Just WOW! (Levenson will sell Hawks)

[lethalweapon3]

Among many, many other people, Bob Rathbun and Steve Holman don't deserve putting up with this crap.

 

~lw3

[AHF]

I think what was said needs to be taken in context and nobody has stepped forward to explain what the context was.  It could have been written to mean hard-working, and/or humble.  Also, that tweet isn't the full quote, there's a sentence after it that says, "And I don't say that in a bad way".

 

But yea, if it was meant to be a disparaging remark then it is not good at all.

 

I just think everyone is jumping to conclusions and it's too early too really tell what the intent was behind the remarks.

 

Usually that means exactly the opposite.  When you say, "I'm not trying to be insulting but..." what inevitably follows is something insulting.

[ViperXX79]

Danny Ferry isn't the problem with the Hawks.  It is, has been, and always will be the A$G until the A$G is removed in entirety.  Their true intentions have come to light in this - $$$.  Koonin is the only keeper.

 

I really hope this isn't going to cost us both Bud and Ferry.  They have good pick ups for us.

 

How is Ferry not a problem when he's clearly comfortable or extremely stupid enough to read that scouting report?  Pretty obvious that's not someone a team wants running things.  He's either racist or incompetent.  He may even be both.

[Final_quest]

I don't find the Levenson emails shocking or offensive.  Don't you think every team has discussions about which demographic they will target, and how to get them in to the arena?

 

What is interesting to me is a discussion on why this email was released under these circumstances?  Of all the times to talk about a conspiracy theory it is now.  Some theories:

 

1. Most popular theory is that Levenson saw how this worked for Sterling.  He sold for a crazy amount of money.  Levenson might have wanted out, and to get this sale a lot of attention.

2. The other owners wanted Levenson out.  Maybe they had multiple emails or blackmail material, and used this email as a means of kicking him to the curb.  

3. I had a crazy thought that perhaps they wanted to use this as a means of changing the demographics at Philips.  Would releasing these emails and other comments, such as Ferry's, turn off the "usual" black crowd?  If blacks started boycotting games then "southern whites" would feel like they could come back to the arena to fill the void.  Ha, this one is far fetched I know.  

 

The other discussion that is interesting to me is who the new owner could be and will the other owners sell their portion as well.  I honestly have no idea, but at least we can hope for new and better ownership.  

[ViperXX79]

I think what was said needs to be taken in context and nobody has stepped forward to explain what the context was.  It could have been written to mean hard-working, and/or humble.  Also, that tweet isn't the full quote, there's a sentence after it that says, "And I don't say that in a bad way".

 

But yea, if it was meant to be a disparaging remark then it is not good at all.

 

I just think everyone is jumping to conclusions and it's too early too really tell what the intent was behind the remarks.

 

To me it sounds similar to when people say that want more "dog" in Teague.  It's not a compliment but they feel it's needed for a him to succeed.  Sounds like "African" was a bad thing but they feel like players need it to succeed on the court.  It just sounds really bad.

[Admin]

I don't agree with his assumptions. Blacks spend money on good products. Look at V103, etc, Glad he is selling because if he is marketing to us blacks he has done horribly.

Wth is V103? I kinda want it now whatever it is.

[Jody23]

On XM86, CViv wouldn't be specific, but he said one of the Atlanta based owners is the one who called for the review.

[lethalweapon3]

I can only imagine poor Nique being stuck in that room while Ferry's reading that to the owners! The rented jacket and tie would be coming off, and the sleeves would be going up!

 

Maybe that's how "...and I don't say that in a bad way" got said!

 

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~lw3

Edited September 8, 2014 by lethalweapon3

[DJlaysitup]

And lets not forget that this is more than likely a ploy by Levenson to make money and get out of the ASG ownership.  He turned himself in intentional to make money. 

 

I have a hard time buying that angle...more likely this was some sort of negotiated "release" of an email...and there were worse.

 

As Barney Fife would say "where there is smoke...there is fire water"  Just my guess.

 

I don't care if you are a third string cornerback for Sam Houston State or a Senator from New York...you normally don't admit to stuff unless you are caught...then...once caught...you get the best deal you can.

 

My guess is this goes deeper - but they are in "Damage Control" mode now.

[ATLHawks3]

Funny how just one sentence can make you change your opinions about a guy. Ferry, I've enjoyed your attempt at trying to bring the Hawks closer to a championship, but it is obvious now that you lack the sensitivity and intelligence to continue the job (even if he read it from a scouting report). I hope he gets fired. As a black teenager, it saddens me to know that people 30-40 years older than me are even more ignorant than I am. 

[lethalweapon3]

Wth is V103? I kinda want it now whatever it is.

 

It's like your Majic 102.1 in Houston. The bellwether "urban contemporary" R&B/HipHop station. CBS Radio owns the station.

 

I went to check and see what former DC DJ legend and Hawks/V103 personality Big Tigger has said about this, but he's promoting the Redskins logo on his Twitter page, so this is probably not a good time for him to say anything anyway.

 

~lw3

Edited September 8, 2014 by lethalweapon3

[ATLHawks3]

Wth is V103? I kinda want it now whatever it is.

 

It's an African American radio station here in Atlanta. They play Hip-Hop/R&B/etc. 

Edited September 8, 2014 by ATLHawks3

[lethalweapon3]

The good news is my phone has stopped ringing for one day from the wonderful "Account Managers" at the Hawks' season ticket office. How'd you like to have that job this week? I'd quit to go sell sno-cones in Iceland or something.

 

~lw3

[macdaddy]

I agree there has to be more to this story.  The Ferry part seems too illogical for the facts given so far.   Was it 'hey listen to what this asshole wrote about Deng'?  or was it 'here is what i think is a good description'.   I'm just suspicious that this one reading of some other guys opinion made the owners run for outside cover of an independent investigation.   I'm thinking there is a bigger rift in management and a lot of dirty pool going on here.

[HawkItus]

I agree there has to be more to this story.  The Ferry part seems too illogical for the facts given so far.   Was it 'hey listen to what this asshole wrote about Deng'?  or was it 'here is what i think is a good description'.   I'm just suspicious that this one reading of some other guys opinion made the owners run for outside cover of an independent investigation.   I'm thinking there is a bigger rift in management and a lot of dirty pool going on here.

Why do you think that?  Seriously, working for a law firm I know they take these internal investigations seriously.  Even looking into fidelity issues amongst the owners to make sure this isn't a power play.   How hard is it to assume that someone who was on that call took exception to that statement?  Maybe that was just the last straw and there were other times that they let "slide".  How do you know?  The problem is his and Bruce's actions don't get the benefit of the doubt blindly anymore.   

[Guest Zone]

Changes need to be made. Trying to convince athletes to come here is going to be straight up impossible other wise. Ferry might have to go too. Perception is everything and having Ferry's name directly attached to this situation is simply not a good look.  

 

If this news gets us a new owner, I'd be thrilled.    

[DJlaysitup]

So - our ownership is not only racist...they are bad at what they do.

 

Hell at least the old racist Boston franchise won Championships  (shaking my head)

[macdaddy]

Why do you think that?  Seriously, working for a law firm I know they take these internal investigations seriously.  Even looking into fidelity issues amongst the owners to make sure this isn't a power play.   How hard is it to assume that someone who was on that call took exception to that statement?  Maybe that was just the last straw and there were other times that they let "slide".  How do you know?  The problem is his and Bruce's actions don't get the benefit of the doubt blindly anymore.   

 

That's exactly my point.   This one incident doesn't add up to an independent internal investigation.   I think it's either a last straw thing, an agenda on someone's part, or something.   It being the last straw is the thing i hope it is not.   Because then we have more to come.

[DJlaysitup]

Danny Ferry's Dream Team:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fttt3fFTxk

[Wretch]

If you take your biases/sympathies away and if you're just honest about this...it's not so hard to connect the dots.  There's plenty of information to extrapolate a very good educated guess about what's going on in our front office.

 

Levenson's comments show you the vision that *THEY* have for the franchise.  It's business sure, but there's a preference for a certain audience and to pander to that audience.  Is it mostly a money thing?  Sure, but the assumption that black people don't have/spend money and that there aren't enough affluent African Americans to support this thing?  The fact that this is an open and comfortable conversation between owners kind of just spells it out.

 

If they are so concerned over race that they brainstorm over marketing minutia such as the ethnicity of the cheerleaders, kiss cam, music...doesn't it stand to reason that they want a TEAM that is as appealing to that crowd as well?

 

"He's still a young guy overall," Ferry said, league sources with direct knowledge of the probe told Yahoo. “He's a good guy overall. But he's not perfect. He's got some African in him. And I don't say that in a bad way."

 

 

I know some of you don't want to think anything bad about Ferry, but...it's pretty clear what's going on.  They're looking to built a team a certain way and that means be particularly mindful of the actual team on the floor.

 

This is why Deng isn't "perfect."  Otherwise, from a basketball standards POV, how does he NOT fit the Ferry plan?  It  just doesn't make any sense.  Especially since he is still a young guy by Ferry's own admission.  There is absolutely no valid explanation for including a player's nationality in a scouting report and certainly not in Deng's case.

 

This is as much about talent as it is the appearance/marketability of a player in relationship to their appeal to the target audience.  That's it.  Look at what they're doing:

 

• Team basketball (IMO throwback basketball)
• International guys (But "African" is "not perfect" for their vision)
• Hard working guys (Including a quiet guy named Paul Millsap, by way of Utah, that they just erected a statue to)
• High character guys (I.E - no thugs)
• White cheerleaders
• Music that appeals to white people
• Less hip hop
• OPEN conversation about racial prefrence...

The vision is clear and it's not about winning so much as it is about winning and getting more white people in the arena.  Someone in the ownership doesn't agree with our direction/marketing strategy and pounced on the opportunity to create change.

 

What should really be upsetting people is the fact that our ownership is still VERY MUCH meddling in our team building.  I know you guys want to trust Ferry and believe in him so much...but this is exactly what I said it was.  

 

They ASG is still calling the shots.  They just have a GM that shares their vision.

 

“It’s going to be a whole new kind of basketball you’re going to see here. If you’re a basketball purist, you are going to like watching us play.”