Comments on: Friday Fire: Why Is USA Basketball Being Asked to Speak Out On Darfur? http://thestartingfive.net/2008/08/15/friday-fire-why-is-usa-basketball-being-asked-to-speak-out-on-darfur/ Bangin’ and Scorin’ Every Trip Down the Floor Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:45:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: michelle http://thestartingfive.net/2008/08/15/friday-fire-why-is-usa-basketball-being-asked-to-speak-out-on-darfur/#comment-15482 michelle Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:47:21 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=1370#comment-15482 Kawaku, Your kidding me right? Take that BS out of here. Katrina victims? Oh they were taken care of real well. Racist ass! Kawaku,

Your kidding me right? Take that BS out of here. Katrina victims? Oh they were taken care of real well. Racist ass!

]]> By: Andy Coon http://thestartingfive.net/2008/08/15/friday-fire-why-is-usa-basketball-being-asked-to-speak-out-on-darfur/#comment-15475 Andy Coon Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:22:11 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=1370#comment-15475 They shouldn't speak out in fear of losing everything they have... which is what exactly? Money and fame. How much is enough. An athlete that speaks his mind for peace and human justice should never fear of any backlash. If anyone, Kobe understands how doing the wrong thing effects you financially. So why not be a true Redeem team and speak up about the host country's treatment of Tibet and the carnage in Sudan. The world is watching and is applauding the play of these great athletes. Why not take a bow on the outside and stand up for fans all over the world. They shouldn’t speak out in fear of losing everything they have… which is what exactly? Money and fame. How much is enough. An athlete that speaks his mind for peace and human justice should never fear of any backlash. If anyone, Kobe understands how doing the wrong thing effects you financially.

So why not be a true Redeem team and speak up about the host country’s treatment of Tibet and the carnage in Sudan. The world is watching and is applauding the play of these great athletes. Why not take a bow on the outside and stand up for fans all over the world.

]]> By: Kwaku http://thestartingfive.net/2008/08/15/friday-fire-why-is-usa-basketball-being-asked-to-speak-out-on-darfur/#comment-14852 Kwaku Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:42:28 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=1370#comment-14852 You ever hear about black American athletes being concerned about starving Romanian children back in the 90s? Or direct their benevolence to today's impoverished people of El Salvador or Guatemala? No? That's because all of their generosity is directed toward Africa (or in rare cases black Americans, such as Katrina victims). Couple that with the fact that most of these professional basketball players are black, and you've got one big DUH in response to your rhetorical question. You ever hear about black American athletes being concerned about starving Romanian children back in the 90s? Or direct their benevolence to today’s impoverished people of El Salvador or Guatemala? No? That’s because all of their generosity is directed toward Africa (or in rare cases black Americans, such as Katrina victims). Couple that with the fact that most of these professional basketball players are black, and you’ve got one big DUH in response to your rhetorical question.

]]> By: TC http://thestartingfive.net/2008/08/15/friday-fire-why-is-usa-basketball-being-asked-to-speak-out-on-darfur/#comment-14837 TC Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:25:22 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=1370#comment-14837 Well also....why is this even being requested? I thought politics was an unacceptable topic at the Olympics, according to the IOC's dictate of a couple weeks ago. I fully agree though. What is wrong to one of us is wrong to all of us and it's disgraceful the men's hoops team should be singled out to speak on the injustice in Darfur. Why not white swimmers? Is it not bad for them? Why not Asian gymnasts? We're all one. Black folks in this country (the US) are ill-treated and yet the US hoops team...no white people, no Woody Harrelson stand-in? it's OK, I'm white, I'm cool with it....is expected to stick its neck out? Honestly...... Well also….why is this even being requested? I thought politics was an unacceptable topic at the Olympics, according to the IOC’s dictate of a couple weeks ago. I fully agree though. What is wrong to one of us is wrong to all of us and it’s disgraceful the men’s hoops team should be singled out to speak on the injustice in Darfur. Why not white swimmers? Is it not bad for them? Why not Asian gymnasts? We’re all one. Black folks in this country (the US) are ill-treated and yet the US hoops team…no white people, no Woody Harrelson stand-in? it’s OK, I’m white, I’m cool with it….is expected to stick its neck out? Honestly……

]]> By: michelle http://thestartingfive.net/2008/08/15/friday-fire-why-is-usa-basketball-being-asked-to-speak-out-on-darfur/#comment-14816 michelle Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:25:29 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=1370#comment-14816 Matthew Fudge, I also agree with you. Black athletes are probably asked to speak out more due to the fact that many of the issues we speak of are problems that affect black people. Black entertainers should also chime in since like the atheletes ,they have unlimited resources and have a grand stage to reach the masses. But, again everyone should care about the suffering of a fellow human being. Matthew Fudge,

I also agree with you. Black athletes are probably asked to speak out more due to the fact that many of the issues we speak of are problems that affect black people. Black entertainers should also chime in since like the atheletes ,they have unlimited resources and have a grand stage to reach the masses. But, again everyone should care about the suffering of a fellow human being.

]]> By: Matthew Fudge http://thestartingfive.net/2008/08/15/friday-fire-why-is-usa-basketball-being-asked-to-speak-out-on-darfur/#comment-14815 Matthew Fudge Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:17:13 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=1370#comment-14815 Honestly, this is one instance where black and white entertainers have equality: no one asks them to speak out on anything. If they CHOOSE to do so, great. But nobody forces them to do it, whether they be Denzel, Wesley (when he was hot), 50 Cent, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Omar Epps, Beyonce, Shemar Moore, etc. But Michael Jordan, Kobe, AI, T.O., LeBron, etc. have to be the role models. Why are black athletes singled out? Why do black actors/singers get a role model pass (as well as white athletes), but black athletes have to speak out? If we call on black athletes to have a voice for social change, then we must pressure black entertainers in general to do the same. To do otherwise is unfair and unjust. Honestly, this is one instance where black and white entertainers have equality: no one asks them to speak out on anything. If they CHOOSE to do so, great. But nobody forces them to do it, whether they be Denzel, Wesley (when he was hot), 50 Cent, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Omar Epps, Beyonce, Shemar Moore, etc. But Michael Jordan, Kobe, AI, T.O., LeBron, etc. have to be the role models. Why are black athletes singled out? Why do black actors/singers get a role model pass (as well as white athletes), but black athletes have to speak out? If we call on black athletes to have a voice for social change, then we must pressure black entertainers in general to do the same. To do otherwise is unfair and unjust.

]]> By: michelle http://thestartingfive.net/2008/08/15/friday-fire-why-is-usa-basketball-being-asked-to-speak-out-on-darfur/#comment-14813 michelle Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:24:33 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=1370#comment-14813 Wow! Temple3 and Modi said it all. Everyone needs to care. Black, white, asian etc. My problem is athletes are make huge amounts of money so they have resouces that the average person doesn't. They also have a stage in which to get a positive message out. Athletes are blessed with wealth. It's time to give something back. However, too many of them don't care or are too concerned about how speaking out about such issues will affect their pocket. I find that sad. Money isn't everything. Wow! Temple3 and Modi said it all. Everyone needs to care. Black, white, asian etc. My problem is athletes are make huge amounts of money so they have resouces that the average person doesn’t. They also have a stage in which to get a positive message out. Athletes are blessed with wealth. It’s time to give something back. However, too many of them don’t care or are too concerned about how speaking out about such issues will affect their pocket. I find that sad. Money isn’t everything.

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