GM Danny Ferry, Atlanta Hawks' Second Racial Controversy This Week

[BusSport]

Apparently, the situation with Hawks' owner Bruce Levenson was sparked by an earlier situation involving Hawk's GM Danny Ferry:

Ferry received undisclosed discipline by team CEO Steve Koonin after making inappropriate comments about NBA star Luol Deng during a June conference call with members of the ownership team, ESPN reported on Tuesday (September 9). During the call, where team officials discussed the possibility of signing Deng as a free agent, Ferry said that the two-time all-star “has a little African in him.”

He went on to try to justify the comment. “Not in a bad way, but he’s like a guy who would have a nice store out front and sell you counterfeit stuff out of the back,” Ferry said during the call.

Atlanta’s WSB-TV obtained a letter from Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr., which detailed the incident. Gearon went on to say that he and the other co-owners were appalled by the comment; in his letter he recommended that Ferry be fired or asked to resign. It was during the investigation of Ferry’s comments that the Hawks uncovered Levenson’s email, where he stated that the majority black crowd at Hawks games in Atlanta scared off white fans.

 

[HammerDown]

That's racist? I'm calling bullshit.

 

[Indrid Cold]

Seems nonsensical more than anything to me...maybe Ferry lost big bucks in a Nigerian email scam?

 

[gordontrue]

I don't think saying that someone "has a little ___insert race here___ in them" is racist at all.

I can definitely see, however, how following that up by clarifying that that means they would be willing to participate in illegal activities, could be considered racist.

 

[#1BostonFan]

That's racist? I'm calling bullshit.

How isn't that racist?

 

[#1BostonFan]

I don't think saying that someone "has a little ___insert race here___ in them" is racist at all.

I can definitely see, however, how following that up by clarifying that that means they would be willing to participate in illegal activities, could be considered racist.

It's 100% racist.

 

[Demonjoe93]

*Sigh*And things were looking so bright for us too for a couple months.

 

[wlk3]

It's 100% racist.

First part no, second part I agree with BostonFan...

 

[Mecca]

I have no issue with what the Owner said.

I don't see anything in his email that appears racist.

Danny Ferry?

He should be fired immediately.

Repeating someone's dumb as comment, not wise, but not racist.

The followup claim that he might be running some Nigerian Prince Ponzi scheme, DURING A BUSINESS MEETING, is grounds for dismissal.

Remember, This is not some illegal wiretapping.

He actually said this in a meeting.

How on earth is he expected to negotiate with Free Agents?

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Owner - not racist


Ferry - maybe racist, or at the very least ignorant, not really hatred or hurtful intent
It was more a lack of knowledge about other places and laziness towards understanding other cultures.

 

[Hbomb]

This is getting out of hand. As long as there is no discrimination what difference does it make. More political correctness running amok.

 

[wildturkey]

That is absolutely a slur. It's categorizing Africans as being sleezy, untrustworthy, etc simply because of his racial background. I'm sorry but if you are a person that can't see how its derogatory, you really need to examine yourself. Those comments are far worse than what the owner said.

 

[LogicMan]

Guys what is going on with pro sports these days

Idiots everywhere

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Sick of this shit. I DGAF what the owners think. I DGAF what the players think. The NBA sucks. It's been this way for a while now, but thanks to how crazy the media is today it's finally being exposed for what it is: A money making business with corrupt owners.

They don't care about small market teams. They just want to make profit. They don't care about players (minus LeBron, Durant, Melo, Kobe, etc). They just want to make profit and promote stars to.... WAIT FOR IT.... sell jerseys and merchandise,etc. so they can.... make profit. It's a business.

This is what I've been saying for years now... I love, love, love the Suns because I grew up with them being my first sports team, they were my first professional sports event I attended and my family has been die-hard Suns fans since I can remember. LOVE the Suns but HATE the NBA. No parity, horrible leadership, shitty owners and the style of play really isn't what basketball is truly about anymore.. /end rant/

 

[bksballer89]

see you on the opening night game thread

 

[Arizona_Sting]

ARE YOU TALKING TO ME BK

 

[bksballer89]

Yes

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Yes

Well... you're right. You will

 

[wildturkey]

Sick of this shit. I DGAF what the owners think. I DGAF what the players think. The NBA sucks. It's been this way for a while now, but thanks to how crazy the media is today it's finally being exposed for what it is: A money making business with corrupt owners.

They don't care about small market teams. They just want to make profit. They don't care about players (minus LeBron, Durant, Melo, Kobe, etc). They just want to make profit and promote stars to.... WAIT FOR IT.... sell jerseys and merchandise,etc. so they can.... make profit. It's a business.

This is what I've been saying for years now... I love, love, love the Suns because I grew up with them being my first sports team, they were my first professional sports event I attended and my family has been die-hard Suns fans since I can remember. LOVE the Suns but HATE the NBA. No parity, horrible leadership, shitty owners and the style of play really isn't what basketball is truly about anymore.. /end rant/

You realize that Suns team you loved growing up was trying to make a profit, right?

 

[Arizona_Sting]

You realize that Suns team you loved growing up was trying to make a profit, right?

No shit. Our style of play was just fun to watch and I grew up watching them as a toddler man. I wasn't some analyst at ages 4/5. haha.