Was Iverson Wrong?

[TonyG]

Originally posted by Andra_Jenny
I cannot. I live in the Bible Belt in a sparsely populated area and too many clues could wreck an otherwise perfect life. The only hint I can give is that it is very physical, you have to be in top shape, and it has a hell of an adreniline (sp?) rush.

My most sincere apologies.

You have me intrigued; I will have to do some research. If I have a guess I will e-mail it to you so as not to give any clues. I would not expect a yes or no from you. Is that ok?

I have decided that it is better to honor your request and not do any research. Besides, I couldn't email you if I wanted to.

 

[Andra_Jenny]

Great points. Thanks Tony.

Especially about not being able to hear anything. I shut everything out when I am in the zone.

Another point is that as a heckler, once you know you can get under someone's skin, then you do not let up. By reacting, Iverson guarantees that these people will come after him with a frsh vengance, because they know its working.

He should have handled it through the press...

"Great question Wink, but before I address basketball questions, I need to talk about the fans of your city. Now Wink, when was the last time you got death threats over your reporting? And Wink, here's what the proud citizens of your arena and city said about my mother. I will talk about these things only until your fans can clean up their act and you law-enforcement gets involved, and Wink, as a member of the press, that's where you can help me the best..."

Then again, you can try to give these guys a college education, can try to introduce them to class, but if they've decided to stay true to the hood, what can you do? Like Rush L. has been pointing out in the last few months, these guys don't realize that they ARE the top 1% that they are supposed to hate. Most are too myoptic to see past the color of thier own skin.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Phoenix]

Waitaminute a minute what is wrong with staying true to the "hood". First off now matter what kind of college education you get the streets are a part of you. They are what help define you. Some people say getting off the streets, going to school and doing something for yourself is a success story. Where I am from that is just another mode of survival.

Nowadays people go out of their way to put down something that we "hoodpeople" find commendable and that is even though Iverson has gone to college and is now making millions he still recognizes and represents the streets where he came from. I respect Iverson because he did not throw up a front, he did try to be something he is not, all he did was simply stay the way he has been his whole life, but some still find fault in his not selling out. Hmm interesting indeed.

Then again what do I expect from a Rush lover

 

[WebDesignGuru]

Nowadays people go out of their way to put down something that we "hoodpeople" find commendable and that is even though Iverson has gone to college and is now making millions he still recognizes and represents the streets where he came from. I respect Iverson because he did not throw up a front, he did try to be something he is not, all he did was simply stay the way he has been his whole life, but some still find fault in his not selling out. Hmm interesting indeed.

I don't think, calling someone a faggot, or speaking derisively about gays and women, or smoking pot while your driving, or carrying a hand gun are "commendable" by anyone's standards.

Particularly if you are on national television and millions of little kids who want to be like you when they grow up are watching you.

It's true being a famous athlete doesn't mean you don't have the right to be treated like a human being, but it does come with the responsibilty of acting like one.

Iverson wasn't "representing the streets", he was acting like an immature kid. I grew up in New York. I lived and worked in the Bronx, Manhattan and Yonkers, etc. I don't call people 'faggot' when they taunt me. I don't feel some nostalgic need to lower myself to immature and crass behavior in order to maintain a connection with my immature and crass friends.

If he wants to stay in touch with his neighborhood, go back and build an afterschool center with some courts, computers, a couple of teachers and a security system so other kids can survive. Set up some scholarships so other kids from his neighborhood can go to school, or have hope that there is a way out.

Using your millions of dollars to buy drugs, weapons and make sladerous remarks about minority groups isn't "commendable" or "representing the streets". It's a felony.

 

[Phoenix]

First off dunn I was not referring to that I was referring Andrea Jenny's comment of:

"Then again, you can try to give these guys a college education, can try to introduce them to class, but if they've decided to stay true to the hood, what can you do?"\

That is what I was talking about

Secondly I know you from NY well guess what so am I. And were I am from if you got called "faggot" big fucking deal who cares. Have we become such an intollerable society that name calling has now become a big deal. Where I am from (Brooklyn and Queens) being called "faggot" is a petty insult compared to some of things I was called and I have called people.

Yes name calling is childish, but who really gives a rats ass at the end of the day. Those people he called faggot probably would not have gave a shit until it was blown out of preportion. Iverson would have wrote off the hecklers too. It is the fault of the people who decide that instead of the game let's focus on some petty immature bullshit aka the Media whores.

 

[Andra_Jenny]

I came from a very poor, white trash society. We went to the car races, the bars, and vacation was one of those time-share sales gimmicks to Branson. Yet I went on to get my education, to head up my own company, to work with lawyers and bankers of a very different socio-economic background and I had to fit in. Yes I was always a bit rougher and I do not golf, it just does not have the rush I seek, but I could not for one instant behave like some uncouth redneck who struck oil and moved to Beverly Hills because I would have been let go in an instant. Am I proud of where I come from? Of course not! Do I wear it like a badge of honor? Of course not (unless I'm making a silly little point in a silly little post), but these thugs who would be athletes refuse to become something better because quite simply, they do not want to be perceived as a bunch of Uncle Toms by a class of people that they are no longer socio-economically a member of. All those people I grew up with who refused to become better than what they were got what they deserved. Iverson has gotten way more that he deserves. Spreewell too!

 

[WebDesignGuru]

First off dunn I was not referring to that I was referring Andrea Jenny's comment of:

"Then again, you can try to give these guys a college education, can try to introduce them to class, but if they've decided to stay true to the hood, what can you do?"\

That is what I was talking about

Mea culpa. Or perhaps I ought to say, "My bad".

Secondly I know you from NY well guess what so am I. And were I am from if you got called "faggot" big fucking deal who cares. Have we become such an intollerable society that name calling has now become a big deal. Where I am from (Brooklyn and Queens) being called "faggot" is a petty insult compared to some of things I was called and I have called people.

First off, it is a big deal. Society interprets name calling and profanity as immaturity and a lack of intelligence. Whether that is true or not. It's a fact that if you go to school and call your teacher, or a police officer, or an employer a "faggot" or ask him/her "What's the big fucking deal?" You will get suspended, arrested, or fired.

Secondly, it's a big deal because the term "faggot" is used as a bias slur against a specific group of people. It carries with it an implied connotation of hatred.

These two factors are in and of themselves enought to make it a big deal. However, when you are a highly paid entertainer, on national network television, it is that much more of a big deal because you are being watched by millions of kids who idolize you and will mimic your every move.

As a parent, I don't want my children responding to being taunted by calling the offending party a "faggot".

All you have to do is go to any local hoops court and watch 10-18 year old kids playing basketball. They wear the jerseys of pro players and swear like drunken sailors. They taunt each other, complain about foul calls, yell obscenities at the top of their lungs when they miss a shot.

They learn that behavior from watching professional athletes. The fact that the pros do it, makes it not only okay in the kids eyes, but in fact, it makes it desirable and part of what one has to do to "be cool".

It's immature, irresponsible behavior on Iverson's part plain and simple. Just because it's common place in a given neighborhood, doesn't make it either acceptable or proper, especially from a guy who knows kids idolize him.