
I know the one thing you neo-cons cling to is the fact that the economy has not gone down the drain. But when I got my degree in economics, the one thing I remember being taught is that during a time of war and a time of brisk government spending, the economy can't help but expand. The trick is to pull this off without war and without running up a hugh dficit. Sort of like that guy did in the 90's. Oh well, whatever gets you through the night.
# posted by : 11:04 AM
: 11:04 AM
Roger,
Quit talking about the glasses or we will be compelled to have a discussion about the ones through which we look.
Let me remind you of a few things: runaway government spending, porous borders, an increasingly unpopular war which may require a miracle on ice (sorry I couldn't resist) to achieve its current goals, as opposed to the ones for which we were advised required the massive commitment of our national resources.
I feel like Michael Corleone talking to Carlo @ the end of the Godfather-- "But don't insult my intelligence."
Of course you are entitled to your beliefs and your vision of the world and I will defend to the death your right to have your opinions.
But don't tell me that this administration has achieved anything but a scintilla of what it could have w/o confessing it was Barzinni all along.
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Quit talking about the glasses or we will be compelled to have a discussion about the ones through which we look.
Let me remind you of a few things: runaway government spending, porous borders, an increasingly unpopular war which may require a miracle on ice (sorry I couldn't resist) to achieve its current goals, as opposed to the ones for which we were advised required the massive commitment of our national resources.
I feel like Michael Corleone talking to Carlo @ the end of the Godfather-- "But don't insult my intelligence."
Of course you are entitled to your beliefs and your vision of the world and I will defend to the death your right to have your opinions.
But don't tell me that this administration has achieved anything but a scintilla of what it could have w/o confessing it was Barzinni all along.
# posted by : 1:26 PM
: 1:26 PM << Home
