The Rotation is a weekly study on the NBA by one of our All-Star voices. In rotation this week is Tom Ziller.
Here's a fact: A vast swath of America thinks the NBA is a haven for thugs. A lot of people see black skin, jewelry, rap music, and tattoos and think of gun play and drug trades. Of course, the NBA's police blotter has been no worse than those for the other two major sports. And it isn't like the NFL doesn't have black people, or baseball players don't get tattoos. But the 'thug' label continues to stick to the NBA in a way it doesn't to any other league.
Few folks would dispute that this is a race issue and a culture issue, and fewer would suggest that such issues are easily solved. But there is one guy calling for these issues to take center stage: Barack Obama. And if elected, he could help save the NBA.
Here's why: After Obama's speech last Tuesday, Americans experienced one of those rare-as-Clippers-in-the-playoffs moments to discuss race issues -- in the media, at the water cooler, around the dinner table -- with something approaching civility. Sports fans haven't dealt with the issue in a big way since Jackie Robinson and Texas Western. Things have changed since the '60s, obviously. But racism is still around us. Heck, look at last year's Jazz-Warriors series. 
At the same time, the conversation is taboo for folks in the middle. That's a problem -- not only do we not want to talk about race because it's an inherently difficult subject, but we also avoid it because it tends to bring out the worst: people (commentators and commenters alike) who refuse to accept the reality that (in this case) the NBA as a whole is not a hornet's nest of criminal intention.
So, I'm going to try to follow the route Obama laid out in his speech. As the candidate indicated understanding for white frustration with affirmative action and P.C. puritanism, I'm going to allow that I can see how some viewers would be put off by "crying wolf King Kong" from the media.
And I can understand how a general fan can become extremely alienated when something like Carmelo Anthony's "stop snitching" ordeal comes to light. But I'd stress that if you can keep an open mind, young men like 'Melo often prove that their good deeds are much more relevant than a few seconds in a video.
I could (and do) complain that 'Melo's good works will never get the media air time that his videotaped mistake did, but everyone has the same complaint. If the route to harmony was everyone takes their own swipes at the media, we'd be there by now.
I also want to be clear that I don't see much point an extending an olive branch all the way over to a minority of racists. But these people are a minority. There is a "new NBA," and it may seem different to fans of Magic and Larry. I would not accuse them of being hateful if they don't like the style.
Latest NBA Photos
Seattle SuperSonics' Wally Szczerbiak dribbles the basketball in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies' in Seattle, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. Seattle defeated Memphis 108-101. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Seattle SuperSonics' Earl Watson, right, passes the ball as Memphis Grizzlies' Mike Conley, left, defends in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game with Seattle defeating Memphis 108-101 in Seattle, on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Derek Fisher, left, and Kobe Bryant smile as the Lakers defeat the Atlanta Hawks 122-93 in an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol sits on the bench against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 122-93. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant stands on the court with his pinkie finger taped to his ring finger while playing against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, in Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant has a torn ligament in his right pinkie finger. The Lakers won 122-93. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Kobe Bryant, and Jordan Farmar line up for an inbound pass against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 122-93. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol smiles as the Lakers go up by 40 points against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 122-93. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
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Atlanta Hawks' Josh Childress, left, is fouled by Los Angeles Lakers' Ronny Turiaf during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 122-93. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
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Atlanta Hawks' Mike Bibby, left, dribbles the ball down the court while being guarded by Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 122-93. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
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Seattle SuperSonics' Wally Szczerbiak shoots a three pointer late in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Seattle, on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. Seattle defeated Memphis 108-101. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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These are all reasons why, as an NBA fan, the specter of an Obama presidency feels reassuring. Simply put, this kind of discourse is more likely to continue -- and might actually get somewhere -- under President Obama. And that would help with the Association's more intractable problems.
Last week's speech -- and even more, the following news cycles -- showed this. Everyone heard Obama's words, at least in part, and (most of) the discussion was insightful, or at least not depressing (which is a big improvement). The NBA needs a discourse like this, both at the national level and within its own fan base; no order of Etan Thomas, unfortunately, can bring it about. It needs to be big, and it needs to be a part of something big.
This isn't to say the country's racial divide will be bridged in the next four (or eight) years under a President Obama, or that Commissioner Stern's work on this issue will ever be done. But talking about it and making people think about it, you could say, is half the battle. It's easy for someone to look at Caron Butler's tattoos or Chris Wilcox's hair and typecast. In a postracial America (or something close), that stereotypical standby is less of a presence, and some semblance of respect already given to shortstops and quarterbacks might offered to two-guards.
As a citizen, I suppose a potential boost for the NBA's image is not a reason to vote for a candidate. But as a fan, I know who and what I'm rooting for: that someday, maybe the casual sports fan -- every sports fan -- will look at David Eckstein and Allen Iverson and see the same thing: players.
Mapping the NBA gives Excel spreadsheets some balls.
The NBA is no bastion of liberalism; ideologies run the gamut from Ira Newble's imperial saviorism to Pat Riley's doctrine of brimstone. Here's a nonscientific judgment of the league's electability spectrum.
I'm not really sure what Mark Cuban believes, except in himself. But I watched The Benefactor, so I know his favorables are just about off the map. (He would pull two votes: One from himself, one he'll pay Clipper Darrell to make.)
Note from the editors: Keep it on topic (this topic), or your comment will be deleted. There are plenty of other places to discuss the campaigns in general; only specific discussion of the theories expressed within the column should occur here. Thanks.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. I like the points you've made, and think an additional post could be compiled that takes into account the massive amount of foreign born players currently playing basketball. Obama's mixed heritage and his formative years overseas parallel quite well with the NBA's attempts in recent years to bridge any racial divide. Basketball is rapidly becoming the world's second most popular sport, if it isn't there already. Countries from South America to Europe to Asia are producing elite world players. It's long past time the commentators on ESPN and such realized this and found world voices to comment on the sport, as well as emphasizing international leagues and tournaments. March Madness is fun, don't get me wrong, but World Basketball Championships also provide many chances to view future NBA all stars.
Posted at 4:37PM on Mar 25th 2008 by tdbrought
2. Thank you to whomever decided to delete the off-topic garbage. That's a much better solution than mine (i.e. not mentioning presidential candidates anymore), and once again proof why you guys make the big bucks!
Posted at 4:49PM on Mar 25th 2008 by August West
3. I was not aware the NBA need saving. Your article is 800 words too long, the association is breaking attendance records, and has a two billion dollar annual TV contract, i think it will do just fine. Everybody does not watch golf, yet it is still making millionaires every year. People need to stop being ludicrisp (per Mike Tyson).
Posted at 4:55PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Mindstop
4. I know and understand what you are trying to say but enough already, the sky is not falling.
Posted at 4:55PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Mindstop
5. Mindstop: I'd definitely agree that sky is not falling. I'd also tell you that I don't have a single white non-sportsblogging friend who cares about the NBA.
Monetarily, the Association is doing dandy, and will continue to do so as it goes abroad. But I do think it's kind of sad the way the league has receded in the mind of the general fan. I think that's part of what TZ is addressing here.
Posted at 6:06PM on Mar 25th 2008 by JCN
6. As one can expect, a number of the responses will attack this article...and why would anyone be surprised given we live in a world where 'attack' is the knee jerk reaction to most anything. It's almost as if our flight or fight impulse is stuck in 'on' mode. And when a topic such as this is presented, the voices of cynicism will speak loudly and often. there is clearly value in disagreement, and so to that end, those voices deserve to be heard. Believed, endorsed or succumbed to is a different question. so. thanks for bringing something that indicates that sports is OF this whole world and therefore is affected by it's connection with it, even while noting that there are those who would rather sweat and grunt about the inappropriateness of these topics.
Posted at 6:44PM on Mar 25th 2008 by g
7. The NBA is losing popularity because too many of the games SUCK. Who wants to watch a 79-75 clankfest?
Stern should demand that all teams play an exciting brand of basketball.
If people were so offended by thugs and gangstas, rap music wouldn't be the most popular form of music today!
Posted at 6:55PM on Mar 25th 2008 by nickstoli
8. Nick:
Respectfully asking permission to use "clankfest" in my next blog post.
Posted at 7:02PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Carolyn
9. I say Let's claean up the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball an dthe NFL also. They are all guilty of the same poor behavior, just different standards.
Posted at 8:18PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Dan Schwartz
10. Pardon the typo's.
I say let's clean up the NHL, NFL and MLB also....they are all guilty of the same poor behavior. Just different standards for different folks.
Posted at 8:21PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Dan Schwartz
11. My only question is why does it take something like a "President Obama" to get the discussion going? Simply put, too many on TV, on teams, on ad teams are AFRAID to discuss race. And why is that? Because if ANYONE says ANYTHING about race that in ANYWAY contradicts ANYTHING people like al "tawara" sharpton and jesse "love child" jackson say, then they take to the streets and brand those same ones who want to TALK about ...as racists and haters. If it takes electing a hard core liberal like Obama as president..then that shows how stupid Americans have become. Liberal (left wing) education, liberal (left wing) mind set equals sit there and let your betters take care of you. I dont think so.
Posted at 9:17PM on Mar 25th 2008 by S321Saint
12. Ziller are you paid per blog?
The NBA doesn't need Obama, what the NBA needs is not to guarantee contracts and not allow its players to force buyouts.
Posted at 10:49PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Lakergregg
13. Uh oh, something tells me PT TEITEL's comment isn't long for this thread LOL.
President Obama, after walking on water and turning water to wine, will have no problem fixing the NBA and everything else in the world that is broken.
Posted at 8:34AM on Mar 26th 2008 by Kustie the Klown
14. Obama has nothing to do with this. The black/white socio political dilemma does play into the question of the popularity of the NBA but it's influence is a lot more muted than the shrill voices would have you believe. The true problems are that like the man said "I WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED" And the NBA is too predictable. It problem is not that the general public is not interested. The fact that half the teams routinely play dead every season does not help.
What the NFL has going for it is parity, every team has a chance every Sunday and every Sunday we are all interested. MLB kind of has the same vibe going, every October yields some kind of surprise. But the salary cap has put a stranglehold on the NBA the lack of flexibility means that your team is forced to relive all their bad decisions for the duration of the contract. GM are not prognosticators, in the NFL you can dump the salary and take a one year cap hit. In MLB you can trade away your bad contracts, you might have to pay to watch your guy play for somebody else but at least it gives you a chance to start over.
In the NBA, you make bad decisions and your team sucks for six years. The end result of this that there are three grouping of teams. Teams over the cap and these are mostly mediocre teams waiting until they can make bail from purgatory, their fans don't care, they know their teams are only bidding time and similarly they (the fans) are occasionally looking to see if any progress has been made.
Teams under the cap, filled with rookies, expiring contract guys and journeymen, they suck, lose like 50 games a season and only serve to keep the local talk radio in business. Their fans are pissed off, rarely talk about the teams and would only watch a game if a Kobe shows up to dazzle the natives.
The third group are the contenders, they somehow managed their cap and their teams are all “probables” but even in this group there are only three or four a season that truly really have a fighting chance to make the championship game, and since you always know who these teams are at the start of the season where is the drama in that?
Today you can not say with any degree of confidence which teams will surprise next season in the NFL but I can tell you with one hundred percent certainties that the Sonics will suck next season, why should I watch?
Posted at 9:47AM on Mar 26th 2008 by Ghost Writer
15. Yes, and no. I like what you're getting at..but the NBA's problems are not simply a byproduct of unintentional racism. Yes, it is an issue..AI, Melo, Sheed...these guys resonate with a sect of the population that doesn't care about their talent, only what they interpret them to represent.
But also, consider..
It helps having major markets in it. I've plenty of friends and family that are Chicago Bulls fans. Their interest peaks when the team is good. If the New Orleans Hornets were the NY Knicks, people might take notice.
The league just hasn't been entertaining to novice fans in a while. But that's changing, slowly. No matter how spectacular of a season, people's alienation with the league isn't broken overnight. Water cooler banter, more approachable stars to a wider audience, higher quality ball, and more engaging teams help all help. But it doesn't happen overnight.
The NBA's biggest problem, though pertinent, is not racism..it's been the stylistic aspect of its product. Play entertaining ball, and people want to watch. Play like the game f'ing matters in March, and people want to watch, yknow.
Posted at 9:47AM on Mar 26th 2008 by david-w-evans
16. Is Ray Allen so high up in liberal electability just because he was in a Spike Lee movie?
Posted at 9:48AM on Mar 26th 2008 by Prestorockbottom
17. Where's Shane Battier?
Posted at 4:20PM on Mar 26th 2008 by MC Welk
18. I'm a 50+ white middleclass male. Exactly the sort of fan the NBA is purportedly losing. Perhaps I'm the exception. My dad and three brothers don't watch pro basketball. But then they never had much interest in it. I'm a Portland Trailblazer fan (about 19 years now) and became an NBA fan following Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, Bobby Dandridge and the Washington Bullets. I know a lot of people who are Blazer fans. Many of them lost interest during the "JailBlazer" era. It wasn't because they felt the team was a collection of thugs - the whole Jailblazer moniker was one of those stupid coments some media type comes up with that doesn't accurately describe the situation, but sounds good - it was because of the perceived lack of respect the players and more importantly, the organization, showed the fans. Believe me. The white guys in the suits were viewed just as responsible for what was wrong with the team. The players? I was and still am a Rasheed Wallace fan. But his "CTC" remark was one that showed a lack of respect for the fan. Still, that was not even in the same timezone as Bonzi Wells and his spitting on and flipping off the fans. I was a big Bonzi fan until the guy proved he was both a first class boor and about as stupid as he was conceited.
But now, it is once again good times as a Blazer fan. We have a GM who talks about culture and means it. Of course it helps that he's proving to be a boy genius and will probably be responsible for one of the greatest remakes of a franchise ever. We have a coach that not only was a well regarded player and an icon in his adopted home town ("Mr Sonic"), but was selected as one of the coaches of the US National team. I guy who believes in hard work, discipline and earning what you get. Best of all, we have a collection of players that truely like each other, believe in the concept of "team" and are about becoming better at their chosen profession and quietly creating and raising their families. Many of these guys actually want to set down roots here in Portland, recognizing that it is a wonderful place to live. This is a team the fans would support even if they weren't that good.
But in the end, the real reason fans are excited is because it now looks like we will be good and will be winning games. Lots of them. It's going to be great knowing our guys are lovable and the sort you'd invite home for dinner, but it will be the winning that generates the most excitement.
Give fans a winning team and issues of race will get pushed to the back of the closet. Give them a winning team made up of guys with good character and issues of race will be swept out of the closet and into the dust bin. It's my opinion that the NBA needs to step away from its promotion of "stars" and in it's place push the model exhibited by teams like San Antonio, Detroit, Utah and now Portland. Even teams like Boston and LA are going in that direction. Developing the sense of being a team. Boston's success is as much due to Pierce, Allen and Garnett subsuming their individual games for the betterment of a team game, as it is the level of talent they bring. Kobe Bryant learning to trust his teammates is a big part of LA's somewhat surprising success this season.
In other words, what the NBA needs to do is become a league full of teams that stress hard work, dedication, commitment, teamwork, discipline, character and a sense of belonging to the community they play in, and issues of popularity will disappear. Last time I checked, these are all concepts that are color blind. They are every bit as much black or brown or yellow as they are white.
Posted at 11:28AM on Mar 27th 2008 by Tim G
19. Interesting to hear about Tim G's cliched formula of discipline, character, blah, blah.
San Antonio, Detroit, Utah? How many of us would go out of our way to watch them?
Character can be defined in so many different ways.
Is there really only one type of character that contributes to success?
I just read this post that begs to differ a little. What do you think?
http://pondculture.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/is-it-possible-to-love-twelve-men-at-the-same-time/
Posted at 3:13PM on Mar 27th 2008 by EddieA
20. I see you fall in the group who believe that Obama is a blank slate that you can pin your hopes and dreams on. Didn't we first hear about him when he used to cross rivers with a single leap and had a blue ox?
The NBA commish clearly embraced hip-hop culture years back and now is receiving backlash from conservative audiences, but the ratings continue to surge upwards. You can't compare the NFL to NBA, because most players are hidden behind padding, helmets, and heavily regulated dress codes. Which is why the NBA adopted its controversial dress code a few years ago in an attempt to mimic the NFL.
So if America votes for Obama as the next President of the USA, nothing will change in the NBA. Props for thinking outside the box though.
Posted at 4:38PM on Mar 27th 2008 by mbyte84