Jackson comments on Arizona law trigger protest

[duncan228]

Updated.

Jackson comments on Arizona law trigger protest (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=txphiljacksonimmigrati)

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson refused to criticize Arizona’s new immigration law, triggering a backlash among activists who plan a protest outside Staples Center on Monday night.

Jackson was asked two weeks ago about a plan by the Phoenix Suns to wear their Los Suns jerseys during a playoff game on May 5, Cinco de Mayo. The immigration law spurred the Suns’ decision to use the jerseys to honor Arizona’s Latino community.

“Am I crazy, or am I the only one that heard when the legislators said that ‘we just took United States immigration law and adapted it to our state?”’ Jackson responded.

When the reporter suggested that Arizona had usurped federal law, Jackson corrected him. “It’s not usurping, they just copied it, is what they said they did, the legislators. Then they give it some teeth to be able to enforce it.”

The biggest questions about the law center on how it could be enforced without leading to racial profiling of Hispanics and without alienating residents in Hispanic neighborhoods with whom police have spent years trying to build trust.

The law, which is scheduled to take effect July 29, has triggered protests and prompted several cities to boycott Arizona businesses. Los Angeles is the largest of those cities.

“I have respect for those who oppose the new Arizona immigration law, but I am wary of putting entire sports organizations in the middle of political controversies,” Jackson said in a statement issued Monday.

He said he hoped his statement would not be used by either side to rally activists.

Activists want the Lakers to put on the Los Lakers jerseys they wore for a game on March 21 and in years past to honor Hispanic fans. Lakers spokesman John Black said those jerseys will not be worn during the playoffs.

“We will not be getting involved in choosing sides among our many different support groups in any debate, nor will we be getting involved in political issues of this nature,” Black said.

“Our focus and goal at this time is on basketball, winning games, and hopefully winning another championship, which we feel the vast majority of our fans want us to focus on,” he added.

[lefty]

I agree with KFC

[The Gemini Method]

odelay.

[lefty]

Los Lakers

What about Los Angeles Lakers ?

[IronMexican]

I'm happy the Lakers aren't, cause they are ugly. And only Mexicans from East LA buy them. And they always buy the Pau ones. Fucking Mexicans.

[The Gemini Method]

I'm happy the Lakers aren't, cause they are ugly. And only Mexicans from East LA buy them. And they always buy the Pau ones. Fucking Mexicans.

To be honest, I've only seen the gringos/gueras/sucias wearing the Los Lakers jerseys, not that I could be mistakened...I agree though...horrible marketing ploy...

[duncan228]

Phil Jackson Doesn’t Want His Statements Used By Either Side of the Arizona Immigration Debate (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=tsn-philjacksondoesntwan)
SportingNews

If you remember, two weeks ago I gave Phil Jackson some guff (http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/65055/phil_jackson_does_not_support_the_suns_stand_on_im migration_law) for saying that NBA teams shouldn’t feel the need to make a statement on the Arizona immigration debate (or, by extension, any political issue). It was a surprising move: a man who had seemed like one of the NBA’s biggest progressive activists was now saying that there was a time and place for political statements, and they shouldn’t happen with any relation to basketball organizations.

Not everyone saw Phil’s statement as a statement about where and when we should be making these statements. An Orange County political blog has now organized a demonstration (http://www.ocregister.com/sports/jackson-249053-lakers-law.html) for tonight’s Game 1 between the Lakers and Suns to respond to Jackson (via Ball Don’t Lie (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Pro-immigration-groups-to-protest-Lakers-before-;_ylt=Avc4RwVpGPIsvtgY4Lyqu92zvLYF?urn=nba,241514) ):


"We are not happy with the position that Phil Jackson took," Nativo Lopez, the national president of the Mexican-American Political Association said. "We want to call on Jackson and the Lakers to put on their Los Lakers jerseys, especially considering the tremendous support that the Lakers have enjoyed from the communities specifically targeted by the misguided and racist Arizona law."

Phil felt the need to clarify things (http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/100517philjacksonstatement.html) again earlier today:


I’ve been involved in a number of progressive political issues over the years and I support those who stand up for their beliefs. It is what makes this country great. I have respect for those who oppose the new Arizona immigration law, but I am wary of putting entire sports organizations in the middle of political controversies. This was the message of my statement. I know others feel differently, even in the Lakers organization, but it was a personal statement. In this regard, it is my wish that this statement not be used by either side to rally activists.

Okay, so Jackson doesn’t exactly support the law—he just thinks it shouldn’t be spoken out on by "entire sports organizations," presumably because they represent entire regional areas with varied political opinions.

Yet it still seems to me that the Zen Master is being rather naive about this issue. He’s a major figure with a reputation as having a strong political conscience, so it’s no surprise that whatever he said about the issue would spark some kind of response. People care what Jackson has to say, and he should understand the context in which his words operate.

It is definitely unfortunate that his words were misconstrued in this way. But for someone who usually knows exactly how to work the media when the topic pertains to basketball, it seems odd that he’d so thoroughly misunderstand the media climate surrounding this issue. Words have consequences, especially in a controversy of this magnitude.

[duncan228]

The first post is updated.

[BlackSwordsMan]

agreed with phil throw those mexicans out

[Gutter92]

lmao

[mojorizen7]

I agree with KFC

Absolutely. It's WAY to hip & easy to take the bait and run with this controversy and start making political statements,boycotting organizations that have NOTHING to do with the issue at hand.

Glad PJ just let politics be politics and sports remain sports.

[Bob Lanier]

Those protests sound like a great opportunity for mass-deportations.

[duncan228]

Peaceful protest outside Staples Center (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-philjackson-immigration)

Several dozen people waving signs and American flags gathered outside Staples Center before the Lakers-Phoenix Suns game in a protest over Lakers coach Phil Jackson ‘s refusal to criticize Arizona’s new anti-immigration law, Los Angeles police said Monday.

The protest was peaceful and there were no arrests, Officer Karen Rayner said.

Among those who came were 15 Los Angeles High School students brought by their teacher, Rodney Lusain. Lusain told the Los Angeles Times he wanted his students “to see the power of protest.”

Jackson was asked two weeks ago about a plan by the Phoenix Suns to wear their Los Suns jerseys during a playoff game on May 5, Cinco de Mayo. The immigration law spurred the Suns’ decision to use the jerseys to honor Arizona’s Latino community.

“Am I crazy, or am I the only one that heard when the legislators said that ‘we just took United States immigration law and adapted it to our state?”’ Jackson responded.

When the reporter suggested that Arizona had usurped federal law, Jackson corrected him. “It’s not usurping, they just copied it, is what they said they did, the legislators. Then they give it some teeth to be able to enforce it.”

The biggest questions about the law center on how it could be enforced without leading to racial profiling of Hispanics and without alienating residents in Hispanic neighborhoods with whom police have spent years trying to build trust.

The law, which is scheduled to take effect July 29, has triggered protests and prompted several cities to boycott Arizona businesses. Los Angeles is the largest of those cities.

“I have respect for those who oppose the new Arizona immigration law, but I am wary of putting entire sports organizations in the middle of political controversies,” Jackson said in a statement issued Monday.

He said he hoped his statement would not be used by either side to rally activists.

Activists want the Lakers to put on the Los Lakers jerseys they wore for a game on March 21 and in years past to honor Hispanic fans. Lakers spokesman John Black said those jerseys will not be worn during the playoffs.

“We will not be getting involved in choosing sides among our many different support groups in any debate, nor will we be getting involved in political issues of this nature,” Black said.

“Our focus and goal at this time is on basketball, winning games, and hopefully winning another championship, which we feel the vast majority of our fans want us to focus on,” he added.