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Jesse Jackson vs. Dan Gilbert: Battle Of The Phonies
The term "playing to the crowd" has been mentioned a lot in the last few days into regard to Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert's biting comments about LeBron James' free agent departure from Cleveland.
The people of the Cleveland-Akron area, where James was raised, feel scorned. Gilbert is saying what they want to hear. And loudly.
I think the harshness of Gilbert's comments were inappropriate, and certainly didn't portray Gilbert in a good light. That's especially true considering he was behind the recruiting of Michigan State coach Tom Izzo to the Cavs. Gilbert is an MSU alum - and it wasn't well received by other MSU alums.
However, I find it equally "playing to the crowd" when Jesse Jackson came out and injected the race card into the issue. Would Jackson have defended a white American or European NBA player if the circumstances were exactly the same? I doubt it.
Seems like Jackson is also "playing to the crowd" - and it is to gain favor among African American NBA players, who are wealthy and influential and make up the vast majority of the league.
That makes Jackson every bit as much a phony as Gilbert, in my opinion.
The people of the Cleveland-Akron area, where James was raised, feel scorned. Gilbert is saying what they want to hear. And loudly.
I think the harshness of Gilbert's comments were inappropriate, and certainly didn't portray Gilbert in a good light. That's especially true considering he was behind the recruiting of Michigan State coach Tom Izzo to the Cavs. Gilbert is an MSU alum - and it wasn't well received by other MSU alums.
However, I find it equally "playing to the crowd" when Jesse Jackson came out and injected the race card into the issue. Would Jackson have defended a white American or European NBA player if the circumstances were exactly the same? I doubt it.
Seems like Jackson is also "playing to the crowd" - and it is to gain favor among African American NBA players, who are wealthy and influential and make up the vast majority of the league.
That makes Jackson every bit as much a phony as Gilbert, in my opinion.
posted by Pat Caputo at
12:40 PM
6 Comments:
My God Pat that's the point! A White European would not have gone through 200 years plus of slavery that Lebron's ancestors did. And you as a white european; not even noticing this, makes you sound more than a bit racist.
Agree with you Pat
The race card has been used so often lately so carelessly and recklessly that it has lost all meaning.
It says as much or more about the person using it than it does about the accused.
Allan
Please, Mr Caputo, stop it. Everyone is tired of this crap.
Go onto something else.
Anonymous,
In my opinion, race had nothing to do with the issue. Also, racism is a horrible wrong - and so is pointing a finger at somebody being racist for merely disagreeing with their opinion. That says more about you than it will ever say about me.
Caputo
Allan,
In this case, it was crying fire when there was no fire.
Caputo
Anonymous,
I disgree. Very much on the mind of many people.
Caputo
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