David Stern recently told ESPN columnist Bill Simmons that his biggest regret had been the failure to properly build success in Vancouver when the league expanded there in the 1990s. That admission allowed some good discourse on what happen in B.C. -- the consensus has been that it simply came down to players and the lacking of any sort of winning culture. But there are also outliers, like Mark Hasiuk, a columnist with the Vancouver Courier. He takes the chatter about the old Grizzlies to get in a few tried and tested rips on the league.The NBA is America at its worst. The once proud league, which peaked 20 years ago during the Bird/Magic/Jordan era, has morphed into a reality TV show, where money and image trump teamwork and athletic achievement. Players like Allen Iverson--perhaps the greatest basketball talent of his generation--spend more energy producing sneaker commercials than winning basketball games. NBA players wear saggy shorts, roll in posses and cuss on camera. [...]Hasiuk (who is white) goes out of his way to blame Stern and the owners for the problems, and even absolves perennial bogeyman "hip hop culture" from blame by asserting that hip hop died in the '70s. (?!) But every single scarecrow the anti-NBA hordes have presented for a decade now show up here: A.I, posses, saggy shorts. Come one, where are the Cadillacs and cornrows? You've got half of the dog-whistle racial indicators, why not go full bore?
To be fair, the NBA, like other professional sports leagues, is a business. And it's not responsible for the endemic problems of black America. But considering basketball's influence on black popular culture, the NBA has a responsibility to produce a "positive" product, not the ghetto garbage we see today.
The views aren't surprising: an ESPN-commissioned poll from early 2008 found that 50% of general sports fans felt that "it's a shame what is happening to the NBA" versus much smaller numbers for other leagues, including the NFL. The NBA doesn't have more or worse criminals than the NFL or MLB. But we almost expect the common American to maintain unsettled, possibly racist views of young, rich, black men. It's incredibly sad, discouraging and depressing. But it exists, and we'd be foolish to ignore it.
Whatever Hasiuk's impetus -- bitterness over the failed Vancouver franchise, hockey triumphalism, racism, ignorance -- there's no excuse for pure trash like this. Hasiuk and the Courier should be ashamed.
(Thanks to FanHouse reader Andrea for the heads up.)
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nice piece Tom.
I'm not sure which Allen Iverson this clown is watching considering he plays as hard as ANY player in the NBA. The league has jumped leaps and bounds in the past couple of years in terms of talent and general quality of play. It's a shame this fraud Hasiuk refuses to take notice. The article deserves to be called out, but I'm sorry this stiff is getting any recognition.
Ummm.... Did you read the whole article or just selected lines like the ones you quoted? It's about how the white owners are exploiting young ignorant black men and not caring about the consequences.
I agree with a lot of the article. The problem with the NBA is that they promote players instead of teams. It is always "watch Dwight Howard and the Magic." Or "It's Kobe vs. LeBron." So what happens is that the fans think, "Why would I go see the Bulls play the Bucks? They don't have any superstars."
"Ummm.... Did you read the whole article or just selected lines like the ones you quoted? It's about how the white owners are exploiting young ignorant black men and not caring about the consequences."
here we go with the stereotypes once again.."ignorant black men"
you would be amazed at the fact there are lots of "young black men" in the NBA who are clever and who know what's going on in the world.
Some of those comments I'm reading should say more about you guys than the NBA itself. What a bunch of hypocrites. You are the same people who trashes the NBA as soon as a no-name bench player gets in trouble for saying something stupid, but when a football player gets arrested for doing something terrible you guys are like "no big deal". Makes sense!
Hasiuk has it right on ... and don't just look at the antics of the players, look simply at the players and the fans themselves ... players tattooed up like billboards, fans actually from the hood (recall the "all star game" (doesn't deserved to be capitalized) in Las vegas a few years back ... gangbangers, riots, and the general ghetto human filth that the NBA has come to symbolize).
obviously you are as ignorant as Hasiuk. You are absolutely clueless. What's wrong with players tattooed? I don't like tattooes but I don't mind them. Plus, are you really that naive to think NBA players are the only people to sport tattooes, really? I'm quite sure NFL players aren't much different under this point of view. It's just you don't see them since they are covered with several accessories and, unlike basketball players, fans aren't so close to the court (field, in this case). Or just look at soccer superstar David Beckham. He has tattooes all over his arms. But I don't see anyone complaning about it. And today's NBA, whether you realize it or not, is filled with young classy guys. Anyone who watches it knows what I'm talking about, but obviously Peter and the other bigots who agree with Hasek are too busy to realize it and are resorting to the same old stereotypes NBA haters use. Your gangbangers, riots etc. comments just show how sad of a person you are, Peter. And you should be ashamed of yourself.
As far as the All Star Game in Las Vegas, stop bashing NBA fans. The biggest troublemaker of the weekend was Pacman Jones, an NFL player. And that was the only time something bad happened during the all-star weekend. May I remind you that last year's all-star weekend in New Orleans was a success? Nothing bad happened, the NBA helped the city and had the biggest community effort in pro sports history (and it was the biggest community effort since Katrina hit). In fact, New Orleans officials said they would love to host another all-star game and everyone was pleased with the NBA. And as far as calling NBA fans "from the hoods", you should be ashamed of yourself. I love the NBA and I'm not from the hoods. I'm from the suburbs and I'm white. Same all of my friends who watch the NBA. Same all the people I know on NBA message boards, blogs etc. All of them are regular people, exactly like you. Or just look at NBA games. I don't see "thugs fans" in the stands. I see regular folks, families, kids, young people in general and, yes, even old people. Regular folks. So, watch out your mouth. I take offense to your comment about us NBA fans being thugs. LEARN SOME EDUCATION INSTEAD OF DISPLAYING YOUR IGNORANCE, STEREOTYPES, PETER. You are exactly what's wrong with this society and the sad thing is that you don't realize it. Not only that, you try to blame the NBA for those problems. Nice try. But it doesn't work like that.
why do you watch ...i'm sure there is skateboarding on somewhere
"But we almost expect the common American to maintain unsettled, possibly racist views of young, rich, black men."
It has absolutely nothing to do with whether these young men are "rich or black." The sentiment expressed woud be valid - and true - if they were purple and green or middle class or poor. Don't play the racial card so easily. It has to do with the way that specific individiuals act and have acted and how such actions are perceived or accepted by society at large. Society can only accept so much abberation before a reactions such as this surface. Do not take them out of perspective simply because they are written by someone from the 4th estate. They are simply one man's view. The fact that the NBA is not popular in BC, is and ought to be taken as a referendum on how the players on the home team and those who visit are seen by the fans and public who are asked to pay to watch them.
It's something for the venerable and long incompetent commissioner Stern to sit and think about for a long long time. In these present and future difficult economic times, it will be increasingly difficult for the league to ask working men and women to pay top dollar to watch people with a wild life style and questionable worth ethic - they are, after all, playing a game - provide "entertainent" when their life styles too frequently repudiate hard work. WE/they essentially say to the players - you can life your life that way if you want to. It's still thankfully a free country. I just elect not to pay to watch you.
obviously you are another case of people basing his opinion on stereotypes. You don't watch the NBA, therefore you can't know what you're talking about. Repudiate hard-work? Did you even watch the Olympics basketball tournament? Looks to me Team USA showed how much hard they worked. And you have no idea how hard NBA players work. You have absolutely no idea. Now the league is filled with classy young guys who work hard and are really passionate about the game, such as Chris Paul, Brandon Roy, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and countless others. Those players work hard and that's not even debatable.
You aren't paying attention and that's your loss. But yeah, go ahead and keep basing your opinion on stereotypes. You are clueless when it comes to the NBA and you just prove my point: people who trash today's NBA aren't paying attention. ESPN's Bill Simmons said the same thing few months ago.
society at large does not even understand or even know the lives in which these young black athletes were thrust on in the past anyway. who gives a shit if they dont accept it. they dont even know what happens in the hood. hasiuk has never even grown up in the hood wth does an uptight white man in the suburbs know about the hood anyway? studying it is one thing living it is another as a wise man once said "in order to understand a person, you need to walk a mile in his shoes" not "these ghetto guys have ruined the league they need to stop being themselves"
Professional sports has become heart-less and soul-less. It's ALL about the Benjamins.The NBA in particular has become an un-watchable joke. America's obsession with money and celebrity is nauseating. At least the NFL has a few people who care about their community. Can't say the same for the owners.
And doesn't the NBA has people who care about the community as well? The NBA and its teams are doing A LOT in the community and almost every NBA player has a foundation and is involved in the community. For instance, this week the NBA's Pistons visited hospitals, opened a new reading and learning center and gave out food to thousands of needy families and homeless. But every NBA team is doing the same thing. Check out ESPN. They are running lots of articles about the great job NBA teams/players are doing in the community.
Lawrence is just one more example of people who use the same old stereotypes when it comes to the NBA. Also, funny how you defend the NFL..I have nothing against it, but even a blind person would see that, unlike the NBA, almost every week a football player gets arrested. The same thing does NOT happen in the NBA.
The NBA can't win..now can it?
Okay buddy. Chill. I can have an opinion about the state of the perception of NBA players. I live and breathe the Portland Trailblazers. Now if you think I am not entitled to my view of some players being a little bad for a community then you are not as well informed as you let on. Dog fighting, Hoop Family, Tin Foil, Yellow Hummers smelling like a Dead show, Drag Racing Escalades, Drug Searches, Rape Charges, Profane and Racist language directed at the coach during meetings, etc...Now, I know what these guys looked like, how they acted, who they hung out with and I may be generalizing, but when I see them on other teams or players looking/acting/hanging the same way...I have a pretty good idea what's going on and who I'm dealing with. Got it? Not rocket science, just my (rather educated) OPINION.
I hate the NBA, but that article was still pretty silly and borderline racist. My disdain for the league has everything to do with it's soulless presentation, blaring PA announcers, and incompetent WWE-like officiating and nothing to do with baggy shorts and tattoos.
In fact, this so-called "ghetto trash" culture is about the only thing in the NBA that is genuine!
This guy Hasiuk gives us NBA-haters a bad name.
Hey, Andy. Who died and elected you Pope? Who decided that your view and only your view is right, and the the rest of us - i.e., anyone who has a view differentfrom yours - are wrong? Somebody doesn't have to watch NBA games to observe teh conduct of teh league's players. No one says some guys don't have a work ethic. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day however, and the guys who do are not the guys who don't. Which group do you think the public notices?
It's the guys who garner the news clips for vegas styling that get noticed. If you stopped emoting and started thinking for a minute, you'd realize that is what guys like the Vancouver columnist and I are saying that reflect the league's "Image" - not what goes on in some practice court ("Practice!? Practice?!" - - who said that?)
ITS FUNNY HOW WHEN THERE IS AN OPININ OUT THERE THAT ARE SIDE GETS CALLED RACIST BUT IF THERE SIDE GETS CALLED WRONG THEN THEY WILL CALL US RACIST BUT IN FACT THEY ARE THE RACIST
TALK A BOUT A DOUBLE STANDARD (MORE OF THE SAME I CAN EXPECT IN AMERICA NOW, SAD WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT BUT YOU DONT OR ELSE SOMEONE CALLS YOU A RACIST
People that use all caps are usually racist.
BY THINKING IM A RACIST YOUVE SHOWN YOURSELF TO BE A PREJUDICE AND FOR THE RECORD I JUST STARTED POSTING SO A QUARTER OF MY POSTS ARE TO YOU SO THERE (BUT GLAD TO SEE THE OTHER SIDE US E BIG BROTHER TACTICS TO TRY AND SCARE OTHER PEOPLE AWAY)
BY THE WAY IM NOT RACIST SO MAYBE NEXT TIME YOU THINK ABOUT A RACIST YOU SHOULD GO AND SEE IN THE MIRROR
It's interesting to click on profiles and see who only comments on racial matters...
Who the hell are you people talking about? Who exactly are you guys calling "thugs"? You have a sterteotypical perception and are using it to justify this guy's views. Look, if the NBA was really filled with "gangsta thugs" you would be naming names. You're not, you're just using this societal perception that the NBA is filled with trouble-makers and restating it. That is not a defense of your position that is a defense of stereotypes.
What has AI done but work hard, he plays almost the entire game every night, he is one of the hardest workers of all time on the court. He scores prodigiously despite being tiny and light? Do you think that is some magical gift that was given to him? Or do you think he spent years working on, perhaps, the most beautiful cross-over the game has ever seen.
The biggest (bad) story in the NBA this year has been Star-bury, he hasn't shot anyone, gotten arrested for drugs, used steroids, etc. etc. All of things that happen weekly in the NFL, NHL, and MLB, if it were an NFL player who had complained about getting relegated to the bench, no one would have cared. Hell no one has cared.
For the love of god running and biking have had more drug stories than the NBA!! But the difference is the perception that these are "nice kids". While the perception of the NBA is that they are "thugs". Based on absolutely nothing aside from the fact that NBA players are tattooed and "don't care about the game". Find me a player in the NBA who doesn't care about the game, and is all about the spectacle.
Find him, seriously. The commitment to defense netted the Celtics a championship. Before that the team play of the Pistons. D. Wade and perhaps the greatest performance in the Finals by a player ever. Don't want to look at champions? Than how about Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon? Brandon Roy quietly working towards star-dom. Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. Bilups and Carmelo Anthony (and a record-breaking quarter). Deron Williams and Boozer remaking Stockton and the Mailman. Chris Paul redefining the point guard position. LBJ and the Cavs dicing up the conference. Kevin Durant, Bynum, Gasol, Kobe the defensive machine?!?
For every person you can't find I will throw TO at you. Throw you Chad Johnson. How about Sean Avery for breaking tam chemistry? All about the money? Tex. CC Sabathia. Alex Rodriguez. Johnny Damon. Derek Jeter. Drugs? Clemens. Rondell Biggs. That Ole Miss coach: drug dealer. WWE: Mike Bell. The Vikings Williams (oh yea the diurectics were really because of?)
Not to mention the partnerships with the Boys and Girl's clubs. The NBA players (depite the fact that they only play 5 at a time, compared to every other sport) have more sponsored foundations than any... other... league... Who gives back? You tell me the league is dead, and I'll tell you why, because of these stereotypical views that you are purpetuating with this article and your comments.
The NBA is the beautiful game. If you can't see that, you need to life the veil from your eyes.
Review my previous post. My only gripes yours are with Kobe in Cordillera, Colorado thing, the (really not that big of a deal) Carmello and his DUI at speed last year and Bynum with a birthday cake (google it). Starbury is a philanthropist, but a typical "just gotta get that money" jerk. He has done what most of us would have done, but by not doing our jobs when called upon, he still gets the golden parachute whilst we would be fired. Brandon Roy is articulate, hard working and a solid guy (had a baby out of wedlock with his fiance, but he's hardly Shawn Kemp or half of this nations high school drop outs, so forgiveness is merited). I stand by my previous statement however for the rest of your post.