Let Larry Legend speak

By Mason Williams Sports Central Columnist

The NBA Finals matchup between the Lakers and the Pistons commanded center stage this week, but unfortunately, too much has been made about another NBA story. The Lakers and Pistons played two exciting games on Sunday and Tuesday. As Kobe Bryant was burying a clutch three-pointer to send Game 2 into overtime, media scavengers were chomping at the bit after Larry Bird appeared on an ESPN special.

Bird joined Magic Johnson, Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James on a program entitled, "Two on Two." On the program, Bird stated that it would be beneficial to the NBA if there were more white star players. He went on to say that the NBA is a black man's league and that blacks are better athletes. He capped off his series of statements by saying that he was offended when opposing coaches put white players on him as defenders.

By Wednesday morning, Bird's comments were on all the wires and sports talk shows from L.A. to Kennebunkport. Cries of racism and ignorance were directed at Bird, and some pundits and fans were calling for Bird to apologize. As an avid fan of the NBA, a black man, and a severe critic of political correctness, I throw myself wholeheartedly behind Bird and his statements.

Bird was completely correct in his estimation of the lack of white players in the NBA. As good as Dirk Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovic are, they are not as marketable as they could be if they were American-born white players. Ever since Larry Bird, Chris Mullin, Mark Price, and later, John Stockton, left the league there has been a steady in flux of European players.

People forget that, for better or worse, the NBA began as an all-white league. Through the years of integration, the composition of the league became increasingly black, although white players remained a dominant presence. Over the course of the past 10 years, that presence has diminished.

Honestly, can anyone name one American-born white all-star player? No, there are none. I would take Bird's statements one step further. I believe there should be an affirmative action program that maintains the American white presence on every team.

Go ahead call me out as insensitive and callous. Europeans, other foreigners, and high school players are taking the positions on the bench that used to reserved for white players. Would there be any room for Scott Wedman, Greg Kite, Jerry Schisting, or Brad Lohaus in the league nowadays? I think not.

The bigger question is what happened to the all-star caliber white players. Are they not playing as much basketball? Are other sports capturing the premiere white athletes? These are the deeper issues that Bird touched upon. I would caution killing the messenger.

As far as the NBA being a black man's league, the numbers don't lie. Blacks make up upwards of 75% of the league's players. Bird stated the facts bluntly, but nonetheless, they are the facts. Ever since the early 1970s, the NBA has moved in this direction.

What I do disagree with is Bird's assertion that blacks are better athletes. More black people focus their athletic prowess on skills necessary to be good at basketball. There are white athletes that focus their athleticism in other arenas. I would argue that Lance Armstrong is more athletic than any basketball player is.

What about Michael Phelps, the swimmer? The point is that general statements like "blacks are more athletic," or "whites are more suited for management," are just unfounded. Blacks may be better basketball athletes, but let's limit the scope of these statements to the basketball court.

Lastly, I applaud Bird for saying he was offended when white players guarded him. Throughout his career, players on the court taunted about him being white and slow. All he did was win multiple championships, MVPs, and knock down clutch shot after clutch shot. He, along with Magic, was the best player in the league during the 1980s. Remember, it was Magic and Bird who saved the NBA, not one or the other, but both.

If the other top players were black and the top defenders were black, then it would be an insult to put anybody other than the best on Bird. Bird was a notorious competitor and a ferocious trash-talker. It's good to see that his juices still flow.

In conclusion, let's get back to the real story in the NBA ... the Finals. Have we become so sensitive that we must apologize for saying what we feel, be it right or wrong? I hope not. Keep saying what you feel, Larry Legend.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.