No one ever answers this.
The writer who came up with the "$40 million dollar slaves" line worked for the New York Times.
We'll assume he was a $100,000 slave for the Times.
In the first page of the thread.............I mentioned the origin of the title.
story is from 1999
L.J. TAKES WALTON INSIDE KNICK SHOOTS BACK OVER REDHEAD'S CRITICISM
Ohm Youngmisuk
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, June 25, 1999, 12:00 AM
Tired of hearing Bill Walton criticize his every move, Larry Johnson took off the gloves yesterday. Unleashing a few verbal jabs of his own at the outspoken NBC commentator, Johnson ripped into Walton in front of a throng of national media representatives after Walton called him a "disgrace to the human race" in a recent MSG interview. "Is that what Bill Walton said?
" Johnson asked rather calmly. "
That's not the same Bill Walton that was in UCLA smoking pot and (being a) hippienot that one? If that is the way Bill feels, that is the way Bill feels.
"
"You know what? I respect that," Johnson added. "
That way me and Bill know where each other stand. For the longest, Bill has been killing me on TV, my family and everybody tells me. But when he sees me, he is shuffling, buckling and going on.
" Walton, who had been critical of Johnson's game and the "Big L" symbol with which the Knicks forward celebrates his baskets, made the "disgrace" comment Tuesday night following Johnson's description of the Knicks as "
rebellious slaves" who "don't go with the mainstream don't go along with the masses.
" It's been a difficult NBA Finals for Johnson. At 6-7, he's had the unenviable task of guarding the 7-foot Tim Duncan on achy knees. Johnson's shot has deserted him: He's shooting just 28% from the field and averaging 7.
8 points for the series. Johnson's frustration spilled over on Sunday when he cursed out a league official, earning a $25,000 fine. He already had to shell out $10,000 for skipping out on the media earlier in the postseason. Yesterday, Johnson had been in a lighthearted mood and remained calm even when discussing Walton. Throughout Johnson's interview session, which ran longer than the Knicks and Jeff Van Gundy would have liked, he brought up Walton's name repeatedly, regardless of the topic. "
My man Avery (Johnson) we are from the same plantation, both got (the) Johnson name," the Knicks forward said when asked about the Spurs' lack of a third scorer. "Tell Bill Walton that. We are from Master Johnson's plantation.
" Walton said yesterday that every man is entitled to his own opinion. "That is what a lot of people have suffered a lot for to have that right," he said diplomatically. While Johnson acknowledged that he lives a privileged life his $84 million contract was once the largest in the NBA he said it is hard for him, after a tough childhood, to ignore the historical plight of African-Americans. "
Damn Bill Walton," Johnson said. "
Tell him to trace his history and see how many slaves his ancestors had.
" "
This is a beautiful country, the best country. But it is not holy. It is not righteous. We talk about what is going on in Kosovo and Nigeria. What is going on here? Here the NBA is full of blacks, there are great opportunities, they've made beautiful strides. But what percentage of that, of black people, have made that stride?
" "
I'm the only one who came out of my neighborhood. Everybody I know is dead, in jail, on drugs, selling drugs, poverty. So am I supposed to be honored and happy and whatever just by my success? Yes, I am. But I can't deny the fact of what has happened to us over years and years and years and we are still at the bottom of the totem pole. I can't turn my head to that. That is my point. If I lie, fine. If I don't, take it and go on about your business. That is what you can tell Bill Walton.
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White fan the following year heckled LJ from the safety of the stands and questioned his slave comment "slave? you're a 40 million dollar slave"