Your Black Sports: NBA Championship or Gold Medal?

By Steven A. Gilley
Stevengilley15@aol.com

The U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team recently defeated Spain 118-107 to win the gold medal and redeem themselves after an 8-year hiatus in the Olympic Games. While on their journey to Beijing, the players fielded many questions from reporters and after nearly giving NBA Commissioner David Stern a heart attack after suggesting that they would be willing to leave the NBA to play overseas, many players discussed the importance of winning a gold medal for their country.

Many notable players have publicly stated that winning a gold medal is bigger than winning a NBA championship. Kobe Bryant, a 3-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers said, “I think winning a gold medal is more important because you’re playing for your country. You're not playing for a region or a state or a brand. You are playing for the United States of America.”

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lebron James echoed his teammate saying, “It's the biggest thing for me ever,” said James. “I got to the NBA Finals, and I thought it was pretty big for me. But winning an NBA championship never would compare to winning a gold medal for my country.”

While the importance of representing your country goes without saying, the glory and life long dream of winning a NBA championship cannot be matched. There is a reason many players have opted not to play in the Olympics over the years and to rest and prepare for a tumultuous and rigorous 82-game season in preparation of competing for an NBA title. Competing in the NBA playoffs and attempting to win 16 games is more of an achievement than the winning the 5 games necessary to win the gold medal.

Many pundits make the argument that any individual can win a NBA title and only elite players get the chance to win a gold medal in the Olympics. While this is true, there is a reason Karl Malone went to play for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, even though he already has a gold medal when he was apart of the 1992 Dream Team. He knew that winning a ring was missing, despite his hall of fame status already established.

These players are merely being politically correct and making it their duty as role models to stress the importance of the Olympics, which has been forgotten and taken for granted over the years by the players in the U.S. Players take salary cuts, move across the country and diminish their roles in order to win titles. These are sacrifices that are made for winning a ring, in which most players dreamed of winning since they were children.

Your Black Power: Black Athletes in Beijing: Demanding Courage in an Age of Complacency

By: Tolu Olorunda

It was in 1968(many years before my birth) when Tommy Smith and John Carlos (two track and field athletes) stepped up into glory and history, with their display of the Black Power salute at the crowning ceremony of the 200 metres event. Tommy Smith and John Carlos were on a mission, and not even the fiery words of then-USOC President, Avery Brundage - "I don't think any of these 'boys' will be foolish enough to demonstrate at the Olympic Games" - could halt their cultural-momentum. They understood quite precisely, that Black bodies had played an historical role, as the sacrifice and offering often used to contain the indefatigable demands of European pride, prestige and angst. They were much-too-aware of the unnatural relationship between sports and society, and the political-lingo which athletic-competition speaks so fluently. Having endured the unsettling contradiction of being openly admired, but subjected to segregated facilities in their home country and abroad, Smith and Carlos felt indebted to the history and heritage that shaped them. It wasn't an exhibition, but rather an exercise; a revolutionary exercise that words could not justly articulate. They lived in America long enough to anticipate the subsequent ramifications. They had personally witnessed the gross and unjust decision to strip the Boxing Heavyweight of The World, Muhammad Ali, of his hard-earned title, as a result of his courageous refusal to be drafted and "quarrel" with Vietcongs who had 'never called him nigger.' Smith and Carlos were 'racing against a machine' that had repressed their innately political voice, and exploited their struggle for financial-empowerment. It was a time to send a clear signal of courage, hope, defiance, love, pride, sincerity and frustration. The resultant pain (ostracism, criminal surveillance, death threats, arson, loss of loved ones) and profit (community support, international recognition, the unmasking of white supremacy) would only be a further motivation to justify the timely call for a revolution of values within the American public. With the precedents set by Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Tommy Smith and John Carlos, one would imagine that Black activism within the athletic realm could only soar much higher, but in an age where complacency is the name of the game, many Black professional players are rather rich, than respected. Some of them have proven to be an unmitigable embarrassment to the struggle that procreated them.

Black activism in many areas of western life has been radically rebated and extinguished of its historical vigor. This was very much evidential, earlier this year, when a Golf Channel commentator joked about a possible lynching of Tiger Woods, and received a mere two-week suspension -- with Tiger calling it "a non-issue." In a day and time where the noose has made nearly 80 public appearances within the last one year, one would expect more from a dark-skinned Golfer, who inevitably swims in the river of prejudice - whether overt or covert - with each moment spent on the Golf Course. The surprise generated from his actions were largely unwarranted, as not much should have been expected from a man who openly expresses admiration for the Oil and Energy beast, Chevron, saying, "Chevron has a track record and a commitment to bettering the communities where they operate." The corporatization of Black athleticism is - without a doubt - the chief culprit in the muzzling of progressive voices within Professional Sports -- especially with regard to those dominated by Blacks or people of culture. The NBA is filled with brilliant and gifted athletes, and if given the opportunity, will speak eloquently about the tragedies that afflict those to whom no spotlight is granted.

LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar is a delight and disappointment in many ways. His skills are nearly unparalleled to none, and at a mere 23, his future seems to be anything but bleak. Nevertheless, the young man has never shied away from lending credence to big-name industries which have, on a continuous basis, burglarized the community from which he emerges. Perhaps naiveté and lust are the driving force behind this tragedy, but James has a track-record of pushing the limit on stupidity in an unprecedented way. In 2007, his then teammate, Ira Newble, drafted a petition to the Chinese Government, in condemnation of its participation in the Darfurian genocide. The petition was signed by all members of the Cavalier bench, with the exception of Damon Jones and LeBron James. Damon Jones, having signed a marketing-contract with the Chinese shoe-manufacturer, Li-Ning Sports, probably felt compelled to submerge his virtue and instead pursue his vice. LeBron James, joined-at-the-hip to a $90 million contract-deal with China-infested Nike, claimed to be ignorant of the issue at hand, and therefore unable to sign his name to any piece of data that isn't officially mandated by David Stern. Perhaps we should interrogate Prof. James on how knowledgeable he was, vis-à-vis the technicality of the NBA, before his soul was purchased at a premium price. As the Chicago-bred Emcee, Lupe Fiasco, once remarked, "Mama said beware of what the devil do/ Tell 'em that your soul's not for sale like the W's." Mr. James was also caught, last year, in a squabble with fellow ball player, Stephon Marbury. Marbury had just partnered with Steve & Barry's University Sportswear stores, to launch an affordable line of sneakers. The cheapest of the "Starbury" line was priced at $10 and averaged at $14.95. Stephon Marbury - in spite of his unpredictable past - was largely larded with praise and adulation for stepping outside of the corporate box, and presenting a different perspective to inner-city kids. Marbury spoke of growing up poor, and unable to afford the latest sneakers - which have been predominantly overpriced - as the prime-motivator for his remarkable initiative. When asked by reporters, as to whether he took delight in the exemplary work of the Starbury line, James replied foolishly, "No, I don't think so... Me being with Nike, we hold our standards high." LeBron James's comments reeked of unadulterated idiocy. One is forced to wonder where such impassioned statesmanship was, when Ira Newble was circulating that petition which could have put an end to the killing and mutilation of 400,000+ people who look like him. That testosterone-filled emotion seems to always come in handy, whenever his financial security is being threatened. The man who refused to sign a petition that delineated concern for the lives of everyday folks, was unrestrained in hollering, "Sit your ass down," at his loving mother who arose in defense of him at a playoffs game with the Boston Celtics. While I plead for some testicular-fortitude from our well-payed athletes, it must be made clear to Mr. James and his fellow star-athletes, that the Black community is not demanding anything in return, other than a worthy-exchange for the billions of dollars which young Black and Brown kids have dispensed and discharged into the corporate empires that made him and his counterparts instant millionaires.

With recent reports that document the efforts of certain Chinese "Public Security Bureau officials" to ban Black and Mongolians from bars, and several accounts of police brutality against Africans living in China, one can only hope that the progressive voices of professional athletes, such as Jessica Mendoza of Team Darfur, is not muted or muzzled. Ernie Paniccioli, the legendary Hip-Hop photographer and Human Rights activist, has called for "rallies, protests and a boycott of any products advertised during the Olympics and letters to the sponsors, letting them know Human Rights are more important than gold medals." Unfortunately, it remains unclear, as to how many athletes have the courage to carry on those 'non-marginal' tasks. One of such progressive athletes is Nia Abdallah, a 2004 Silver-Olympian Taekwondo fighter, who is speaking out against an unjust ruling that denied her the opportunity to fight in Beijing 2008. She believes - along with 90% of those who’ve watched the videotaped match - that she was robbed by corrupt judges who had been ordered to award the Olympic qualifying match to her opponent, Diana Lopez -- from the "Lopez family" aka "the first family of Taekwondo. Abdallah proclaims to be fighting against the injustice that corrupts the bulk of professional sports, and hinders fair-play within the region. She has garnered national and international support in her battle against the USOC, and hopes to rid the system of the back-door deals that purposefully swindled her -- in favor of establishing history and publicity with the victory of her opponent. With the resilience displayed by Abdallah, there seems to be a thread of hope worth hanging unto. But I'm also persuaded that the majority of big-name athletes are like politicians: Unwilling to fight without a push from a dissatisfied constituency. It is incumbent upon activists, sport-fans, progressive-athletes, historians and intellectuals, to harness whatever resources are available, in the demand for more courage in this age of complacency.

Black Sports News: Lebron James Thinks of Bouncing Out

By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports

 

LeBron James showed up in New York on Monday, part of a USA Basketball media function, and continued to bat his eyes at the city in the run up to his potential free agency in 2010.

When asked to name his favorite city he said: “New York.”

Favorite borough?

“Brooklyn,” James said. “Brooklyn is definitely a great place here in New York City, and some of my best friends are from Brooklyn, so I stick up for them.”

Brooklyn is where the New Jersey Nets are expected to move to in 2010 (at least if community groups don’t blow it). The franchise is owned, in part, by James’ friend Jay-Z, and should be stock full of young, complementary talent and a King’s ransom in salary cap room.

James knows all of this. His answers weren’t by accident or without meaning, no more than was wearing a New York baseball cap from an Indians-Yankees playoff game last fall just an expression of pinstriped-fandom.

This was just the latest, albeit most obvious, shot across the Cavaliers’ bow. James didn’t list Cleveland as one of his five favorite cities, although hometown Akron came in fifth behind Washington, Dallas and Los Angeles.

To say there is concern along the Cuyahoga River is to understate things. To say there is pressure on Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry and owner Dan Gilbert doesn’t begin to describe it.

Five years into James’ career and the franchise has yet to instill confidence in the 23-year-old that it knows what it’s doing. Forget his polite talk about the front office. It’s not James’ job to assemble the roster or publicly second guess new teammates (he’s a relentless cheerleader).

If James truly believed the Cavs were on the brink of winning a bunch of titles, he wouldn’t have a wandering eye.

LeBron doesn’t need New York to cash in as a media superstar or a marketing sensation – he’s making hundreds of millions in endorsements in Northeast Ohio. This is a different era and as big and bold as New York is, it isn’t the only place anymore. The guy signed a $105 million Nike deal out of an Akron high school, after all.

James does need New York, or the fear of New York, to motivate Gilbert and Ferry to surround him with a supporting cast capable of winning a championship.

If they can’t do that in the next two years, then he may need New York to fulfill his dream of a title.

Thus far the Cavs have looked like the same old bumbling franchise that had the enormous fortune of winning the 2003 lottery when an otherworldly talent from just down the road happened to be available.

Gilbert is from Michigan and was a huge fan and corporate partner of the Detroit Pistons. Since purchasing the Cavs in 2005, he’s brought all of the Pistons’ pregame pyrotechnics and goofy game presentations only with none of the franchise’s savvy personnel decisions.

 

Click to Read.

Tiger Woods Top Earning Athlete in America: Lebron and Mayweather on List Too

Tiger Woods was the top earning athlete in America, hauling in $128M last year. He was followed by another golfer, Phil Mickelson. Most of the athletes on the list were African-American, including Shaquille O'neal, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and others.

Most of the athletes who earned the top money reached that spot through celebrity endorsements. For example, of the $128M earned by Tiger Woods, only about $22M of that was earned by playing golf. Wow, now we understand why they are so politically castrated!

One can wonder if the days of a Muhammad Ali will ever come back, or Jim Brown, athletes who actually used their power for a cause. Not in this America, not anytime soon.

The rest of the list is here