Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:09 am
A new professional basketball league boasting rosters made up exclusively of white Americans has its eyes set on Augusta, but the team isn't receiving a warm welcome.
The All-American Basketball Alliance announced in a news release Sunday evening that it intends to start its inaugural season in June and hopes Augusta will be one of 12 cities with a team.
"Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league," the statement said.
Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver, who has publicly expressed his support for minor league teams in the past, said he would not do the same for this team.
"As a sports enthusiast, I have always supported bringing more sporting activities to Augusta," he said. "However, in this instance I could not support in good conscience bringing in a team that did not fit with the spirit of inclusiveness that I, along with many others, have worked so hard to foster in our city."
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Don "Moose" Lewis, the commissioner of the AABA, said the reasoning behind the league's roster restrictions is not racism.
"There's nothing hatred about what we're doing," he said. "I don't hate anyone of color. But people of white, American-born citizens are in the minority now. Here's a league for white players to play fundamental basketball, which they like."
Lewis said he wants to emphasize fundamental basketball instead of "street-ball" played by "people of color." He pointed out recent incidents in the NBA, including Gilbert Arenas' indefinite suspension after bringing guns into the Washington Wizards locker room, as examples of fans' dissatisfaction with the way current professional sports are run.
"Would you want to go to the game and worry about a player flipping you off or attacking you in the stands or grabbing their crotch?" he said. "That's the culture today, and in a free country we should have the right to move ourselves in a better direction."
The Atlanta-based league, which will operate as a single-entity owning all of its teams, is looking for local contacts to pay $10,000 to become a "licensee" in one of 12 cities throughout the Southeast. Lewis said he has already received threats from people opposed to the roster restrictions and several cities have told him to stay out of town. Lewis said he has yet to hear from any one in Augusta.
"We need a local person ingrained into the community to make this successful," he said.
Lewis said he expects to eventually find support in every town with a team.
"People will come out and support a product they can identify with. I'm the spoken minority right now, but if people will give us a chance, it'll work... The white game of basketball, which is essentially a fundamental game, works."
Lewis said he wasn't sure where the team will play.
Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:21 am
Don "Moose" Lewis, the commissioner of the AABA, said the reasoning behind the league's roster restrictions is not racism.
Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:29 am
benji wrote:Lewis said he wants to emphasize fundamental basketball instead of "street-ball" played by "people of color."
Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:56 am
Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:06 am
JaoSming wrote:locking this up since it's a racist topic
wait, this isn't OS
still what a stupid idea, this has lawsuit written all over it
Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:18 am
TheOriginalCandyMan wrote:JaoSming wrote:locking this up since it's a racist topic
wait, this isn't OS
still what a stupid idea, this has lawsuit written all over it
they probably won't get sued because they're white
Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:55 am
Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:58 pm
Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:12 pm
Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:17 pm
Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:18 pm
Only players that are natural born United States citizens
Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:19 pm
Pdub wrote:So, how many of us are trying out?
Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:40 pm
Oznogrd wrote:By minorities. White people are not allowed to exclude minorities from activities: thats racist...
Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:01 pm
Andrew wrote:Unfortunately Jae, we're also excluded:Only players that are natural born United States citizens
Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:05 pm
Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:52 pm
benji wrote:What part of ALL-AMERICAN Basketball League don't you outback wallabies understand?
USA! USA! USA! USA!
Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:59 pm
Fri Jan 22, 2010 5:13 am
Pdub wrote:So, how many of us are trying out?