12/21/24
March 06, 2002
Sir Charles Unchained.: Appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a slave breaking chains he says (among other things): "Every black kid thinks the only way he can be successful is through athletics. That is a terrible thing..."
Not an NBA fan, but I've always liked Barkely. Definitely the most quotable guy in sports for many years.
posted by Samsonov14 at 06:39 PM on March 06, 2002
Before anyone points it out, I didn't mean the dog from Sesame Street. I meant Barkley. Charles. The NBA guy. Damn.
posted by Samsonov14 at 07:09 PM on March 06, 2002
Chuck cracks me up on TNT/TBS, although he can be a bit demeaning to Kenny and Ernie (not the Sesame Street "Ernie"-- damn). Nonetheless, I can't help but tune in to hear his candid comments. Monday Night Football should have put Barkley and John McEnroe in the booth with Michaels. That would have been enjoyable. (I know, I know, Mac is shaming himself on that dreadful game show. "You've got to be kidding!")
posted by jacknose at 07:31 PM on March 06, 2002
The slave imagery is over-the-top; I mean, he is a multimillionaire who's renowned for his outspokenness. Maybe he's going for a Prometheus look instead. Every black kid thinks the only way he can be successful is through athletics. I don't know that athletics are the only way black kids can be successful, but the options are limited. Even in athletics, there are hardly any opportunities other than as athletes; there are few black head coaches, and I don't know of any black owners of major league teams. Outside of athletics, musical artists and movie actors get the most media attention. Those are all entertainment industries, and the idea that black people's opportunities are portrayed as being limited to entertainment makes me uncomfortable. It's good to see Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice in such important and prominent positions in the government. I'd love to see Colin Powell become president; it would be a big step for the US and would provide a very positive role model for young black people.
posted by kirkaracha at 01:06 AM on March 07, 2002
I wrote some sanctimonious saber-rattling about this on my site, but the applicable passage is :"If you can point to successful black businessmen and women, if you show a kid that owning the team will always be more lucrative than being on the team - you will have a breakthrough. No matter how much money Shaq and Kobe are making, Jerry Buss is still signing their paychecks. Randy Moss may be among the highest paid wide receivers in football, but Red McCombs is still the man he goes to on Friday." As a black person, I would love to see a black president (hell, I'd like to be him) but it's a double-edged sword. I want someone to be elected based on their merit, but not because of skin color. Of course, it's foolhardy to believe race wouldn't be an issue with a black presidential candidate.
posted by owillis at 01:17 AM on March 07, 2002
I think that there’s an equally large amount of very successful blacks in business, the sciences the arts etc. But since the media for the most part elevates and glorifies athletics, sports and entertainment through massive advertising and promotion, many young black kids, as a result, are instilled with the false perception that the best way to move up is through those mediums.
posted by RGarraud at 07:02 PM on March 07, 2002
I thought Chuck would go into the Hall of Fame as a Rocket...