Anti-Semitic Remark Gets Former NBA Player Suspended

is it wrong that I agree with him?

 

If someone told me I was cheap and greedy, I would be flattered.

 

dude,
read or watch the michael ray story. true he was a junkie, but he turned his life around and came back to the nba. dont be dissing on people who've made past mistakes.
http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/spears_marc/1599090.html

Sugar Ray makes sweet return to NBA
By Marc J. Spears
Special to ESPN.com

DENVER -- Former NBA great Micheal Ray Richardson has a message for the youth of Denver. It's a message the Denver native wished he could've heard himself years ago before he was kicked out of the NBA due to his extensive drug use.

"I speak about (my past) probably 75 percent of the time," said Richardson, the Denver Nuggets' new community ambassador, of his speeches to kids in Denver. "Most of the kids weren't born back when I played. What I try to explain to them is there is a better way in life outside of drugs and alcohol.

"There are going to be some kids who are going to experience it because it's out there. There's a limit to everything you do and you can't put yourself in that predicament."


Michael Ray Richardson, right, tells Denver youth that there's 'a better way in life outside of drugs.'
After starting a superstar career in the NBA, Richardson found himself in that predicament in the mid-1980s.

They called him "Sugar Ray" back then. He was a bigger-than-average point guard at the time, standing 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds. After playing collegiately at Montana, the New York Knicks drafted Richardson with the fourth pick overall in the 1978 NBA Draft and he was billed as "the next Walt Frazier." Two picks later, the Boston Celtics drafted Larry Bird.

During the 1979-80 season, Richardson became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both assists (10.1) and steals (3.23 ), setting Knicks franchise records in both categories. The four-time NBA All-Star reached his prime during the 1984-85 season when he averaged 20.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the New Jersey Nets. During his eight-year NBA career, the two-time NBA all-defensive team selection averaged 14.8 points, 7.0 assists and 5.3 rebounds.

"(Basketball enthusiasts) remember that I was the first big guard in the league," Richardson said. "I played both ends of the floor."

Richardson played hard off the floor, too. What began as recreational drug use turned into a full-blown addiction. Richardson's drug problems became so bad that David Stern made a decision that he called "the hardest thing I've ever had to do as commissioner." Stern banned Richardson from the NBA in 1986. Since then, Richardson said Stern has been a strong supporter of his and was happy to see him return to the NBA recently with Denver.

Following stops in the CBA and USBL, Richardson went to Europe to continue his basketball career. He said he had a chance to return to the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, but ended up staying overseas where he played 14 seasons in Italy, France and Croatia. More importantly, he also got sober thanks in large part to being overseas where he had a lot of idle time to think about his situation.

"When I first left and went over to Italy, during my first year I kind of missed it," said Richardson of the NBA. "Then, my second year I had a chance to play for the 76ers. But they only wanted to give me one year (on a contract) and I wanted two years. I was already 32 years old. I felt Micheal Ray would last a little longer if I stayed in Europe. It lasted a whole lot longer. I missed it, but I can say I was able to play in the NBA and be a successful basketball player.

“ Where I am in my life now, I feel blessed. When you look at Len Bias (a former Celtics draft pick who died from drug overdose), he didn't have a chance. For me to sit back and think about, 'What if?,' I just don't do that because even with what I went through I still played another 11 years of professional basketball. ”
— Michael Ray Richardson

"Where I am in my life now, I feel blessed. When you look at Len Bias (a former Celtics draft pick who died from drug overdose), he didn't have a chance. For me to sit back and think about, 'What if?,' I just don't do that because even with what I went through I still played another 11 years of professional basketball. Plus, I still have my good health."

Last year, Richardson bumped into Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe at a Euroleague basketball tournament in Bologna, Italy. It was then that Richardson's road back to the NBA began unfolding.

"I was telling (Vandeweghe) that I was thinking about moving back and I was looking for a job," Richardson said. "He told me to give him a call if I decided to come back. I came back on May 22 (to Denver) because my sister was getting married. When I was here, I gave him a phone call and he said he would make some calls to see if he could find something for me to do. He called me back and told me he wanted to give me a job, and I accepted it.

"For me, it's a great feeling. I've always been a fan of the (ABA) Denver Rockets when I was growing up. I always wanted to play for the Denver Nuggets, but I never had that opportunity because I was a (high) draft pick. Things just didn't happen. This here is a great opportunity and I've always wanted to be a part of the organization."

While Richardson will occasionally help the Nuggets' young players and possibly do some scouting overseas, his job is primarily focused on aiding Denver-area youth from following in the same footsteps that killed his potential Hall of Fame career. Since being hired earlier this summer, Richardson has made about 15 appearances to tell his story. And in that short time, "Sugar Ray" has learned that a lot of good can come out of a story about a fallen star.

"It's going real, real well," Richardson said. "It's going to be a lot bigger and more satisfying than I thought it would be. I'm getting a lot of positive feedback. I think I am already affecting lives. The kids I have spoken to are very excited. I am already beginning to reach out and touch a lot of people."

Marc J. Spears, who covers the NBA and Denver Nuggets for The Denver Post, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.

 

http://bnaijacob.org/adm/ExecDirector/EDirectorDec2005.php


Recently Theo Epstein’s name was in the paper. He had resigned as the Red Sox general manager. I got to wondering if he was Jewish. Epstein historically has been a Jewish name, and I assumed that “Theo” was short or a derivation of “Theodore”. Of course the perception is that there is not a likely link between Jews and professional sports - playing, coaching or owning teams. I did a quick on-line search and confirmed that he is Jewish. I pondered how many Jews actively take part in sports ownership, managing and as players? I found some interesting facts. Did you know that the commissioners of the four “major” sports are all Jewish: Paul Tagliabue, National Football league (NFL); Bud Selig, Major League Baseball (MLB); Gary Bettman, National Hockey League (NHL); and David Stern, National Basketball Association (NBA)?

It has been reported that in terms of sports ownership, eight and a half of the thirty two NFL teams (27%) are owned by Jews: Art Modell, Baltimore Ravens; Al Lerner, Cleveland Browns; Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons; Bob Kraft, New England Patriots; Al Davis, Oakland Raiders; Daniel Snyder, Washington Redskins, Malcolm Glazer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles and Robert Tisch, fifty percent owner of the New York Giants. Nine of thirty basketball teams (30%) have Jewish owners: Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks; Leslie Alexander, Houston Rockets; Micky Arison, Miami Heat; William Davidson, Detroit Pistons; Abe Pollin, Washington Wizards; Donald Sterling, Los Angeles Clippers; Herb Kohl, Milwaukee Bucks; Jerry Reinsdorf, Chicago Bulls; and Howard Schultz (also founded Starbuck’s), Seattle Supersonics.

Four of thirty baseball teams (13%) have Jewish owners: World Champion Chicago White Sox, Jerry Reinsdorf; Fred Wilpon, New York Mets; Stuart Sternberg, Tampa Bay Devil Rays; and Jamie McCourt, Los Angeles Dodgers. Two of thirty hockey teams (6%) have Jewish owners: Phoenix Coyotes, Steve Ellman; and Philadelphia Flyers, Ed Snider.

 

"dont be dissing on people who've made past mistakes. "

this is the best part of it...

on that note....time for a move to D&D....

 

Possibly...I won't lie and say I've had good experiences with Jews. Even though I've had bad experiences with Jews regarding money and business, I try not to let the stereotypes affect my personal relationships with a race or group of people.

 

The only reason he's suspended is because the J-man is bringing him down...

 

It's not just the commissioners and sports lawyers, but you can extend this to athlete representation too. Most of the biggest names amongst agents, Leigh Steinberg, David Falk, Arn Tellum are all Jewish. The biggest agency, SFX, is run by Jewish owners...

http://espn.go.com/columns/aldridge_david/1342031.html

It's not a misconception. It's pretty much a reality that Jews run the major sports leagues. Poor Richardson just needs to understand that SOME TRUTHS CANNOT BE SPOKEN... Though I personally don't understand what the big fuss is about... If some people were to insinuate that the Taiwanese run the IT industry, I wouldn't jump up and protest... I would be like... "DAMN STRAIGHT! YOU KNOW IT!"

 

If he said what he is quoted as saying, he hasn't turned his life around enough. OK...he is a former junkie. On the other hand, he is still a fool.

And don't try to tell me who I should and shouldn't "diss" on.

 

I'm not offended, however, I"m not jewish...Was it wrong, perhaps, maybe he could have chosen his words more carefully...

 

Pardon my poor English, but where did Richardson say or imply that? Don't go projecting now....

 

given the history of anti-semitism and the prejudices directed at them, i would say Sishir is 100% correct on his remark.

 

Charlie Ward said similar or worse things and I don't recall anything happening to him.

 

http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/010427/ward.shtml

Knicks' Ward upsets Jews
PETER EPHROSS
JewishTelegraphic Agency
NEW YORK - A New York Knicks basketball player has more to worry about than his team's current opponent in the NBA playoffs - despite his apology.

The American Jewish Congress is calling on Florida's secretary of state, Katherine Harris, to bench point guard Charlie Ward as the official spokesman for a state reading program after Ward was quoted in the April 22 edition of The New York Times Magazine as saying that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus.

In an article on the Knicks, Ward also was quoted as saying that Jews are persecuting Christians "every day."

Ward's "comments are hurtful and he needs to be responsible for them. The state needs to be responsible by not associating with him," said Jack Karako, the executive director of the AJCongress' Southeast region.

If Ward is allowed to continue in his role for the "Born to Read" program, it would be "as if the state is endorsing his comments," Karako added.

Harris has yet to respond to the call.

After he was publicly reprimanded by NBA Commissioner David Stern, Ward apologized in a statement released by the Knicks.

"I want to truly apologize to everybody who was offended by the New York Times Magazine story. I will say again that I would never condemn or criticize any group or religion," the statement said.

Ward also agreed to engage in a dialogue with Yechiel Eckstein, the founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, "in an effort to heal the wounds of the last few days."

After the initial comments were published, Ward told reporters that if they want to know the context for his statements, they should read the Bible. He added that his best friend - Jesus - is Jewish.

He then said that when he talked about Jews persecuting Christians, he was referring to Jews who denounce family members who convert to Christianity.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center has invited the entire Knicks team to visit the Nazi-hunting group's Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. The center is awaiting a response.

 

Umm, Jesus may have been a Jew but Jews were still responsible for his death. I'm not seeing the issue here.

Has anybody ever noticed how in movies and tv shows Jewish mothers always freak out about their child marrying someone who isn't Jewish? I realize its only entertainment, but it seems to stick as a stereotype.

 

Yes, people do get offended with "good" stereotypes. They can quickly become bad ones.

Imagine being the one Jew who's horrible with money, The Asian kid who didn't get into an Ivy or make straight A's, or the Black guy with a tiny penis who can't play any sport know to man.

Point blank stereotypes sucks because they never apply to everybody and in reality they rarely apply to most of a population.