Atlanta Hawks…Racism…Can We Stop This Mess?

p Apr 29, 2014; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media regarding the investigation involving Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling not pictured) at New York Hilton Midtown. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Breaking News to Pippen Ain’t Easy! It’s news that is sad and stupid to report. NBA racism exists. NBA racism is evidently very prevalent. NBA racism is not going anywhere for the foreseeable future. Let’s put this in perspective here. If the Ray Rice fiasco was not going on right now, the Bruce Levenson email scandal would be front and center as the biggest sports story going on right now. For those that missed it (with the Ray Rice situation, it is very possible), Bruce Levenson, the managing partner of the Atlanta Hawks will become the second owner behind Donald Sterling to sell his franchise over racially charged comments. In a situation that happens after the ink barely dries on the selling of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for two billion dollars, Levenson apologizes and announces intent to sell his controlling stake in the Atlanta Hawks based on an email sent back in 2012. The email laid out  his opinion (I’m being nice here) on the attendance problems and inability to attract “suburban whites” to Hawks games. Here’s something that’s “enlightening” that was pointed out in the Washington Post…

"“My theory is  that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a significant fan base,” Levenson wrote in the e-mail, which also claimed that the Hawks were attracting an “overwhelming black audience” and noted that “there are few fathers and sons at the  games.”"

Umm yeah. I have a theory too, Mr. Levenson. Here’s mine. The Atlanta Hawks have  attendance issues for a  reason. They STINK! Sure, the Hawks made the playoffs as a seventh seed and maybe they pushed the Indiana Pacers to seven games in the first round but the fact is… THE ATLANTA HAWKS COULD BORE YOU TO DEATH! The Atlanta Hawks haven’t been fun to watch since they traded Dominique Wilkins to the Clippers in the 90’s. Yeah, it’s been that long. To anyone reading this, can you name the starting five of the Atlanta Hawks? Can Bruce Levenson name the starting five of the Atlanta Hawks? The mere fact that the Hawks made the playoffs in the first place will tell you how bad the Eastern Conference was last year. It will tell you how bad  my New York Knicks were last year. The Hawks were still cleaning house after getting rid of Joe Johnson’s albatross of a contract and Josh Smith, whose presence brought a toxic atmosphere that turned the entire locker room into an albatross. The Hawks were a mediocre franchise that offered little to bring fans to the games. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year. I am probably not one of the “affluent blacks” that Levenson is talking about. I’m real sure that I’m not one of the “whites” that are allegedly scared away from the games. But I am pretty sure that both classes of people won’t clear their calendars to spend money on a team that finished 38-44 last year. Couple that with Al Horford their franchise player, going down with a season ending injury, where’s the incentive? To be totally honest in my opinion,  that squad that was out on the court last year was so mediocre, Levenson needs to glad SOMEONE even bothered to show up. Matching socks in a drawer was more exciting some nights than watching the Hawks. If that wasn’t bad enough, on Sunday night, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Danny Ferry, the Atlanta Hawks general manager would face discipline from the ownership  group for racially insensitive  comments about Luol Deng in a conference call when the Hawks pursued him as a free agent. Danny Ferry described Deng as someone who “has a little African in him.” You know what they say, “attitude reflects leadership.” Co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. wrote a letter to Bruce Levenson recommending that Danny Ferry either resign or be fired. In that said letter according to Fox Sports, Gearon Jr. further describes Ferry’s description of Luol Deng in a racially insensitive way. Ferry went on to say in a conference call to the ownership group mind you…

"“Not in a bad way, but he’s like a guy who would have a nice store out front and sell you counterfeit stuff out the back.”"

Gearon added in the letter that “Ferry completed the racial slur by describing Deng (and making implications of all players of African descent) as a two-faced liar and a cheat.” Did I mention that both of these guys played at Duke University at one time? After hearing how Luol Deng dealt with this situation shows how much class this man has. Now I’m really mad that the Chicago Bulls let him go. Deng deserves an NBA ambassador job right after he retires. Check out what he says here about Danny Ferry’s comments. He is now not just one of my favorite players, but people in the NBA.

"“Every person should have the right to be treated with respect and evaluated as an individual, rather than be reduced to a stereotype,” Deng said. “I am saddened and disappointed that this way of thinking still exists today. I am even more disturbed that it  was shared so freely in a business setting.”"

Boy, that Miami Heat deal looks so good right now. Now you see the difference between a team that makes the Finals four years in a row and another that gets a beatdown year after year. Like my father Walter Agers always told me…”Success always starts at the top.” Now here’s where it gets good. Danny Ferry keeps his gig. Here’s where karma can kick you in the butt. The investigation of Ferry’s comments is what uncovered Levenson’s  email that led to all of this mess. Now there’s a question that begs to be asked… What’s the difference? I bet that is what Donald Sterling is thinking as this story unfolds and what Mark Cuban was talking about when he called all of this a “slippery slope”. One thing about Mark Cuban. He might say things that are not popular, but he always makes sense. Cuban knew then that “Pandora’s Box” was being opened with the Sterling saga which really may not be over if the NBA is not careful. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who banned Sterling for life for his comments, is backing Danny Ferry. Check out the comments of Mr. Silver from Sam Amick of USA Today Sports:

"” The discipline of a team employee is typically determined by the team, and in this case the Hawks hired a prestigious Atlanta law firm to investigate the circumstances of Danny Ferry’s clearly inappropriate and unacceptable remarks,” Silver said. “In my view, those comments, taken alone, do not merit his losing his job.”"

This is bad. Real bad. Mr. Silver is going to blow up all of the goodwill that he built up over the last few months. QUICKLY! As bad as Sterling’s comments were (and they were bad) Ferry’s comments was worse. As stupid as Levenson’s comments were (and they were stupid) Ferry’s comments was worse. As a black man in this country, I know that racism exists. I have witnessed it and dealt with it personally. I really know how broad this subject is and this will be an issue for  the rest of my life. But for the NBA to put this saga to bed, there has to be clear and defined boundaries that will be followed to the letter. If not, this will be a subject that writers will be covering every six months. Trust me. All NBA fans, this is an important topic that needs to be discussed. Pippen Ain’t Easy welcomes your comments below. The more voices engaged to this conversation, the more we can all learn, myself included. This is an inflammatory subject. I ask that all parties refrain from attacking others for their views. The NBA cannot function without you. Let your voices be heard!