Jan. 26 Jesse Jackson Press Release: "Dismay" over New Jersey Nets' Firing Byron Scott

Rainbow Push.org ^ | January 26, 2004 | Keiana Peyton-Barrett

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

(CHICAGO, IL) Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. today said he was dismayed over the dismissal of New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott. “To fire the winningest coach in the history of the team, a coach who has led them to two conference titles, seems absurd,” Jackson said. “But, this is a business, and Byron knew the risks. The fact that the Nets wouldn’t give him a contract extension was a warning sign. Hopefully, he will bounce back next year with another team. He certainly deserves it.”

Jackson said he had followed Scott’s career since he was in college. “This was a young man who has exhibited leadership in college, as a pro player and as a coach,” he said. “His coaching career will not be defined by this one moment.”

Jackson added that he hoped the recent sale of the Nets wasn’t a major factor in Scott’s dismissal. “There are some investors who got involved because Byron was at the helm,” he said. “This could have an impact on plans to move the team to Brooklyn. Time will tell.”

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Oh, and Lawrence Frank, Scott's replacement, is 9-0. Note Jesse here is hinting at another shakedown:“This could have an impact on plans to move the team to Brooklyn. Time will tell.”

[Swanks]

Why, the NJ Nets Management must be racist, not wanting a black man as coach. Jackson's 'professionally outraged' racism charges is so...1970's.

[Drango]

Jesse, Jesse-
There's no money to be made here...move on.

[jocon307]

Well, the conventional wisdom is that it was Jason Kidd who wanted Scott gone. And the new guy is doing well, or the team is doing well under him, so what can you say? Nothing succeeds like success.

[11th Earl of Mar]

The "winningest coach in the history" of the New Jersey Nets?

How good do you have to be to be the winningest coach of the New Jersey Nets?

[Swanks]

I got to see a game (Calif. Golden Bears vs Wake Forest Deacons) where Jason Kidd and Tim Duncan were freshman, both getting limited playing time. Of course no one knew we were looking at two future hall of famer's that day.

[milemark]

To: je$$e jacka$$

You are right to be dismayed rev. jacka$$. Scott was black and he was fired. Obviously there is a connection. No one who is black is ever fired for any other reason than being black. White people are never fired. Only black people are fired and only because they are black.

[jocon307]

That's very cool.

[gaspar]

There goes Scott's career. Would you hire him knowing you would have Jesse Jackson as baggage?

[The Truth Will Make You Free]

Excellent

[hometoroost]

Jesse should get a job so we know what line of work he's out of.

[RayChuang88]

Mind you, another Jesse Jackson shakedown won't be as effective, especially th publication of Ken Timmerman's book on Jackson (which opened a LOT of eyes on Jackson's tactics) and Jackson's admission of fathering a child out of wedlock and using Rainbow/PUSH money to keep the who affair a secret.

[stilts]

Basketball coaching is a joke. The players have all the leverage and they know it. If a coach can't get a long with a teams superstar it is the coach that will be ousted. At this point in the season EVERY coach in the eastern division has been changed out. Were all of them "racist" firings?

[Main Street]

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