Controversy is raging over Don "Moose" Lewis' plans to launch an all-white basketball league. The former wrestling promoter claims that the NBA has devolved into "street ball" dominated by "people of color" who carry guns, abuse fans, and—above all—don't play "fundamental basketball." Lewis' proposed All-American Basketball Alliance (AABA), scheduled to debut later this year in 12 Southeastern U.S. cities, will restrict team rosters to "natural-born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race." Claiming to harbor no "hatred" against "anyone of color," Lewis describes his venture as a chance to move pro basketball in a "better direction." Is the AABA anything but a pure expression of racism? (Watch the commissioner defend the whites-only basketball league)
This is beyond ridiculous—but it's for real: I first took this as a joke, says Rick Chandler at NBC Sports. Then "I made a couple of calls" and "sadly, it's indeed legit." Equally depressing is the fact that it's getting some grass-roots support, at least in Augusta, Ga., one of the 12 cities the AABA is targeting to host franchises. So much for progress on the race front.
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