Phil Jackson... questions Phoenix Suns' protest on state immigration policy

LA Times ^ | May 5, 2010 | Mark Medina

[C19fan]

In a wide-ranging news conference before the Lakers' 111-103 Game 2 victory Tuesday over the Utah Jazz, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson provided some clues on what his coaching future entails. .......................................................

Jackson had campaigned for Sen. Bill Bradley in 2000 and donated to the Obama election campaign, but he argued, "I don't think teams should get involved in the political stuff."

"I think this one is still coming out to the balance in how it's going to be favorably looked upon in our audience and our public," Jackson said. "If I heard right, it's that the American people are for stronger immigration laws if I'm not mistaken. Where we stand as a basketball team, we should let that play out, let the political end of that go where it's going to go."

[kcvl]

Sarver, Robert
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
self/real estate investment
DESERT CAUCUS, THE $300
primary 12/11/09

SARVER, ROBERT G MR
PHOENIX, AZ 85016
PHOENIX SUNS/OWNER MCCAIN, JOHN S (R)
Senate - AZ
FRIENDS OF JOHN MCCAIN INC $2,500
primary 10/21/09

Sarver, Robert G.
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
Phoenix Suns/CEO
MOVING PHOENIX FORWARD PAC $2,000
primary 09/28/09

Sarver, Robert G.
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Torrey Pines Bank/Chief Executive O BERKLEY, SHELLEY (D)
House (NV 01)
BERKLEY FOR CONGRESS $2,000
primary 09/28/09

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=AZ&last=Sarver

[GSWarrior]

Phil Jackson is making it harder to hate the Lakers.

Dammit!

[mattdono]

Guarantee that this was spearheaded by the dopey Canadian Steve Nash.

[AFreeBird]

A Zen Master would be the first to instruct one on the concept of balance.

[Niteranger68]

Phil's got to keep that income up so he can continue to donate to socialists.

[marron]

The best protest would be to charge people for tickets, and then let people in who don’t have tickets.

That’d show ‘em.

[Poison Pill]

Way to go Phil! Sort of surprised he had such common sense

Whatever his own personal views may be, he knows that people go to and watch sporting events to escape from the burdensome issues of everyday life, not to get closer to them.

[GSWarrior]

Was talking with a friend of mine yesterday who was born in Mexico. He told me that teachers in Arizona who have spanish accents will be fired.

Thank you, mainstream media. You are doing a fine job of keeping us informed.

[CodeToad]

The NFL got political and went after Rush.I don’t participate at all anymore with the Negro Felons and Liberals.

MLB has gotten political and went after AZ and sided with illegal aliens. I love going to a Rockies game as it is a great stadium and faces just the right way. No more.

MLB can kiss my American ass.

[screaminsunshine]

Both of those communist spys should be investigated.

[thesheepdog]

Perhaps you should check your sources. Maybe your friend in Mexico had trouble with the translation from Spanish to English.

I am a teacher in Arizona and those of us with accents WILL NOT BE FIRED. Where did you get your brains from the ignorant farm.
Get real. If you believe this then I have a bridge to sell you.

[thesheepdog]

He is my new Hero. I now love the Lakers. Phil is a class act.

[jdlucas04]

Whatever, newbie. Are you going to be trouble here at FR? JK.

[Windflier]

Way to go Phil! Sort of surprised he had such common sense living in La La Land for these past years.

I once did a project for coach Phil at his L.A. home, and got to know him a bit.

He's a real gent, a straight thinker, and not prone to drifting to the extreme in anything. Great guy.

[Windflier]

“I am a teacher in Arizona and those of us with accents WILL NOT BE FIRED. Where did you get your brains from the ignorant farm. Get real. If you believe this then I have a bridge to sell you.”

I understand your indignation, and agree with you, but I do have to point out that your punctuation is rotten for a teacher.

[Windflier]

It’s called smart business.

Right on the money.

Celebrities and sports figures are essentially commercial enterprises. When they stand up in public and take a strong political position (either way), they risk alienating at least half of their customers.

When this story first broke, I commented that the Phoenix Suns might very well destroy their franchise because of declining ticket sales. They've taken a huge business risk, for reasons that go completely beyond their basic commercial mission. Not a good idea.

[Cyropaedia]

Wow.

I guess Phil Jackson's even more astute than I thought.

[Azzurri]

I understand your indignation, and agree with you, but I do have to point out that your punctuation is rotten for a teacher.

Maybe he's a gym teacher. ;-)