Something Positive coming out of AZ - What to do??
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Something positive coming out of AZ. I still don't know if I can actually watch the game, due to my boycott, but felt this was a thoughtful move by the Suns and the league.
Let me tell you, I love the NBA playoffs and it hurts not to watch any games involving the Phoenix Suns. But it is what it is. Anyways while surfing the net I picked up on this story about the Phoenix Suns..... thought maybe you guys might enjoy reading it.
thanks,
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_d ... nba,238682
In general, people in the sports world keep their political leanings to themselves. Sure, there are a few guys who regularly speak out on political issues, but for the most part that's considered bad business. As Michael Jordan put it, "Republicans buy shoes too." That's why what the Phoenix Suns are doing is so amazing.
The team will be wearing its "Los Suns" jerseys for Wednesday night's Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs "to honor [the] Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona, and our nation." Awesome.
The decision to wear the jerseys came from way up the corporate ladder, as team owner Robert Sarver suggested the team wear their Noche Latina alternates.
Sarver, who was born and raised in Tucson, said frustration with the federal government's failure to deal with the illegal immigration issue led to the passage of what he called "a flawed state law."
"However intended, the result of passing the law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question," he said, "and Arizona's already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them."
The Suns voted on the jerseys and unanimously decided to wear them for Cinco De Mayo. As if he weren't likeable enough, Phoenix guard Steve Nash(notes) succinctly summed up the Suns' feelings on the issue.
"I think it's fantastic," Nash said after Tuesday's practice. "I think the law is very misguided. I think it's, unfortunately, to the detriment of our society and our civil liberties. I think it's very important for us to stand up for things we believe in. As a team and as an organization, we have a lot of love and support for all of our fans. The league is very multicultural. We have players from all over the world, and our Latino community here is very strong and important to us."
And it's not just the Suns who are speaking out on this issue.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is on board, and the team even tried to get their "Los Spurs" jerseys, though it was too late to do so. When asked for approval to wear the jerseys, the NBA "was all for it," said Suns general manager Steve Kerr. Furthermore, NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter issued a press release, denouncing the law.
The recent passage of the new immigration law in Arizona is disappointing and disturbing. The National Basketball Players Association strongly supports the repeal or immediate modification of this legislation. Any attempt to encourage, tolerate or legalize racial profiling is offensive and incompatible with basic notions of fairness and equal protection. A law that unfairly targets one group is ultimately a threat to all.
We applaud the actions of Phoenix Suns players and management and join them in taking a stand against the misguided efforts of Arizona lawmakers. We are consulting with our members and our player leadership to determine the most effective way for our union to continue to voice our opposition to this legislation.
It's not much, just an extra three letters on the front of a tanktop, but it means a lot more. As Kerr said, the Suns want to "make sure that people understand that we know what's going on and we don't agree with the law itself." For a sports team, that's huge.
Let me tell you, I love the NBA playoffs and it hurts not to watch any games involving the Phoenix Suns. But it is what it is. Anyways while surfing the net I picked up on this story about the Phoenix Suns..... thought maybe you guys might enjoy reading it.
thanks,
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_d ... nba,238682
In general, people in the sports world keep their political leanings to themselves. Sure, there are a few guys who regularly speak out on political issues, but for the most part that's considered bad business. As Michael Jordan put it, "Republicans buy shoes too." That's why what the Phoenix Suns are doing is so amazing.
The team will be wearing its "Los Suns" jerseys for Wednesday night's Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs "to honor [the] Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona, and our nation." Awesome.
The decision to wear the jerseys came from way up the corporate ladder, as team owner Robert Sarver suggested the team wear their Noche Latina alternates.
Sarver, who was born and raised in Tucson, said frustration with the federal government's failure to deal with the illegal immigration issue led to the passage of what he called "a flawed state law."
"However intended, the result of passing the law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question," he said, "and Arizona's already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them."
The Suns voted on the jerseys and unanimously decided to wear them for Cinco De Mayo. As if he weren't likeable enough, Phoenix guard Steve Nash(notes) succinctly summed up the Suns' feelings on the issue.
"I think it's fantastic," Nash said after Tuesday's practice. "I think the law is very misguided. I think it's, unfortunately, to the detriment of our society and our civil liberties. I think it's very important for us to stand up for things we believe in. As a team and as an organization, we have a lot of love and support for all of our fans. The league is very multicultural. We have players from all over the world, and our Latino community here is very strong and important to us."
And it's not just the Suns who are speaking out on this issue.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is on board, and the team even tried to get their "Los Spurs" jerseys, though it was too late to do so. When asked for approval to wear the jerseys, the NBA "was all for it," said Suns general manager Steve Kerr. Furthermore, NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter issued a press release, denouncing the law.
The recent passage of the new immigration law in Arizona is disappointing and disturbing. The National Basketball Players Association strongly supports the repeal or immediate modification of this legislation. Any attempt to encourage, tolerate or legalize racial profiling is offensive and incompatible with basic notions of fairness and equal protection. A law that unfairly targets one group is ultimately a threat to all.
We applaud the actions of Phoenix Suns players and management and join them in taking a stand against the misguided efforts of Arizona lawmakers. We are consulting with our members and our player leadership to determine the most effective way for our union to continue to voice our opposition to this legislation.
It's not much, just an extra three letters on the front of a tanktop, but it means a lot more. As Kerr said, the Suns want to "make sure that people understand that we know what's going on and we don't agree with the law itself." For a sports team, that's huge.
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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36779.html
heck, i was reading that kendrick (owner of the diamond backs) who's a huge republican and supporter of the current state gov is against this law ... that should tell people something ...
edit: watch the game ... steve nash is awesome ... haha
ya ... and teen wolf wouldn't approve this law either as he would be a visible minority as well ...
Desperation leads to unfortunate, drastic, and sometimes idiotic ideas.
the feds don't enforce any laws that could inhibit big business ... case in point: pretty much every environmental law there is ...
if you did an audit of most big businesses - you would see that they all hire illegal workers whether it's cleaning buildings or doing whatever shit job they don't want to pay full wages for ...
the problem isn't enforcement of any said law, the problem is that the economy is in the shitter because americans have let corporations dictate everything and now when it's gone pear shape ... people in legislative power are looking for a scapegoat ... and it's somewhat sad that republicans continue to prey on the prejudices that exists everywhere to distract people from the real problems ...
that is kind of like saying I couldn't be against laws that support genocide of jews because I'm not Jewish...
or against infringement of gay rights because I'm not gay...
Just because an issue doesn't directly affect someone doesn't mean that person can't be vocal about that issue being an injustice. What an absolutely horrible perspective...
Interesting, I didn't know you had to live on or near the border in order to not support this bill. I don't support this bill and I for half a year live in a gated community and now have a home in Arizona. It matters none where these people live it's about the bill and what it says and how it will affect the legal immigrants in Arizona is what they object to. I'll probably have to carry my passport just in case those in authority want to know my citizenship status when I'll spend a month in Phoenix (AZ) . :evil:
Oh BRAVO for the Phoenix Suns and I'm sure more will follow.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
A lot of new names on this thread , showing some support- Thanks!
That is just so far away, and given our (as a society) attention span, this won't be an issue by next summer. There will be some other political crisis or whatever to take our attention. And by then, either parts of the bill will be repealed, or (like is already happening) enforcement guidelines will be relaxed where it's not even noticeable.
Good move on the Suns though...
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Dude - you did see in an article I posted somewhere that the Tuscon police chief is against it too, right? Is Tuscon close enough to the border for you? Does the Chief of Police know enough about the situation for his opinion to get some respect?
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
It's obvious only big corporations are to blame...silly me. Man, your rhetoric gets old.
It's obviously a part...and guess what??? Part of enforcing the law would have been to go after companies using illegal labor. See how that works?
soo ... the economy is in shits because of illegal workers? ... the country is at war because of illegal workers? ... the environment is going to shit because of illegal workers? ...
i'm sorry it's getting old to you but it's the reason why this world is going to shit and it shouldn't take much to realize it ...
and i really have no clue what your second point is - i'm telling you they aren't enforcing the law because big corporations don't want them ... all the state of arizona is doing is tapping into the systemic prejudices that exists and using these people as scapegoats for what is going on right now ...
Godfather.
Huh? What the f does the economy...the war..or the environment have to do with illegal immigration? Well, the economy and illegal immigration are mixed, but I'm confused with the rest.
As I've said in the other thread and this thread actually, companies hiring illegal workers is part of the problem. What I am saying is that AZ just got fed up enough that the fed isn't actually enforcing their own laws so they took the matter into their own hands. Of course, they really screwed it up to the other side of the spectrum, but it's not a surprise that a border state did something like this due to the blind eye from the feds.
It would be the same if the feds were ignoring environmental issues to such a level that the state came in and made their won laws...oh wait...like CA has done.
it has everything to do with it (less the environment because people don't really care about it) because when things are shitty such as they are now - the people in power need an excuse ...
i hear what you are saying and i'm telling you it has nothing to do with the problem of illegal workers ... show me one credible objective source that says illegal aliens in america is a problem ... everyone is focused on the economy now and my point is these republicans are trying to blame the economy on illegal workers when in fact they are not the problem ...
ultimately, the economy is crux of the issue ... not people working illegally ...
That is a valid point...like I said, the AZ law goes way far to the other side of the spectrum vs. the fed's blind eye. It's a terrible law. Not arguing that at all. But one of the main reasons this terrible law is in place is because the feds didn't enforce the laws they already had in place. If they had been, there would have been no need for, and no public support for, a law like they have in AZ.
That's absolutely no excuse to enact a law that will violate the rights of minorities.
Didn't say it was. Please show me where I did.
Didn't say you said it was. Please show me where I did.