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Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson to sell NBA team after racist email
Q13 Fox News ^ | Q13 FOX NEWS STAFF/Jillian Martin

Posted on 09/07/2014 9:34:51 AM PDT by freebilly

Edited on 09/07/2014 9:56:01 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

Another NBA owner has been caught making racist remarks, but it doesn

(Excerpt) Read more at q13fox.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: atlanta; atlantahawks; brucelevenson; hawks; nba; race
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To: DoodleDawg
The Constitution protects you from government interference in your First Amendment rights. It doesn't mean that private associations that you are a member of can't use your words against you.

And when the government colludes with private associations to use those words against you..., you're screwed....

41 posted on 09/07/2014 10:05:29 AM PDT by freebilly (How about this-- we stop trying to elect the unelectable)
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To: kabar
After reading the email, it seems more like a frank analysis of his business and what must be done to increase the fan base.

Holder said we were cowards to not talk about race. This shows why that is true.

42 posted on 09/07/2014 10:06:03 AM PDT by eddie willers
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To: freebilly
I thought the Clippers were sold to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. Would the price have gone that high without all the publicity?

Plan:

1. Tweet something that might be considered "racist"

2. "Duck and cover"

3. Collect mucho dollars

4. Retire to Tahiti.

5. Laugh all the way to the bank.

43 posted on 09/07/2014 10:06:59 AM PDT by Sooth2222 ("Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself." M.Twain)
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To: Rockpile

I exercised White Privilege and paid over $100 for my seat..including local taxes.


44 posted on 09/07/2014 10:08:45 AM PDT by BilLies ( it isn't the color of the skin, but culture that is embraced that degrades.)
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To: rabidralph
Here's a more complete accounting of the e-mail's contents.

Thanks for posting that link. From the article:

"My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a significant season ticket base," Levenson said in the email released Sunday by the Hawks.

"Please don't get me wrong. There was nothing threatening going on in the arena back then. I never felt uncomfortable, but I think southern whites simply were not comfortable being in an arena or at a bar where they were in the minority."

Levenson said Hawks crowds are 70-percent black, the team's cheerleaders are black and hip-hop music was played. "Then I start looking around at other arenas," Levenson said. "It is completely different."

Levenson said he often heard fans say the area around Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta is dangerous.

"This was just racist garbage," Levenson said. "When I hear some people saying the arena is in the wrong place I think it is code for there are too many blacks at the games."

Though he said he disagreed with the conclusion, he said he told team executives to add white cheerleaders and music "familiar to a 40-year-old white guy."

Added Levenson in the email: "I have even bitched that the kiss cam is too black."

45 posted on 09/07/2014 10:10:39 AM PDT by freebilly (How about this-- we stop trying to elect the unelectable)
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To: Cowboy Bob

My personal view of this is that while somewhere between 5 and 20% of the Country are unemployed, the 80% who are employed are, for the most part, making pretty good money. This explains why, even in Obunga’s sucking economy you often wait 30+ minutes to get a seat in a restaurant, stadiums are still relatively full, etc.

Nothing scientific. Just MPO.


46 posted on 09/07/2014 10:11:24 AM PDT by Tucker39 (Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and in politic)
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To: freebilly

In today’s Black-Run America, truth = racism.


47 posted on 09/07/2014 10:11:56 AM PDT by Zman516 (Thought-Criminal #1)
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To: freebilly

I don’t support racist actions or comments. At the same time, I don’t think someone’s livelihood should be subject to PC Group think based on an occasional stupid comment.

Does anyone thing these gang members that are punching out folks on the street should be banned from holding a job ever again, even if the person was missed with the punch?

What about drive by shooters? Should we prevent them from holding a job ever again even if they haven’t wounded someone?

Do blacks think any black that burglarizes the homes of whites, should never be able to get a job again?

These owners should have rights too. I realize they are more highly visible, but that should now make a difference if it’s a seldom exhibited behavior.

Look at the words to some of the rap songs out there. Haven’t heard of anyone being banned for those lyrics.


48 posted on 09/07/2014 10:12:16 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (We'll know when he's really hit bottom. They'll start referring to him as White.)
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To: eddie willers
Holder said we were cowards to not talk about race. This shows why that is true.

Take you're beating at the hands of the media and the current Administration like a man....

49 posted on 09/07/2014 10:12:29 AM PDT by freebilly (How about this-- we stop trying to elect the unelectable)
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To: buckalfa

“Free speech is a Constitutional right. The constitution does not however guarantee no consequences for said free speech.”

True, but it’s not that simple. But who’s to decide what or even if any consequences should be administered? By what standards do we judge what speech is worthy of a pass and what speech should be punished?

The answer is that there is no answer. Which is why free speech to truly be free must be void of consequences. Only my opinion.

Wonder what Levin would have to say about this?


50 posted on 09/07/2014 10:16:10 AM PDT by Paulie (Get off the grid.)
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To: freebilly

Is there any update on whether Sterling will be exempted from capital gains taxes, on account of the sale being forced? If Sterling avoids a tax hit of hundreds of millions of dollars, wouldn’t that give Levenson pause, about selling before being forced to?


51 posted on 09/07/2014 10:17:11 AM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: Paulie

Actually that’s a really easy question to answer: who gives you money. Anybody that gives you money gets to decide whether or not your speech is worthy of a pass or should be punished. I suppose friends and relatives get to decided too, but their punishments are usually more private. Out in the public sphere it’s very straight forward, people get to withhold their money or not.


52 posted on 09/07/2014 10:20:00 AM PDT by discostu (We don't leave the ladies crying cause the story's sad.)
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To: freebilly
Any millionaire black sports and entertainment people given up their positions due to racist remarks they make? Of course not.

They have Black Privilege.

53 posted on 09/07/2014 10:20:51 AM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: hosepipe

Was it on the Tonight Show, “Charley Weaver” used to have the schtick where he read supposed letters from back home in “Mt. Idy”?
Now picture an act called “Black Mail” in which a Flip Wilson type reads letters supposedly from “Aunt Lurdine” back home in “Younameit”.
....or not.


54 posted on 09/07/2014 10:21:15 AM PDT by Tucker39 (Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and in politic)
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA
Is there any update on whether Sterling will be exempted from capital gains taxes, on account of the sale being forced?

LOL - You get one guess. This is Obama's IRS you're talking about.

55 posted on 09/07/2014 10:21:20 AM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: Liberty Valance

Hate Speech Surtax


56 posted on 09/07/2014 10:23:04 AM PDT by morphing libertarian
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

It wasn’t forced. The sale was agreed to before the vote. So no, he’s not immune to the taxes.


57 posted on 09/07/2014 10:23:20 AM PDT by discostu (We don't leave the ladies crying cause the story's sad.)
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To: freebilly
“My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a significant season ticket base,” Levenson said in the email released Sunday by the Hawks.

“Please don’t get me wrong. There was nothing threatening going on in the arena back then. I never felt uncomfortable, but I think southern whites simply were not comfortable being in an arena or at a bar where they were in the minority.”

Levenson said Hawks crowds are 70-percent black, the team’s cheerleaders are black and hip-hop music was played.

“Then I start looking around at other arenas,” Levenson said. “It is completely different.”

Levenson said he often heard fans say the area around Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta is dangerous.

“This was just racist garbage,” Levenson said. “When I hear some people saying the arena is in the wrong place I think it is code for there are too many blacks at the games.”

Though he said he disagreed with the conclusion, he said he told team executives to add white cheerleaders and music “familiar to a 40-year-old white guy.”

Added Levenson in the email: “I have even bitched that the kiss cam is too black.” ,p>Though the NBA investigation of the email was ongoing, Levenson apparently concluded he couldn’t continue in his ownership role.

“If you’re angry about what I wrote, you should be,” Levenson said in Sunday’s statement. “I’m angry at myself, too. It was inflammatory nonsense. We all may have subtle biases and preconceptions when it comes to race, but my role as a leader is to challenge them, not to validate or accommodate those who might hold them.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/hawks-owner-bruce-levenson-selling-team-racist-emails-article-1.1931047#ixzz3CeSIwJgP


Black fans are also racist and scare white fans off the NBA team discussion forums.

58 posted on 09/07/2014 10:24:03 AM PDT by conservative98
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To: kjam22

After reading the entire article I believe he’s merely trying to get out while he can and take a ton of $$$ with him.


59 posted on 09/07/2014 10:27:21 AM PDT by Tucker39 (Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and in politic)
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To: freebilly

No kidding. If I were an NBA owner, and new I could sell my team for way more than it is worth by simply saying something racist, I would take out a full page ad in a newspaper, and quote a rap song.


60 posted on 09/07/2014 10:29:31 AM PDT by Yogafist
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