DEI has ruined these kids. 180 degrees opposite of how we were all raised. But now everything is about race. May take a generation to reverse.Very disappointed in A’ja making racist comments like that. After all of the accolades she has received. Just when you think someone has it all together and can see things without prejudice. Sad.
Uh, yes Caitlin should get most of the attention. Those other teams were loaded. Caitlin was a one woman show. She is a marketing powerhouse. and to your question Aja is she wrong? Well, it's a fact that Aja caters to 13% of the population more than 87% of the rest. Caitlin minds her business to include uplift everyone 100% of the population. She never says anything disparaging about anyone.I get your point, but it is frustrating to see Caitlin Clark, a player that lost the National Championship twice in a row game get all the adulation while the teams that actually won get virtually ignored. That State Farm commercial showing the Iowa team and associating it with greatness chaps my *** every time. A'ja could have been more tactful in what she was saying, but is she wrong?
A wide range of posters have provided a wide range of thoughtful and respectful opinions on this thread - perhaps not what you hoped to incite with the OP. Your follow-on provocation to further pick at the scab reads like someone just itching for an ugly fight. Why?I still see none of the Wilson defenders on here will address my point about Kelsey Plum even though I’ve mentioned it twice. Please, someone explain to me why the white supremacists who run the WNBA, the marketing departments for these huge apparel companies, and ESPN didn’t jump at the opportunity before to market Kelsey Plum the way they are marketing Caitlin Clark. The bigotry has clearly been alive and well ever since America was founded. So why, why, why would they pass up that opportunity to further put down the black community?
It will never be reversed until Jesus returns to reign. Too many people pulling the other way.DEI has ruined these kids. 180 degrees opposite of how we were all raised. But now everything is about race. May take a generation to reverse.
If you want to sell some shoes, do it the way Michael Jordan did it.Sometimes people pigeonhole themselves.
Here is a good analogy: In the 60's Shirley Jones (mama Partridge from the TV Show) was a film and theater star. Around the very early 1970's she was offered the part to be mama Patridge. She WAS ADVISED not to do it as if the show were successful, she could kiss her film and stage career goodbye as she would always be known as Mama Partridge. Guess what? The show became a hit and she is forever know as that.
How that plays out here is, A'ja pigeonholed herself when she wrote the book "for little black girls". A'ja is all thing blacks. Caitlin on the other hand brought about something that America needed (including all races and creeds). She brought an excitement with her basketball skills, her background, being supportive of all basketball players (class). When you saw her at away venues, the little girls that showed up were white, black, Asian, Hispanic. A'ja could not pull that off as she was one dimensional in who she supported.
Yes Aja will get a shoe deal, but I grant you she will not sell anywhere near what Caitlin will sale. As a matter of fact, I bet Caitlin will sale more shoes than the last 5 shoe deals put together. Caitlin's reach is now worldwide whereas Aja is more than likely just going to be regional.
Most of America is put off by the race remarks. Why would white, Asian, Hispanic Americans support anything Aja puts out?
Caitlin has been nothing but supportive of all players. Maybe Aja could take a lesson in learning to be supportive of all girls/players from peanuts to adults. If only 13% of the population is black, she sure alienated the rest of America with her comments on race and books for "little black girls".
If Aja were a big deal, it would've happened before Clark hit the scene several years ago. Seems now she will just play the race card just like Reese to keep some kind of publicity going.
As far as Caitlin, just keep doing what you're doing, sign those jerseys, make apparencies, keep it classy, mind your manners, speak well....You've got the world by a string.
As someone who has actively watched both college basketball and the pros I can tell you that Kelsey was a pretty big deal entering the league. The media did try to to push her as the next big thing but she went to Washington an area not exactly known for basketball and Pac-12 WBB has rarely ever been onTV without a Pac-12 subscription so the ability to get a national audience was much harder. They WNBA and the media definitely pushed her hard and Plum herself said she felt uncomfortable about it because she thought there were more deserving players who never saw a fraction of the support she received despite being playing against much better players. Plum has said she has turned down more opportunities because she felt she didn't deserve them.I still see none of the Wilson defenders on here will address my point about Kelsey Plum even though I’ve mentioned it twice. Please, someone explain to me why the white supremacists who run the WNBA, the marketing departments for these huge apparel companies, and ESPN didn’t jump at the opportunity before to market Kelsey Plum the way they are marketing Caitlin Clark. The bigotry has clearly been alive and well ever since America was founded. So why, why, why would they pass up that opportunity to further put down the black community?
I am not sure you are meaning to say she made these comments to get a shoe deal, and I’m not sure that is what she was doing.Also, some need to see the gamesmanship in this. Wilson rattles a few cages with her statements and gets a Nike deal out of it.
She already signed for the signature shoe deal in February of 2023. She was unable to announce it until last week. I agree I don't think this was gamesmanship.I am not sure you are meaning to say she made these comments to get a shoe deal, and I’m not sure that is what she was doing.
However, if that was at least part of her intent, that is wrong, not ‘gamesmanship‘. To use divisive racial comments to further one’s own position shouldn’t be acceptable. It’s too important of a topic to have dishonest discourse.
Interesting, I would like to get a Hindu, Buddhist, Agnostic, Atheist, Muslim perspective on when Jesus will reign again?It will never be reversed until Jesus returns to reign.
That should not be an excuse to sit on your hands and do nothing to solve the problems in this lifetimeIt will never be reversed until Jesus returns to reign. Too many people pulling the other way.
And how did Michael do it? I am assuming by just playing and keeping his personal opinions to himself.If you want to sell some shoes, do it the way Michael Jordan did it.
Yeah, there is a lot of fame to be had and money to be made being a race huckster in America.That should not be an excuse to sit on your hands and do nothing to solve the problems in this lifetime
Exactly.And how did Michael do it? I am assuming by just playing and keeping his personal opinions to himself.
A wide range of posters have provided a wide range of thoughtful and respectful opinions on this thread - perhaps not what you hoped to incite with the OP. Your follow-on provocation to further pick at the scab reads like someone just itching for an ugly fight. Why?
Kudos to the board for engaging on a touchy subject in a reasonable manner.
Jordan was heavily criticized by the media for not using his massive platform to make more political statements. His response was “Republicans buy shoes too”.And how did Michael do it? I am assuming by just playing and keeping his personal opinions to himself.
So people want athletes to not be human, just play sports for our pleasure in seeing them accomplish feats that we as mere mortals only dream about. They are supposed to see things that's they think are wrong and not say anything. They shouldn't have an opinion. Michael Jordan did it his way so everyone else supposed to follow his blue print. I thought this was America the land of the free and the home of the brave. Why can't we agree to disagree, have opinion that's different from someone elses, and be civil. It's always been about race and will never change unless we as a country meet in the middle to bring about change. Now let's play some basketball on the court where there aren't this division of opinion and enjoy these women games if we are fans.If you want to sell some shoes, do it the way Michael Jordan did it.
word is Aja's first game drew 472,000 viewers....Clark's first game drew 1.6 millionI’m not a Clark fan but the WNBA is a joke and Clark gives them the best chance to grow their game. All players will benefit from the attention given to her. Thing is, they’d rather suck than have some white girl be the face of the league.
Ding ding ding....we have a winner!!!!! Spot on dude!!!Maybe Nike wants to sponsor the person who will sell more shoes
So people want athletes to not be human, just play sports for our pleasure in seeing them accomplish feats that we as mere mortals only dream about. They are supposed to see things that's they think are wrong and not say anything. They shouldn't have an opinion. Michael Jordan did it his way so everyone else supposed to follow his blue print. I thought this was America the land of the free and the home of the brave. Why can't we agree to disagree, have opinion that's different from someone elses, and be civil. It's always been about race and will never change unless we as a country meet in the middle to bring about change. Now let's play some basketball on the court where there aren't this division of opinion and enjoy these women games if we are fans.
So people want athletes to not be human, just play sports for our pleasure in seeing them accomplish feats that we as mere mortals only dream about. They are supposed to see things that's they think are wrong and not say anything. They shouldn't have an opinion. Michael Jordan did it his way so everyone else supposed to follow his blue print. I thought this was America the land of the free and the home of the brave. Why can't we agree to disagree, have opinion that's different from someone elses, and be civil. It's always been about race and will never change unless we as a country meet in the middle to bring about change. Now let's play some basketball on the court where there aren't this division of opinion and enjoy these women games if we are fans.
K... I will take this on...America is the land of the free and YES you can have an opinion. But remember, decisions you make have consequences. When you speak about race, you will automatically alienate people. If you write books and target a certain audience, you will alienate.So people want athletes to not be human, just play sports for our pleasure in seeing them accomplish feats that we as mere mortals only dream about. They are supposed to see things that's they think are wrong and not say anything. They shouldn't have an opinion. Michael Jordan did it his way so everyone else supposed to follow his blue print. I thought this was America the land of the free and the home of the brave. Why can't we agree to disagree, have opinion that's different from someone elses, and be civil. It's always been about race and will never change unless we as a country meet in the middle to bring about change. Now let's play some basketball on the court where there aren't this division of opinion and enjoy these women games if we are fans.
Caitlin did it with a smaller basketball which makes your average higher.She did not set the scoring record. She set the modern D1 record. There's a woman from SC that still has the all time record. I'm not underplaying the accomplishments of Caitlin Clark, which are many, but the record is not one of them.
I agree. Not sure I understand the hate. Women's basketball coaches and players are always talking about wanting to grow the game.... Clark helped grow the game because of her shooting and scoring prowess and now she is capitalizing on it. Yes, she is white and appeals to a wider audience because,, newsflash, only 13% of the population is black. Black folks talk about wanting to "see someone who looks like me" in various job fields. Well, maybe white girls want to see someone who looks like them in basketball too. Doesn't mean they are racist.Oh boy. Another SC representative having to make a mountain out of a mole hill and speaking outside of the realm of sports. Good grief. Getting more and more tired of my own alma mater.
That’s it; I’ve always wondered how this is not realized and embraced, it would be so easy. Own worst enemy.….Never thought she would be a victim- the world could be her oyster if she chose to see it.
The funny thing I notice is that the only people talking about DEI is White people. I am around a lot of Black people and those 3 letters never come up. On boards like this one and in interactions outside of my community suddenly I hear it all the time. A'ja had an issue personal to her. DEI never came up in what she said. However, some put it under that umbrella just because they didn't like what she had to say. Same thing with CRT. Just not a part of my discourse in my community. All of the sudden when I go outside everything is CRT. Seems like a predictable strategy at this point. Black person says something, just give it a three-letter term that is dooming America.DEI has ruined these kids. 180 degrees opposite of how we were all raised. But now everything is about race. May take a generation to reverse.
On your two points......The funny thing I notice is that the only people talking about DEI is White people.
A'ja ended up getting her deal with Nike deal. So, everything should be all good now.
Aja's deal with Nike was done two years ago and juist announced earlier this month, thus it was done befoe they even talked to CC. Also Aja's dea is a whole clothing line which Nike stated in their release will be significantly more than just a shoe deal. Obviously this means her brand is extremely high, she is marketable and because she will state the inherent advangtages some athletes are afforded because of certain privileges in this country, it has not hurt her. She just has donw as we all have been taught in this country as african americans. Work twice as hard to get equal treatmnent in many spaces.On your two points......
DEI is talked about in the white community because it's dumbing down folks in certain positions which can create a safety issue... AIRLINES are hiring Pilots based on race and not qualifications. Inspectors for the AIRLINES are hiring based on race, not qualifications. I could go on but you get the point.
DEI will not be talked about in the black community. Why would they? It's the same as asking the White community to talk about White Privilege. Why would I talk about privilege to my neighbor or co workers? I worked for everything I have without any special privilege.
As far as Aja getting a Nike deal, does she deserve it? It's not about being the greatest player, its about marketability. She has really hurt herself lately in that regard. Outside of the 13% she panders to, that's not going to equate to a lot of money compared to the ones like Jordan, Woods, Clark, who pandered to all of America.
How hard to you think Michael worked? Michael did not work hard because he loved basketball and stayed out of situations where he was asked about race, politics and news of the day (political correctness).Aja's deal with Nike was done two years ago and juist announced earlier this month, thus it was done befoe they even talked to CC. Also Aja's dea is a whole clothing line which Nike stated in their release will be significantly more than just a shoe deal. Obviously this means her brand is extremely high, she is marketable and because she will state the inherent advangtages some athletes are afforded because of certain privileges in this country, it has not hurt her. She just has donw as we all have been taught in this country as african americans. Work twice as hard to get equal treatmnent in many spaces.