For sports fan, particularly of New York franchises, a couple of events that transpired this past week could be indicators that we may have to strap in, because there’s some turbulence ahead.
Let’s begin with the news coming out of Chicago.
For the past few years, news emanating from the Windy City pertaining to young Black men usually came with tags such a “life cut short,” “senseless violence” and the like. We’re so caught up that if we hear of young brothers with bats, mask and gloves, we’re quick to jump to conclusions of something unsavory. Then along comes the Jackie Robinson West Little League Baseball Team. Their story and play, which plateaued with winning the United States championship and being the runner-up in international play, falling short to Seoul, South Korea, 8-4, had the nation riding with them for a weekend in late August.
Ironically, in Black History Month, some information was unearthed that has reduced their on-field accomplishments to an afterthought. After months of investigations, Feb. 11, Little League International stripped the Jackie Robinson West baseball team of its national title for boundary infractions, defined by the organization as the “parent or guardian place of bona fide continuous habitation.”
That’s where we going? We’ve come from barnstorming the Negro Leagues, breaking the color barrier in 1942 (Larry Dolby later joined the party in 1947), becoming the all-time home run leader, and yet, in 2015, African-Americans ain’t checkin’ for baseball. Wonder why?
Now we look at round ball, for the most part, a beautiful game to watch, Except for fans of the New York Knicks that is. It happens. What can you do? Riders ride. I’ve been a fan of the team and will continue to be. But some of the moves made in the front office makes me want to throw down a punch bowl and have a Florida Evans moment … DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!
I’m just an outsider looking in, but from my point of view, it seems that the lure of the city has much more to do with personal gratification and brand building than with the ultimate success of the franchise. So it was crazy that in my line of work, I’d see rehabbing players walking red carpets, recording mixtape verses or chilling in clubs. When winning DOES creep into their thoughts, then they want to be the catalyst, not a piece.
The new management regime seems to have a sense of that too. So maybe it’s not coincidental that the Knicks have agreed to a buyout of the player who was considered in 2010 to be the savior of the franchise: Amar’e Stoudemire. No need to opine on his tenure here. Fans know what time it is. He left us with these kind words on his instagram:
“NY NY what a beautiful city A place where you can hang out with Anna, JayZ & Diddy
Its a place absent of excuses and patience If your smart, you can meet leaders of every nation
NY NY big city of dreams Everything in NY isn’t always what it seems
In the land where the jungle is concrete The money flows Dow Jones and Wall Street
Home of #Stat city and the #Knickstape Orginator, Shalom to all my fans, Salute to all my haters.
“Peace and Love Amar’e Carsares Stoudemire Sr.”
So I guess I’ll salute you, Amar’e.
Over and out. Holla next week. Till then, enjoy the nightlife.