Civil Rights Leader Thinks Timberwolves “White” Lineup Not Accidental
By Josh Hill
What are two things you should never, ever mix, Well besides Mentos and Coke, race and sports need to stay as far away from each other as humanly possible. But for some reason, the two have been mixing a lot lately and in all cases the premise of the racism involved is just outrageous. First we had the accusation that the criticism of Cam Newton is racially charged. That was squashed by Newton himself, but now we have something that would make even Stephen A. Smith blush.
A local civil rights leader in Minnesota is calling out the Minnesota Timberwolves, claiming that their lineup is designed to get old whitey back in the seats. In case you haven’t noticed (and we don’t blame you because, after all I mean it’s the Timberwolves) have a predominantly white lineup, and although the color of a guys skin has as much to do with the game as what kind of hot dogs are being sold at the vendors, Tyrone Terrell is saying it’s not a coincidence.
“I think everything is a strategy.” he said to the Star Tribune. “Nothing happens by happenstance.”
The sticking point for Terrell is that the Wolves will only have one black player in their starting lineup when the whole lineup is healthy. If Brandon Roy gets injured, there’s a real possibility that the Wolves could have an all white lineup.
Why is this an issue?
David Kahn, the Timberwolves team president said that he’s simply trying to find the best players he can and has found some potential studs in guys from Russia, Spain and Puerto Rico.
Even Brandon Roy, the supposed token black man on the team, sees no problem with what the Wolves are doing. Because, afterall it is 2012 people, not 1955.
“It’s just basketball,” Roy said in reply to the remarks of some in the community. “I never really had to feel like I’m the only black out here. I’ve played on teams that maybe had all black guys and the feeling is just the same when I’m out there on the floor playing with these guys. The only problem is in the weight room, arguing over what music we’re going to listen to.”
The fact that some are still trying to make race overshadow something we go to in order to escape such soul corroding issues, is just depressing. Race is such a hot button issue, and it’s best left away from things we lean on to get away from such things. Anyone trying to drag race into sports when it’s completely unwarranted, like the Cam Newton issue or this issue, is just trying to stoke coals that are best left simmering to ashes.
Perhaps the most asinine comment came from civil rights advocate Ron Edwards.
“I think, personally, that it is calculated. Is this an attempt to get fans back in the stands? Minnesota, after all, is a pretty white state.”
Let’s rememnice for a moment, Mr. Edwards, to a time when people actually cared about Timberwolves basketball. I seem to remember a man by the name of Kevin Garnett, a gigantic black man and a roster that included Sam Cassel and not too many light skinned fellows.
This story is just another example of race intruding awkwardly on sports, and it just needs to stop. I love sports, I hate politics so I’d prefer of the two mixed only when greedy white men rumble over their millions, at least I can just ignore that stupidity.