Larry Bird says NBA needs more white stars

[VonErich Lives]

http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2475988

Report: Bird says NBA needs more white stars

FOXSports.com
Posted: 17 hours ago

Larry Bird says he knows what the NBA needs — more white superstars. The Hall of Famer made the remark during a television interview which will air prior to Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

Bird, who is currently the Indiana Pacers' president of basketball operations, says during the interview that while the league will forever be dominated by black athletes, the presence of more star players who are white would appeal to a fan base which Bird feels is predominantly white.

"You know when I played, you had me and Kevin (McHale) and some others throughout the league." Bird said. "I think it's good for a fan base because as we all know the majority of the fans are white America.

"And if you just had a couple of white guys in there, you might get them a little excited. But it is a black man's game, and it will be forever. I mean, the greatest athletes in the world are African-American."

The interview also included LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Magic Johnson, who besides helping Bird inject life into the league in the 1980s, also seemed to agree with Bird.

"We need some more LB's, Larry Birds," Magic said. Larry Bird, you see, can go into any neighborhood. When you say 'Larry Bird,' black people know who he is, Hispanics, whites, and they give him the respect."

Bird went on to say that, as a player, he was offended when white players attempted to guard him.


ok, happened a few days ago, but no one posted it yet. Some people have gone off the deep end that he's a hick/racist. Others felt he was joking. Comments like being offended when gaurded by a white guy. Magic was there with him, and some say he was poking fun w/ Magic. What I find really interesting is a lot of black players have said if anyone has the right to say that, it's bird.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Honestly its probably true, if their was more white superstars I really do think more white people would be watching. Not saying a ton of white people don't watch it now or anything though. I think the part about putting a white guy on him offended him was just Bird joking around with the guys that where there at the interview with him.

[AlphaBean]

Honestly its probably true, if their was more white superstars I really do think more white people would be watching. Not saying a ton of white people don't watch it now or anything though. I think the part about putting a white guy on him offended him was just Bird joking around with the guys that where there at the interview with him.

Wasn't it 'Melo who said that on the playground, there was only one white boy you'd talk about... only one white player you wanted to be in the history of the NBA, and that was Larry Bird. Nobody wanted to be Bill Walton or Chris Mullin or Kevin McHale, it was all about Larry Bird. Larry Bird was more than just a white player, which is what I think he means. He was on another level. And white guys can't really defend. He made some comment about someone who was a good shooter, and Bird totally just discredited himself. Saying that if he was defending someone like Kobe, he'd just step aside and let him score. So I think those two comments go hand in hand... Bird was more than just a white player offensively, but defensively that's all he was, and he knew it was no challenge to put a white guy on ya.

But as for his statement... I live in Minnesota. Most of the people at the bars and in chatrooms and on the radio are the biggest Wally Szczerbiak fans EVER.

It's pathetic. He can shoot the ball well, but other than that. :dunno: He's a defensive liability, and he can't dribble the ball whatsoever. He has no heart, either. He disappears in clutch time. Horrible.

But he's Minnesota's favorite player EVER. So yes, white players would make the NBA more popular.

I mean, after all, white players are EVERYWHERE in college hoops... but they don't get drafted.

[MoRcHeEbA]

MORE WHITE SUPERSTARS... THEY NEED ONE WHITE SUPERSTAR

[Splaya]

MORE WHITE SUPERSTARS... THEY NEED ONE WHITE SUPERSTAR


Jason Kidd.

[AlphaBean]

lol, yup.

[The Outlaw]

Mike Bibby, Jason Kidd, Matt Harpring (:Shifty: )....and...uhh...Mark Madsen!

Nah but seriously, people that think it was a racist comment need to check themselves. Magic agreed with him that more white superstars were needed. He also went on to say that he didn't care if the person guarding him was black, yellow, whatever, just as long as the guy wasn't white. :lol:

He also said that this was an African American's game. It's pretty true, people like to see superstars who they "look like" so to speak. Dunno why but they do.

Carmelo and LeBron disagreed and tried to say that the fans didn't care, that if you could play then they love you. Dunno about all that, some of them yes that's how it is but not with everybody.

[YOUR Hero]

Bird's right.

If it offends some people, it doesn't make the statement wrong.

[MoRcHeEbA]

Jason Kidd is the darkest white guy I've ever seen I thought he was a light black man :$

[The Outlaw]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/images/basketball/nba/players/2625.jpg

I've seen much darker white guys. :$


Yeah, pretty much agree with Hero on this one. :y:

[Loose Cannon]

J. Williams baby.

[Rob]

White men can't jump

[The Outlaw]

lol

Brent Barry anyone? :D

[VonErich Lives]

. And white guys can't really defend. He made some comment about someone who was a good shooter, and Bird totally just discredited himself. Saying that if he was defending someone like Kobe, he'd just step aside and let him score. So I think those two comments go hand in hand... Bird was more than just a white player offensively, but defensively that's all he was

Sorry, might be true of todays "white players" but a big part of those 80's celtics teams was Defense.

Larry and Kevin are the first two the come to mind.

Even Waltons 1 year run, and Danny when he wasn't busy taking 3's on a fast break could play D.

[VonErich Lives]

Jason Kidd.

Maybe when he's done smacking his wife around in front of his kid...

Sorry, Kidd's a scum bag.

[AlphaBean]

Sorry, might be true of todays "white players" but a big part of those 80's celtics teams was Defense.

Larry and Kevin are the first two the come to mind.

Even Waltons 1 year run, and Danny when he wasn't busy taking 3's on a fast break could play D.

Well Walton and McHale are big men, so take them out of that... other than that, dunno. if there were any white forwards who would play defense, they were few and far between enough that they are the exception to the rule, rather than what disproves the rule, ya know?

[Excellance of Execution]

Well Walton and McHale are big men, so take them out of that... other than that, dunno. if there were any white forwards who would play defense, they were few and far between enough that they are the exception to the rule, rather than what disproves the rule, ya know?
Don't forget about Bill Laimbeer. I think defense was about all he was good for.

[Excellance of Execution]

Isn't Mike Bibby and Jason Kidd Malado (one parent white and the other african american)?

[Goldbird]

I will act really stupid this time.

Michael Jackson.

:shifty:

[BCWWF]

Isn't Mike Bibby and Jason Kidd Malado (one parent white and the other african american)?

I thought Jason Kidd was malado, but I never heard that Bibby was. But for sure Kidd is half/half.


As for Beans Wally Szczerbiak rant, if you watched him at all this year he has developed ball handling skills and did good work in the Lakers series without Cassell, he is a very high percentage shooter throughout his career, and if you ask me, when the playoffs come about he has plenty of heart. He isn't the greatest player of all time, but every team needs the pure shooter.

[DegenerationY]

Fred Hoiberg, baby

[DegenerationY]

Also Bibby and Kidd are definitely oreos... 50/50...

[BCWWF]

That makes sense.

Like I said earlier, if we did trade Wally I would be OK with it only because we would still have Hoiberg, who is essentially the same player as Wally, maybe just not quite as talented.

[DaveWadding]

What's a malado?

I know what a MULATTO is, but...

[I <3 Negros]

I agree just look at how well the Lakers play with a couple white people on the court than just all black guys.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I think its funny that some people are flipping out about this when two years ago everyone was talking about how great it was going to be because Yao Ming was going to bring in Chinese fans

[Crimson]

Yea both Kidd and Bibby are half. I think getting in a veriety is always good in any sport. Just as long as not too many Europeans come and take over in the NBA, it'll be cool.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Remember when that guy Zhi Zhi Wang played? He wasn't nearly as good as Yao and he got SO MUCH hype over in China...ridiculous

[AlphaBean]

Remember when that guy Zhi Zhi Wang played? He wasn't nearly as good as Yao and he got SO MUCH hype over in China...ridiculous

He got hype in Dallas because he was a big dude who could hit an occasional three.

Now he gets zero minutes in Miami. :nono:

As for Wally Szczczerbiak... his ball handling is BETTER, but who kicked the ball out of bounds with the game on the line in game 6? Who couldn't buy a shot in clutch time?

Who is the only player ever who couldn't even get along with Kevin Garnett?

If for any reason Wally needs to go... is that he has issues with KG. That's just absurd.

[The Dub]

Steve Nash is white, albeit a Canadian.

[BCWWF]

If you are referring to the story in ESPN Magazine a few years ago, then refer to the hundreds of interviews where both parties state that the story was twisted and they have no issues.

[DegenerationY]

Wally Sczerbiack sucks so much.

Hoiberg is twice the player Wally is.

But I'm a Warriors fan, so my input is a little skewed...

[Smitty]

Basically, he's saying the NBA needs to be more like the Dallas Mavericks. :y:

[Kris P Lettus]

Kidd, Bibby, and Doug Christie are mixed...

Peja, Jason Williams, Nash, etc are white...

[AlphaBean]

Kidd, Bibby, and Doug Christie are mixed...

Peja, Jason Williams, Nash, etc are white...

Is Peja considered white?

Also, :y: on the "mixed."

You don't call people mulatto, it's a racist word I believe it was derived from "mule," used back when you would call someone a "******" or a "mulatto."

So, yeah. Mixed.

And Hoiberg owns Wally.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I think Bird ment more white American players

[Kris P Lettus]

Is Peja considered white?


He's Slovick or whatever...

Like Dirk, Vlade, etc...

[BCWWF]

Wally is the more skilled player, or better shooter, however you want to say it, but I really wouldn't mind losing him because Fred Hoiberg can do everything Wally needs to (the pure shooter off the bench) for a much better price. So either way I'm game.

[KingofOldSchool]

Jack Haley, biatches.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

LUKE "THE GREAT WHITE HOPE" JACKSON

LEBRON AND LUKE SHOW

[Funky Fly]

Bird's right.

If it offends some people, it doesn't make the statement wrong.
Basically.

If the league wants more viewers, they need some stars from the predominant race that watches American TV. People are going crazy with racist/hick labels, but in reality he's not saying "we don't wants none o' them ni</>ggers playin' with us, hyuck hyuck", just that a few more whie stars would generate more interest amongst whites.

[BCWWF]

If someone said the same thing about rap music, it would get the same responce, but now look at Eminem...