If Manu Ginobili Was Black, He'd Be Your Hero

[Marhq]

If Manu Ginobili Was Black, He'd Be Your Hero
When tribalism and basketball intersect, this is what happens.

by Khalid Salaam

No Spur will ever wear Number 20 again. At some point in the next few years, Manu Ginobil’s name will get the rafter raising treatment and with it, an accompanying ceremony replete with big lights and a standing ovation by the San Antonio faithful. After that, who knows? It’s likely he and his story will fade away into the retired player abyss of forgotten memories.

Truth is, that’s unfortunate. Ginobil was a great player, not quite transcendent, but undoubtedly one of the most impactful players so far of the 21st Century.

But he won’t get that level of appreciation. Why? Because the optics are bad.

All this time Manu’s career has been a study on how tribalism works. And you didn’t even know it.

Continue reading...

Saludos.

[DarrinS]

I read that today. Totally disagree with the premise.

[nkdlunch]

In this country white > black > foreigner when it comes to sports figures

So the le should read if Manu was American, he'd be everyone's hero

like Larry Bird was

just look at Parker. He's black. underappreciated cause he's foreign. Dirk, same thing. etc, etc

[mookie2001]

If manu were black he'd be labeled uncoachable

[DarrinS]

Nah, greatness is admired for what it is. To say that Bird was admired because he's white, is a total insult.

[Keepin' it real]

If Manu Ginobili Was Black, He'd Be Your Hero

Tell that to all the Latinos in San Antonio.

[nkdlunch]

Nah, greatness is admired for what it is. To say that Bird was admired because he's white, is a total insult.

never said that. Bird was a top 20 player but Bird is sometimes talked as top 10 even top 5, which clearly he wasn't. He's overrated sometimes, and that's fine cause he's white.

[DarrinS]

Tell that to all the Latinos in San Antonio.

So only Latinos love Ginobili? Smh

[DMC]

No sports figure is my hero. That stops for normal people after age 12 I think. That could change if one of them drops a fortune in my lap.

[Man In Black]

I've been saying nationalism is a key issue why the 4 letter doesn't say what needs to be said by their use of selectively mute or edit Spurs stories and bylines for years. They'd rather push the Americans instead of the Internationals.

[DarrinS]

never said that. Bird was a top 20 player but Bird is sometimes talked as top 10 even top 5, which clearly he wasn't. He's overrated sometimes, and that's fine cause he's white.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Bird

[The Reckoning]

the author's audience is black men btw



none of you wankstas will understand.

[DarrinS]

Point being -- Bird wasn't a great "white" player -- he was just a great player, PERIOD.

[nkdlunch]

again, I never said he was not a great player. He belongs in top 20, maybe even top 15. But the way media sometimes talk about him and equating him to MJ and Magic, is just funny

it's really not hard to realize Bird, the "best white player ever" is overrated.

it's pretty understandable IMO

[Keepin' it real]

So only Latinos love Ginobili? Smh

Wow, you quoted me, but your post has nothing to do with what I wrote. Read it again.

[thiste]

Always funny to me when people refer to Parker as being black

[nkdlunch]

Always funny to me when people refer to Parker as being black

in this country parker is black buddy. just like Obama is black. Just like Kobe is black. Just like Tiger is black. welcome to the USA

[LoneStarState'sPride]

I think I may be the only black guy in Missouri with multiple Ginobili jerseys

[Yuixafun]

I think I may be the only black guy in Missouri with multiple Ginobili jerseys

I lived in Houston Missouri with my step-grandparent for 6 months, the second half of my 8th grade year.

I'm filipino but in that school I was 1 of three of colored kids and they thought I was black, well..

I got called the N word at regional track meets, from people in the stands screaming "Don't let that N beat you!!!!"


I have a Manu jersey too =).

[HemisfairArena]

Wow...what a weird topic. So if MJ was white he wouldnt be a top 5 player of All Time?

[Jumi]

Ginobili is a bad dude! Period! Larry Bird was a bad dude! Period! Race only matters when you don't have the game and some people need something to like about you besides your abilities. Once you do what you do, color doesn't matter. That's truth!

[HemisfairArena]

Look it is what it is when it comes to sports...I dont care about color but the best players to ever play in the NBA...95+% are black. MJ, Magic, Duncan, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Hakeem, Oscar, Kobe, Malone, Dr.J, ect...list goes on and on. The top white guys are Bird, Stockton, Maravich, West, and thats about it...not near an argument really. Its kinda like saying the best ever QB's in the NFL are usually white...like Montana, Brady, Manning, Starr, ect......with Doug Williams, Warren Moon, ect as the counter point.

[Yuixafun]

Randall Cunningham!

[hater]

"Tribalism doesn't exist" - Jeremy Lin fans

[skulls138]

never said that. Bird was a top 20 player but Bird is sometimes talked as top 10 even top 5, which clearly he wasn't. He's overrated sometimes, and that's fine cause he's white.

Bird IS top 5. Top 20? What a total joke.