Kendrick Perkins, starting C for....New Zealand???

[FrDrake]

Apparently Perkins' father used to play in New Zealand pro league and they are interested in Kendrick playing for the national team.

That being said, what the heck are they thinking calling the team the New Zealand "Tall Blacks"?!?  Good lord.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/3953781/Perkins-will-never-play-for-NZ

[JoeRowe23]

Hey don't worry. From what I'm hearing, Perk's father says he only wants to rep the red, white and blue. Check it out.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/3953781/Perkins-will-never-play-for-NZ

[bowlingwarnie]

The lovely perk will have to deal with one of the guys he has the mostest trouble dealing with at NBA level let alone the International level, in his new back yard ??

ANDREW BOGUT

Go the Boomers

[KCattheStripe]

That being said, what the heck are they thinking calling the team the New Zealand "Tall Blacks"?!?  Good lord.

It's a reference to their famous rugby team "The All Blacks" who are so called because they wear all black. Not a racial thing at all.
http://www.allblacks.com/

[guava_wrench]

Perk will never play for them because he is never healthy enough. That is also the reason why he never goes to the Team USA camps.

[FrDrake]

That being said, what the heck are they thinking calling the team the New Zealand "Tall Blacks"?!?  Good lord.

It's a reference to their famous rugby team "The All Blacks" who are so called because they wear all black. Not a racial thing at all.
http://www.allblacks.com/

I don't know. Even if true, that logic is hardly very reassuring.  The "All Blacks" team sounds even more racist than the Tall Blacks team!  And we thought Americans were bad with teams like the Redskins.

[KCattheStripe]

That being said, what the heck are they thinking calling the team the New Zealand "Tall Blacks"?!?  Good lord.

It's a reference to their famous rugby team "The All Blacks" who are so called because they wear all black. Not a racial thing at all.
http://www.allblacks.com/

I don't know. Even if true, that logic is hardly very reassuring.  The "All Blacks" team sounds even more racist than the Tall Blacks team!  And we thought Americans were bad with teams like the Redskins.

Umm, they're called the All Blacks because they wear all black. That's be like saying the team name The Red Sox is a racist towards Native Americans.

[Neurotic Guy]

That being said, what the heck are they thinking calling the team the New Zealand "Tall Blacks"?!?  Good lord.

It's a reference to their famous rugby team "The All Blacks" who are so called because they wear all black. Not a racial thing at all.
http://www.allblacks.com/

I don't know. Even if true, that logic is hardly very reassuring.  The "All Blacks" team sounds even more racist than the Tall Blacks team!  And we thought Americans were bad with teams like the Redskins.

Umm, they're called the All Blacks because they wear all black. That's be like saying the team name The Red Sox is a racist towards Native Americans.

KCatthestripe is correct. However, it is understandable that the name would raise eyebrows (especially for Americans) in a way that 'Red Sox' wouldn't.  In a very American sport where many players are both tall and black it sure gives an immediate impression that the New Zealanders named the team with a stereotype.  Knowing that it is merely a uniform color based on the rugby team's uniform and monicker helps us to understand the benign intention, however, the mistaken assumption should be quickly forgiven. 

[KCattheStripe]

That being said, what the heck are they thinking calling the team the New Zealand "Tall Blacks"?!?  Good lord.

It's a reference to their famous rugby team "The All Blacks" who are so called because they wear all black. Not a racial thing at all.
http://www.allblacks.com/

I don't know. Even if true, that logic is hardly very reassuring.  The "All Blacks" team sounds even more racist than the Tall Blacks team!  And we thought Americans were bad with teams like the Redskins.

Umm, they're called the All Blacks because they wear all black. That's be like saying the team name The Red Sox is a racist towards Native Americans.

KCatthestripe is correct. However, it is understandable that the name would raise eyebrows (especially for Americans) in a way that 'Red Sox' wouldn't.  In a very American sport where many players are both tall and black it sure gives an immediate impression that the New Zealanders named the team with a stereotype.  Knowing that it is merely a uniform color based on the rugby team's uniform and monicker helps us to understand the benign intention, however, the mistaken assumption should be quickly forgiven. 

I forgive nothing! 

[bobdelt]

What's the world coming to when you can't say the word black anymore.

It's not like it's called whites only.

[hwangjini_1]

That being said, what the heck are they thinking calling the team the New Zealand "Tall Blacks"?!?  Good lord.

It's a reference to their famous rugby team "The All Blacks" who are so called because they wear all black. Not a racial thing at all.
http://www.allblacks.com/

You beat me to it. I have been to NZ and that is the reference for them.

By the way, NZ is a great place.

[ajgoodman]

Since when is it a crime to chuckle at the name "Tall Blacks?"  I'm laughing. Ha ha ha ha ha

[EDWARDO]

I'd like to see Perk do the Haka though!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqnimvUMCAk&feature=related

Don't think they'd do it ahead of the hoops games, but they do it before every rugby game.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

That being said, what the heck are they thinking calling the team the New Zealand "Tall Blacks"?!?  Good lord.

It's a reference to their famous rugby team "The All Blacks" who are so called because they wear all black. Not a racial thing at all.
http://www.allblacks.com/

I don't know. Even if true, that logic is hardly very reassuring.  The "All Blacks" team sounds even more racist than the Tall Blacks team!  And we thought Americans were bad with teams like the Redskins.

why is a word about a color all of a sudden racial..you can call a guy Whitey...and no one says nothing about it. America provides more EQUAL opportunity for all than anywhere in the world..some don't want real equal..equal means you get nothing special, only what your work  pays...like everyone else. I am color blind.....you are who you are, you represent you.

[footey]

To me the interesting thing about this story is that Perk's dad used to play pro ball down under. I had no idea. Wonder if Perk has ever been there.