January 30, 2006

the whitest american hero

very strange article in the denver post today about how there aren’t that many white people playing in the nba anymore:

But the days of white American players reaching their NBA dreams appear to be vanishing. Quietly, the white American has become an endangered species in the NBA.

The last such NBA superstar was Boston’s Larry Bird, who retired after the 1991-92 season.

The last such all-NBA selection was Utah’s John Stockton, a third-team member in 1999.

Since 2001 there have been two such NBA all-stars, Brad Miller (2004) and Wally Szczerbiak (2002).

The Nuggets are on the verge of playing a complete season without a white American on their roster for the first time in franchise history.

On opening-day rosters this season, there were only 48 white Americans, excluding mixed-race players, less than two per team and down from 60 five years earlier.

“I knew we were a dying breed,” said Houston guard Jon Barry, a white American. “I wouldn’t know how to explain it.”


who gives a shit? is anyone still counting races and numbers? aren’t we past that already? the article does make a point that no one in the nba is really concerned about this:
Within the league, the dwindling number of white Americans is not a major concern. Executives either say it’s a non-issue or are so uncomfortable talking about it, they decline comment - as did Bird and Golden State Warriors vice president Chris Mullin, a five-time all-star.

“I don’t think it’s relevant,” Vandeweghe said. “We’re talking about basketball players. I don’t care if they are from China, Africa, Europe, the U.S.”

NBA commissioner David Stern agreed.

“I don’t think (race) matters a bit,” Stern said. “People ask me about having foreign players as opposed to American players. I give them the same answer. The question is: Is Dirk (Nowitzki) doing a good job? Is Tony (Parker) doing a good job? Is Yao (Ming) doing a good job for the home team? That’s what it’s about.”


however, it seems to be a big issue for the author, at least…
Anyone looking for the next Bird or West or Havlicek might have to wait a while. The highest-ranking white American in the scoring race this season is Szczerbiak, whose 19.9 average is 23rd in the league. Last season the highest was Kirk Hinrich of Chicago, at No. 40. No white American made a recent NBA list of the top 20 players in jersey sales.

One white American has won the NBA’s slam dunk contest - Brent Barry in 1996.

Mark Pope was the Nuggets’ last white American player. He got mop-up minutes in nine games last season and was cut during training camp last fall. The Nuggets opened the season with 11 African-Americans and four international players.


really, what the fuck? who cares? except for the denver post? somehow, you’re not surprised seeing as how they tried to lynch kobe out there.

this also illustrates how i’m afraid to live in colorado, despite the fact that it’s cheap and it’s great for snowboarding.

maybe it’s because i’m not a “white american”. is that like a “white russian”? but with budweiser?

Posted at January 30, 2006 4:25 PM
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