So my dislike for Bird is what really led to my rooting for Magic....
That's not to say that's how everyone felt. Even my rascist grandfather loved Magic. He followed the NBA pretty closely and held Magic on a pedastal above everyone else, including Bird. He lives in Mississippi, a notoriously rascist area. There are certain players that transcend race, and it's sad that certain black players don't get the same respect certain white players do, but that's the way it is.
Jordan was one of those players who was not white or black, but just "the greatest player who ever lived". He was a hero to every boy growing up, black or white, or asian. He is known by everyone in the world. I can't possibly see how him being white gets him more endorsements, or more international acclaim.
Edit: I'm not saying he would be less popular, but that he would be exactly the same. There's nowhere else to go from the most recognizeable person, most loved athlete, etc. He's already at the top.
That's not to say that's how everyone felt. Even my rascist grandfather loved Magic. He followed the NBA pretty closely and held Magic on a pedastal above everyone else, including Bird. He lives in Mississippi, a notoriously rascist area. There are certain players that transcend race, and it's sad that certain black players don't get the same respect certain white players do, but that's the way it is.
Jordan was one of those players who was not white or black, but just "the greatest player who ever lived". He was a hero to every boy growing up, black or white, or asian. He is known by everyone in the world. I can't possibly see how him being white gets him more endorsements, or more international acclaim.
Edit: I'm not saying he would be less popular, but that he would be exactly the same. There's nowhere else to go from the most recognizeable person, most loved athlete, etc. He's already at the top.
you missed the point in what I said...... the reason Magic & Bird were so popular was because they were opposites and they were big time rivals
neither one of them would have been as popular alone as they were together....the fact that they were both
*incredible players
*opposites
*rivals
thats what made them popular....
Magic was Showtime
Bird was blue collar
that situation in this country at that time made for great theatre
Quote:
you seriously have a one track mind.
cant help it......look where we live at...look at the title of this thread.....may as well speak the truth
They were linked but there's no way you can say that individually they wouldn't be loved. And my point was to say, that because they were linked, you had many people picking one over the other. Case in point, my rascist grandfather. Bird and Magic were so closely tied, you would think he would like Bird more, but he didn't. So maybe you missed my point.
It's because they were so tied together that people were forced to pick favorites. Magic was just as loved as Bird, maybe moreso.
They were linked but there's no way you can say that individually they wouldn't be loved. And my point was to say, that because they were linked, you had many people picking one over the other. Case in point, my rascist grandfather. Bird and Magic were so closely tied, you would think he would like Bird more, but he didn't. So maybe you missed my point.
It's because they were so tied together that people were forced to pick favorites. Magic was just as loved as Bird, maybe moreso.
i'm straying away from the topic but that era is referred to as 'the showtime era'. that says something on how people felt about magic...and the lakers for that matter.
sad to say but he might have lost some fans by being white. people like athletes and celebrities they can relate to, and race plays some part in that. even nba analysts do it. every white player gets compared to larry or west or pistol pete. it's stupid. you never here a guy like reddick get compared to say dell curry, even though that's probably what he'll be. instead it's got to be john barry or fred hoiberg. anyway you never know. he could have been compared to west or barry instead of dr. j and lost some people right there. or what if he was from wealth like lambeer. barkley always says that these days ecomomics are as a big a factor as skin color. you can't know, but it's hard to picture it having a positive influence. how many white guys did you know who ONLY watched the nba because of jordan?
take a guy like david becker. he's pretty well-known around the globe. but is that because of his talent or is it something else? i would guess it's the latter.
so what if jordan looked like david becker?
uhm... i don't really know if it would make a difference since jordan is already so friggin huge. dude goes to china and people cry in tears like they have just seen jesus.
A White Mike would be as popular as Dirk. White kids would by wverything he made, but black kids wouldn't. Just like when you were/are in school, kids try to take up the black culture or hip-hop culture (thats why white kids runn around screaming n!gga)
Why will being white make him less popular?...Try to elaborate please because I don't see it. Blacks are minorities, it only makes sense that if you belong to the majority, you'll be more popular.
You would think so, but you would be wrong. Your illogical "If..then" statements don't capture the nuances of the American population...
Would Tiger Woods would be MORE popular if he were white? How bout A LOT less popular. How bout so less popular you wouldn't really care about him at all, just like you don't care about the other great white golfers out there.
If Pete Sampras were black, he'd be the most celebrated athlete ever. Unfortunately for him, he's a boring white guy.
Still think being white in sports is better? We love black people. Can't get enough of them.
nobody said it was better....just that it would draw more hype....
Nah...look at Dirk Nowitski...nobody cares about him
People love underdogs. Black people are the "underdogs" because they are a minority in our society. So people relate to them more and want to see them do well in any sport and in life. Who cares about another white guy being a success? I sure don't.
It's a two way street........white people would overall possibly like him a little bit more, for instance middle-aged people would praise him for being a fine citizen/speaking eloquently, other BS.
But overall I think it's clear he would be less popular overall. He's already as famous as it possibly gets. So what fans is he gonna gain? On the other hand, i'm sorry but this is true.........black people don't look up to great white athletes. It's true, generally. Granted, there's far less of them ESPECIALLY in basketball. But Spike Lee puts it best in his book how his neighborhood practically got in an uproar when someone proclaimed Larry Bird the best in the game. I think even in the movie, the follow up line is "Best? Well, he's the ugliest motherf*cker in the game." He even went to the courts and asked everyone on the court who's better, him or Magic......all Magic. Think race didn't play a part of that? Even someone like Babe Ruth, how much do you hear about Babe Ruth possibly having black genetics in him?
Granted what I said above is very stereotypical but like Rasheed said, how can you NOT be when discussing this subject? Black kids aren't gonna look up to a great white athlete like a white kid is gonna look up to a great black athlete.......history has proven that.
