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.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The Nutcracker: English National Ballet's reboot restores 'festive sparkle'The Week Recommends Long-overdue revamp of Tchaikovsky's ballet is 'fun, cohesive and astoundingly pretty'
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdownSpeed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
-
Today's political cartoons - December 18, 2024Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - thoughts and prayers, pound of flesh, and more
