Is it just me or does the NBA seem to be getting Whiter lately?

[indeedproceed]

I will agree to disagree with you IP. I happen to think that the more we segregate people into groups, whether through good intentions or bad, the worse we become as a group. The more opportunity you give to the group to segregate into smaller groups the higher the chance that bad things will come of it.

I like NBA players because of their game, because of who they play for, because of how they comport themselves on and off the court. Their color or race makes no difference to me. I guess if I grew up in an all white area of the country I might feel different. But I'm really glad I don't.

Maybe I'm confused, but how exactly are you describing segregation?

You mean discussing or acknowledging race in any way?

I understand that segregation in terms of daily life is bad. I have no illusions on that. But within the confines of a conversation, which started with the basic question 'are there more white american nba players now?', where exactly is the segregation.

Maybe I just don't understand the term like I should.

[Chris]

I will agree to disagree with you IP. I happen to think that the more we segregate people into groups, whether through good intentions or bad, the worse we become as a group. The more opportunity you give to the group to segregate into smaller groups the higher the chance that bad things will come of it.

I like NBA players because of their game, because of who they play for, because of how they comport themselves on and off the court. Their color or race makes no difference to me. I guess if I grew up in an all white area of the country I might feel different. But I'm really glad I don't.

I really doubt it actually matters to anyone here.  That doesn't mean its not fascinating.  One of my biggest frustrations with this country is that things such as race have become such taboos to discuss.  I think this is a disservice, because from a socialogical view, there is a ton to discuss, and none of it has to do with anyone being racist.  

I do think it is interesting that there seems to be a resurgence of high level, white, American, basketball players over the last few years.  I think they had all but disappeared for a couple generations of players, but now they seem to be back, and I am curious whether it is just an anomaly, or whether there are reasons why.

My guess is, if there really is a change, there are some interesting reasons why, having to do with the marketing of basketball to kids (to get more of the great white athletes to play basketball over other sports), and other such things.  And I think discussing these things isn't a bad thing, if they are done in the correct context.

[celticmaestro]

Oh. THAT'S why the Lakers suck this year...

[PosImpos]

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but Adande had a take on this issue on ESPN.com the other day (regarding the whiteness of the Lakers).

[nickagneta]

The more opportunity you give to the group to segregate into smaller groups the higher the chance that bad things will come of it.

Oh. THAT'S why the Lakers suck this year...

See what I mean...

[indeedproceed]

The more opportunity you give to the group to segregate into smaller groups the higher the chance that bad things will come of it.

Oh. THAT'S why the Lakers suck this year...

See what I mean...

Ha, yeah. Someone tells a really bad joke without reading the thread at all to get a cheap laugh. Call the presses.

Although if he would've read the thread...

Pre-Warning (meaning no one has done this yet):  Please do not go on a racial tangent make bad racial jokes that will force the thread to be locked. 

If anything has ever qualified as a 'bad racial joke' I think that one does. We've also gone on a pretty extensive racial tangent that I pretty much made happen.

Looks like we've run the course of this thread. No, likely there are not more white American players, but there do seem to be more talented white American players. Question answered, Locked.

[Roy H.]

IP already locked the thread, but I think it's time we go back to enforcing some of our rules:

Disparaging comments, stereotypes, or generalizations made in relation to another’s race, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual preference are not permitted.

It is neither necessary nor appropriate to reference a player's race when commenting on that player's play or role.

There is very, very little good that comes from singling out players by their race, and whatever interesting conversation there may be is drowned out by inanity or worse.  Over the last couple weeks or so, we've seemingly relaxed this rule (Oh, look!  A white center!  What an anachronistic oddity!), but I think we need to go back to a bright line rule about this stuff.

No singling out players by race.  No racial nicknames.  None of it.  It's just divisive nonsense.  While this thread and articles on the front page didn't completely devolve into flame wars, they didn't add anything particularly insightful, and they *did* include stereotyping, fun games like "let's label Player X's race", a lot of fans expressing disappointment in the blog, and just a whole lot of stuff that is irrelevant to the play we see on the floor. No offense to any of the authors or commenters, but it's just not worth the hassle. (And that's all I have to say about that.)