I think it's silly to think NBA owners/general managers would waste a valuable roster spot on a non-deserving player because of his skin color.MSNBC talking head Chris Matthews was having a spirited discussion about affirmative action on “Hardball” when suddenly, unexpectedly, the conversation shifted to race and sports.
At first, the chat was about everyday jobs, with Matthews posing the question: “If an Italian passes the firefighter’s exam, and a black man doesn’t, who gets the job?”
This led to his Pat Buchanan using the “Olympic model.” Basically, that there are black-dominated sports (sprinting, high-jump) and white-dominated sports (hockey, swimming) but this is America, dammit, and the best athletes are the ones who make the team.
That’s when things get interesting. Matthews, ever the provocateur, then proclaims, “I think a lot of NBA teams carry white players.”
And what's the point of having your 10th, 11th or 12th guy be white? It's not like he's seeing time on the court or making the cover of your media guide.
Am I naive?