Grant Hill lays the smack down to the Fab Five...again....

[Buford T. Justice]

<div>
</div><div>The real reason people hate Duke is because Duke has the self-control to not cater to 17-tards like Renardo Sidney. There are douche's everywhere but if you can find a kid at Duke (athlete or not) that acts more entitled than the fat *** that runs round the Hump wearing No. 1 I'd be impressed.</div><div>
</div><div>
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There is some truth to this. The Fab Five didn't like Laettner because he was white and a better college player than anyone Michigan put on the floor. And as two blacks were discussing in the C-store near my office two days ago, Grant Hill ain't a real $%^&*( (their word, not mine). There is an opinion that if you come from a 2-parent home, are 18 and don't have a kid yet, make good grades, have never been arrested, and live in the suburbs, that you are somehow "less black".

I remember a few years back an article in the Clarion Ledger where there would be no Mr. Lanier named at Lanier High School in Jackson. This was because one of the qualifications was to have a 3.0 GPA. None of the males qualified despite an enrollment large enough for them to be a 4A school (out of 5 classifications at the time). The teachers said that many of the males were smart enough, but didn't want to make the grades because they would be picked on and ostracized for achieving. Many successful blacks that achieve in the classroom, in business, etc. are looked down upon by other blacks as selling-out to the white man. This is an opinion two black acquaintances of mine have told me about (one owns a State Farm insurance business and he is my insurance agent. The other is in management at Nissan).

 

[Brutius]

who only likes teams with white players. Awesome!<div>
</div><div>Why don't you just go ahead and call Sidney the name you really want to? Come on, release your inner redneck, you can do it.</div>

 

[Brutius]

Not really sure what to say to this, its awesome that you know so much about black culture and what all high school aged black males think. I congratulate you on your mind reading capabilities.<div>
</div>

 

[olemissbydamn]

...if you were white, born between 1977 and 1982 (approx), and you liked basketball at all then you liked Duke. Why? Because just when you were getting to the age where you actually followed sports, they had two GREAT white players in Laettner & Hurley and won back-to-back titles. It just made sense to emulate those guys.<div>
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</div>

Wow...I guess I'm the exception. I'm white and was born in 1974. I started following Duke as a kid because of Johnny Dawkins. He was (gasp!) black.

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

...if you were white, born between 1977 and 1982 (approx), and you liked basketball at all then you liked Duke.

I'm white. I was born square in the middle of that range. I like basketball. And I hated Duke. Still do.

 

[seshomoru]

...if you were white, born between 1977 and 1982 (approx), and you liked basketball at all then you liked Duke. Why? Because just when you were getting to the age where you actually followed sports, they had two GREAT white players in Laettner & Hurley and won back-to-back titles. It just made sense to emulate those guys.<div>
</div>

Holy crap. You actually think I should feel some sort of pride because somebody who's skin is same color of mine can play basketball really well?

 

[OMlawdog]

Thomas Hill, Antonio Lang, Brian Davis, and Grant Hill were privileged kids? How did you know that? How did you know that Thomas Hill grew up in a stable home with good parents? Do you know that today, or are you just guessing he did because he didn't act like Jalen Rose on the court?

I don't remember the internet being around in 1992, so I don't remember being able to find out everything you wanted about a college basketball player, evidently you had access to this information. Pretty amazing.

I hated Duke too growing up, but it had nothing to do with who they recruited. I hated them because they won. They dominated college basketball and I hated them the same way I hated the Cowboys and Yankees growing up. I didn't realize that the reason I actually hated them was due to the fact that the black players they recruited were sell outs.

Jalen Rose hated Duke players because he didn't think they were "real black people" that they were Uncle Tom's. He believed that you needed to grow up on the streets without a father to be considered "Black". Like having two parents that take care of you is some how something that these Duke players should be ashamed of. Its mind blowing. Also, is it a bad thing for Coach K to actually try and recruit kids that study hard and want to be solid citizens? Is that somehow a bad thing now? Is he supposed to go out and recruit Renardo Sydney and Justin Reed when he can a guy just as talented, but that has character? How in the world is that a bad thing?

I can't believe Im defending Coach K, 18 year old me, would want to beat the crap out of me.

 

[klerushund]

If you are a white kid, you are going to look up to white players (not exclusively). It's not racist to admire people of your same ethnicity. You think black people are racist for being proud of Obama? No. They are excited because someone of their own ethnicity (someone who looks like them) achieved something special.<div>
</div><div>As a young kid, I looked up to Laettner and Hurley because I thought (in my naivety) I could be like them. They looked like me. They were good. I liked Hill too. How could you not? But as as 12 year old, when I went out in the driveway to shoot, I didn't imagine myself as a young black phenom taking my team to the final four. I imagined myself like I was. A skinny white kid. Idon't think that's racist at all. It's just reality.</div><div>
</div><div>As far as Sidney goes. I want to call him a fat *** entitled punk. His race has nothing to do with it. Just a clear example that being entitled isn't a luxury reserved only for the "affluent kids that Duke recruits" (Jalen Rose's words).</div>

 

[Buford T. Justice]

If you are a white kid, you are going to look up to white players (not exclusively). It's not racist to admire people of your same ethnicity. You think black people are racist for being proud of Obama? No. They are excited because someone of their own ethnicity (someone who looks like them) achieved something special.<div>
</div>

Even Grant Hill admits this fact in his letter:

The very idea of the Fab
Five elicited pride and promise in much the same way the Georgetown
teams did in the mid-1980s when I was in high school and idolized them.
Their journey from youthful icons to successful men today is a road map
for so many young, black men (and women) who saw their journey through
the powerful documentary, “The Fab Five.”

 

[RebelBruiser]

Hate makes the sports world go around. People naturally have developed a way to be fake to avoid confrontation, but I agree, I would bet Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner probably would've told you that they thought the Fab Five was a bunch of street thugs, or something of that nature if they were being honest. They probably wouldn't have been honest if asked though, which makes people feel more comfortable.

I thought it was funny seeing old clips of Dickie V, Bill Walton, etc. talk about how disgraceful it was that they wore the baggy pants, black socks, listened to rap, etc., and how they played selfish etc. It was just a veiled way for them to avoid saying what they really wanted to say, "these black guys aren't playing the sport our way, and we don't like it."

It's still that way in sports to some extent. The celebration penalties, the taunting penalties, all those types of rules were put in by old guard white folks who didn't like seeing trash talk and individualism creep into their sports. Swagger is still largely punished and vilified, and I say it's still largely a racially motivated practice.

The Miami 30 for 30 was a great example of that. They are largely the reason for the celebration penalties existing on the college level, and it was all because the old guard white folk didn't like seeing young black kids from Miami playing with swagger, taunting, and celebrating while kicking their teams up and down the field.<font color="#cc0000"> I say let them play, let them celebrate. Have at it. If you don't like it, get them on the next play. If you can't get them on the next play, then you aren't good enough. </font><font color="#000">None of that affects game play between the whistles. If your coach doesn't like seeing it from his players, let him control it. It shouldn't be up to the officials.</font>

Did you have any problem with McPhee landsharking all over Vaught-Hemingway?

Of course I didn't like it, but that doesn't change the fact that I think he should have the right to do it, and if he can't back it up, someone will stick him in the mouth.

If they can't stick him in the mouth, then they just have to take it.

As I always say, it should be up to the head coach of the players to determine how he wants his players to conduct themselves, and if that coach chooses to let his players talk smack or whatever else, then it's up to the opposing team to stop it.

And I agree with lawdog, if we end up winning next year and taunt the **** out of you, I'm fine with that too if the coach is willing to let it go.

For some guys, they have a hard time playing at a high level without running their mouth. I knew a lot of players like that, both white and black. They needed swagger to play well. For some players, all it does is serve to motivate the opponent or wake the sleeping giant. That's why I say it's up to the coach to control it.

It shouldn't be up to the officials. Celebration is by far the worst rule in college football. You'll never convince me otherwise.

Personally, I never played that way when I played sports growing up, but I'm smart enough to see it is a bogus rule.

 

[RebelBruiser]

a virtue even greater: HONOR

ANYBODY can debase themselves and their vanquished foe by talking smack and celebrating. Trying to make someone feel worse after defeating them doesn't change the score.

Conductingyourself with honor allows you to revel invictory while notheaping unwarranted embarrassment upon your conquered foe.

Why? Because you and some others like it that way?

Some people like to see celebrations and taunting. Some people value that type of belittling of the opponent when you make a play or beat them. Some people don't.

It's a personal opinion depending on where you are from and how you view sports. It doesn't effect what goes on between the whistles. That's why I don't believe there should be a rule to govern things of that nature. It just so happens that the up tight old white guy controls the sports world, which is why the up tight old white guy gets to force younger players to have to play sports the way THEY like it.

 

[seshomoru]

If you are a white kid, you are going to look up to white players (not exclusively). It's not racist to admire people of your same ethnicity. You think black people are racist for being proud of Obama? No. They are excited because someone of their own ethnicity (someone who looks like them) achieved something special.<div>
</div><div>As a young kid, I looked up to Laettner and Hurley because I thought (in my naivety) I could be like them. They looked like me. They were good. I liked Hill too. How could you not? But as as 12 year old, when I went out in the driveway to shoot, I didn't imagine myself as a young black phenom taking my team to the final four. I imagined myself like I was. A skinny white kid. Idon't think that's racist at all. It's just reality.</div><div>
</div><div>As far as Sidney goes. I want to call him a fat *** entitled punk. His race has nothing to do with it. Just a clear example that being entitled isn't a luxury reserved only for the "affluent kids that Duke recruits" (Jalen Rose's words).</div>

Actually... it kinda is.

I don't feel any sense of "white community" or "pride." I don't get a sense of accomplishment every time a white president gets elected or a white guy gets drafted by the NBA. Then again, no one in my family was denied basic human rights because the color of my skin for most of my country's history. I can't really comment on what a black person should feel when another black person ascends to a level previously unattained by a minority. I've never felt prejudice, racism, or needed laws to protect me because of what color I am. In other words, I can't be in their shoes and know how they feel or even comment on how I think they should feel.

I just know I've never felt any disadvantage because the color of my skin. Certainly not in school, work, etc. And certainly not in any athletic arena. I felt disadvantaged there because I'm small and slow. "White" doesn't enter my mind when defining who I am because it's never closed any doors.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Not really sure what to say to this, its awesome that you know so much about black culture and what all high school aged black males think. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I congratulate you on your mind reading capabilities.</span><div>
</div>

<span style="font-weight: bold;">The reason Jalen hated Duke</span> and said the things he said is the same reason I, one of the whitest persons in the entire world,
also hate Duke. (you are reading Jalen's mind)

<span style="font-weight: bold;">No one on this board</span>, short of maybe DawgAtAuburn with
his OleBlue/Rick Pitino esque fascination with everything Duke, would
say that the main premise of Rose's comments were invalid. (you are reading the mind of the posters on this board)

Take out the
"Uncle Tom" comment and you basically have what <span style="font-weight: bold;">every non Duke fan in
the world already knows</span>, that Duke only goes afterprivilegedkids. (you are reading the mind of every non Duke fan in the world)

<span style="font-weight: bold;">No
one that graduates from Coahoma County High School</span> for example, is going
to be playing basketball for Duke no matter how good they are. (you are reading Coach K's mind).
<div>
</div>It's what they do and it's how they operate.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> It's why teams (and the teams' fans) want to beat them so badly</span> every single year (you are reading the mind of teams and their fans).

 

[Brutius]

nm.

 

[tenureplan]

I knew a lot of players like that, both white and black.

Then how does your racism claim in terms of excessive celebration hold water?

 

[Buford T. Justice]

I was just telling you <span style="font-weight: bold;">what blacks themselves</span> are saying. I didn't say it. I am only repeating what two black friends said. I am only repeating what a few blacks said in the C-store. I am only repeating what black teachers said in the newspaper. You are a moron.

 

[RonnyAtmosphere]

The real reason people hate Duke is because Duke has the self-control to not cater to 17-tards like Renardo Sidney. There are douche's everywhere but if you can find a kid at Duke (athlete or not) that acts more entitled than the fat *** that runs round the Hump wearing No. 1 I'd be impressed.

For years, there have been well-documented, reliableaccusations of Dukebasketball breaking all kind of NCAA rules.

But since Duke is the basketball equvialent to Notre Dame and/or Auburn football, it's all swept under the rug.

Andplease forgo yourignorant digs @ Sidney while spewing your mis-informed crap about Duke.

 

[Brutius]

and guess I'm not doing a good enough job. You are only repeating what "blacks" say huh? "The blacks", surprised you didn't just come out and say "The Coloreds"<div>
</div><div>If you are a white guy posting on a message board and use the N word, I don't care how many "black friends" you have, you are a racist idiot. Having a black state farm agent doesn't suddenly make you the king of racial diversity. It just means you hate going to see your state farm agent.</div><div>
</div><div>The end.</div><div>
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[Buford T. Justice]

They used the n-word and I quoted what they said. Is that hard to understand?