The All White Basketball League – That’s Not Racist…Right?

So while the jury is still out on whether or not this is a prank, Don “Moose” Lewis has announced in an August, Ga., newspaper that he’s launching the All-American Basketball Alliance.

Anyone can play, you just gotta be a natural born U.S. Citizen (don’t want any of those pesky immigrants) and both of your parents have to be 100 percent Caucasian.  All Larry Bird, no Michael Jordan apparently – not to put too fine a point on it.

According to the article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Lewis wants to emphasize the “fundamentals of basketball” rather than the “street ball” played by “people of color.”

Hmmmmmm. Well, what about immigrants who are lily white -like the Irish or the English? Are we really going to exclude the Norwegians, Dutch and French? I mean – it’s one thing to be racist against the “people of color” but DEAR GOD is this mad man proposing we are racist against our white brothers?

While I try not to choke on the entire premise, joke or no, his arguments simply don’t hold ground. He alleges in the AJC article that promoting a “Whites Only League” will prevent things like being flipped off during games, players attacking you in the stands or players grabbing their crotches. If you simply remove the racist, bigoted aspect well……..I’m sorry Moose – have you MET any white people?

I even have examples!

Here we have Bud Adams, who is without fail an old WHITE dude whose parents were VERY likely both of Caucasian descent – flipping off tens of thousands of fans. That’s right – flippin’ ye old bird. To the FANS.

Ron Artest does NOT hold the world record for attacking fans in the stands. I love me some Ron Artest from his Pacers days, and yeah he does roll a little thug life, but he’s not the sole perpetrator of this behavior. After all, baseball legend Ty Cobb once attacked a HANDICAPPED MAN during a game and received an eight-game suspension for such behavior. Ty Cobb was………hmmmm – WHITE.

Crotch grabbing? I’m not even going to Google that one although some pics might be a nice way to start everyone’s day. I am about 100 percent positive that old Moose has grabbed his crotch three or four times already today and he isn’t wearing a jock. So I’m just throwing that one out as well.

Upon reflection – with these arguments removed, I can’t find any other reason TO create such a league…except the intention to exclude individuals based on race.  And that doesn’t fly in 2010, my friend Moose.

He says “He doesn’t hate anyone of color,” and that there is no “hatred” about what they are doing in his AJC interview. Well – that might be true, friend. And I don’t hate bigots and racists, or people who promote professional wrestling either.

Oh wait, yes I do.

He calls what he’s going to promote an event that is going to promote “Feel good, fun nostalgia.” You know, here in Atlanta I think there is some nostalgia that might not feel so good to one entire segment of the population.

I’m giving you and your jackboot-wearing friends a FAIL, Moose.  But I hear that Rush Limbaugh is very interested in investing in major league sports teams. I’d give him a buzz. He’s completely down with the sort of nostalgia you’re into. You guys should totally get together. That’d be a win for you both!

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[Photo credit: ThelMagazine.com]