“Saturday Night Live” has decided to keep the diversity ball rolling, appointing a black cast member to the “Weekend Update” desk. BuzzFeed reports: For the first…
The audio of Atlanta Hawks GM Danny Ferry making racially-insentive and offensive comments about then free agent Luol Deng has surfaced. As we previously reported,…
The audio of Atlanta Hawks GM Danny Ferry making racially-insentive and offensive comments about then free agent Luol Deng has surfaced. As we previously reported,…
Another racist owner bites the dust ! Atlanta Hawks Owner Bruce Levenson Sells Team After Racist Emails Surface Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson announced on Sunday that he would be selling his controlling interest in the team, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement about an old email in which he expressed offensive views: Via CBS Sports : Following Bruce Levenson notifying the league office this July of his August 2012 email, the NBA commenced an independent investigation regarding the circumstances of Mr. Levenson’s comments. Prior to the completion of the investigation, Mr. Levenson notified me last evening that he had decided to sell his controlling interest in the Atlanta Hawks. As Mr. Levenson acknowledged, the views he expressed are entirely unacceptable and are in stark contrast to the core principles of the National Basketball Association. He shared with me how truly remorseful he is for using those hurtful words and how apologetic he is to the entire NBA family – fans, players, team employees, business partners and fellow team owners – for having diverted attention away from our game. I commend Mr. Levenson for self-reporting to the league office, for being fully cooperative with the league and its independent investigator, and for putting the best interests of the Hawks, the Atlanta community, and the NBA first. We will be working with the Hawks ownership group on the appropriate process for the sale of the team and I have offered our full support to Hawks CEO Steve Koonin, who will now oversee all team operations. The NBA and its teams have long had in place anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies in order to facilitate respectful and diverse workplaces. Earlier this summer, the league re-doubled its efforts by, among other things, making it mandatory for all league and team personnel to receive annual training on these issues. The email was racist in nature, and Levenson expressed his remorse for it in a statement: “Over the past several years, I’ve spent a lot of time grappling with low attendance at our games and the need for the Hawks to attract more season ticket holders and corporate sponsors. Over that time, I’ve talked with team executives about the need for the Hawks to build a more diverse fan base that includes more suburban whites, and I shared my thoughts on why our efforts to bridge Atlanta’s racial sports divide seemed to be failing. In trying to address those issues, I wrote an e-mail two years ago that was inappropriate and offensive. I trivialized our fans by making clichéd assumptions about their interests (i.e. hip hop vs. country, white vs. black cheerleaders, etc.) and by stereotyping their perceptions of one another (i.e. that white fans might be afraid of our black fans). By focusing on race, I also sent the unintentional and hurtful message that our white fans are more valuable than our black fans. If you’re angry about what I wrote, you should be. I’m angry at myself, too. It was inflammatory nonsense. We all may have subtle biases and preconceptions when it comes to race, but my role as a leader is to challenge them, not to validate or accommodate those who might hold them. I have said repeatedly that the NBA should have zero tolerance for racism, and I strongly believe that to be true. That is why I voluntarily reported my inappropriate e-mail to the NBA. After much long and difficult contemplation, I have decided that it is in the best interests of the team, the Atlanta community, and the NBA to sell my controlling interest in the Hawks franchise. Hawks CEO Steve Koonin will oversee all team operations and take all organizational reports as we proceed with the sale process. I’m truly embarrassed by my words in that e-mail, and I apologize to the members of the Hawks family and all of our fans. To the Hawks family and its fans, you have my deepest gratitude for the past ten years. Working with this team and its extraordinary executives, coaching staff, and players has been one of the highlights of my life. I am proud of our diverse, passionate, and growing legion of Hawks fans, and I will continue to join you in cheering for the best team in the NBA.” Owners discussed the matter at a meeting last week in New York City, according to Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski . Hit the flip to peep the racist emails next…
Remember the first episode of this season’s “Basketball Wives L.A.” when Ariane was acting all cray toward Draya over the guy they both dated? Well it looks as if homeboy (Deshawn Stevenson) is WAY WAY past all that isht they were talking about because over the weekend the former Atlanta Hawks baller popped the question to his girlfriend Jessi Marie… and she said YES! Congratulations!!! The happy occasion went down in Orlando, Florida while the couple celebrated Jessica (who also goes by JJ) turning 30. Both Deshawn and JJ have kids from previous relationships, she’s a fitness buff who recently put him on a plan that helped him lose 12 lbs. When she’s not doing yoga and touting the benefits of Herbalife she isn’t too shy to show off that mommy bangin’ bawwwwdy in a bikini (more photos of that later). The couple partied the night away in celebration with an event they co-hosted. Hit the flip for more photos from their special night, as well as a gang of pictures of their loving journey together.
Recently hired Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer was arrested in Midtown Atlanta last night and charged with driving under the influence. A Georgia State…
Jesus take the wheel… Ex-NBA Star Mookie Blaylock In Critical Condition After Head-On Collision Via ESPN Former NBA All-Star guard Mookie Blaylock was in critical condition at a hospital late Friday after his SUV crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a van in suburban Atlanta, fatally injuring a passenger in the van, police said. Blaylock was driving in Jonesboro on Friday when he crashed and was airlifted to the Atlanta Medical Center, said Clayton County police spokesman Clarence Cox. Jonesboro Police Chief Franklin Allen said late Friday that 43-year-old Monica Murphy, a passenger in the van, died just before 10 p.m. Allen said her husband, 41-year-old Frankie Murphy, sustained a broken ankle and was released from the hospital after undergoing treatment. Blaylock was initially placed on life support at the hospital. But the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Blaylock’s condition improved Friday night and he was taken off it. According to the newspaper, Allen said Blaylock is in guarded but critical condition. Allen told WSB-TV in Atlanta that Blaylock has had “a history of seizures,” and police were trying to find out if a seizure may have led to the accident. The 46-year-old Blaylock was a first-round draft pick by the New Jersey Nets out of Oklahoma in 1989. He played for the Atlanta Hawks from 1992-99, appeared in the 1994 NBA All-Star Game and had his best season in 1996-97, averaging 17.4 points and 5.9 assists Mookie’s former team, the Atlanta Hawks released a statement: “We are saddened to hear of the accident today involving Mookie Blaylock and the Murphy family and the ensuing passing of Monica Murphy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all involved.” Take care of yourself Mookie, R.I.P. to Monica Murphy. Image via NBA
The Atlanta Hawks have named San Antonio Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer the team’s new head coach, President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry announced today.…
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