Hawks will discipline GM Danny Ferry for repeating offensive comment

[all3rd]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on...ive-disciplinary-action-for-repeating-comment

Atlanta Hawks' co-owner Bruce Levenson is going to sell controlling interest in the franchise after self-reporting an email with "inappropriate and offensive" material about the team's African-American fan base. With the Donald Sterling saga so fresh in everybody's mind (not to mention the $2 billion price tag the Los Angeles Clippers sold for), Levenson tried to get ahead of the scandal before it possibly came to light. He won't be the only one in the Hawks' organization affected by this.

Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tells us Hawks' co-owner and CEO Steve Koonin will be disciplining general manager Danny Ferry for repeating an "offensive and racist remark" that was in a background report about a free agent. Ferry will still remain on as the general manager.

Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson said he will sell his controlling interest in the franchise because of an “inappropriate and offensive” internal e-mail sent two years ago regarding, in part, the lack of white fans at Philips Arena.

Levenson made the abrupt announcement Sunday, months after he self-reported the email to the NBA in July and the team and league commenced an independent investigation into the matter. In an exclusive interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday night, Hawks co-owner and CEO Steve Koonin said other disciplinary action will be taken, including against general manager Danny Ferry.

According to Koonin, the Hawks held a meeting in early June to discuss free agency. At that meeting, a player was being discussed and Ferry cited a background report that included an “offensive and racist” remark.

“Instead of editing it, he said the comment,” Koonin said.

So what exactly was in this background report and if Ferry merely repeated it instead of editing it, where did the comment come from? You start wondering whether or not these are in more background reports around the league or if this is just an isolated incident. Marc Stein of ESPN.com has sources saying the background report was about Luol Deng, who was a free agent and eventually signed with the Miami Heat.


There seems to be a concerted effort to make sure racism in the league isn't tolerated, but you also have an owner volunteering to sell his controlling interest in a franchise, which will bring about a significant payout in the process.

 

[Born2BKing]

@ dudes name being Steve Koonin. He must post here.

 

[MikelArteta]

Damn ferry

 

[Steezy]

he needa go

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

Of course this wasn't an isolated incident.

These a$$holes can't help themselves.

 

[Rekkapryde]

Ferry Too?

his ass. Don't know of too many bald cacs that are cool.....

 

[JBoy]

not you too Ferry

 

[Tupac in a Business Suit]

Not trolling here and perhaps im missing something but am I the only one that isnt terribly offended by this and thinks the dude should not have been fired?

Yes his email may have made references to white consumers being superior to blacks but how is him wanting whites who have more disposable income at his games than blacks racist?

 

[Costanza]

god damn man... for like the 5 atlanta hawks fans... this shyt is crushing...

aint no coming back from this in 2014... it only grows and grows... ferry is gonna be within 4 weeks... watch

 

[Lucky_Lefty]

Has anyone actually seen this email? Curious to what was said

 

[Black White Sox Hat]

 

[lightskin jermaine]

come back to san antone, coach bud. you don't deserve this mess.

 

[Lucky_Lefty]

Not trolling here and perhaps im missing something but am I the only one that isnt terribly offended by this and thinks the dude should not have been fired?

Yes his email may have made references to white consumers being superior to blacks but how is him wanting whites who have more disposable income at his games than blacks racist?

Put it like this. ATL is a predominantly black city. Black folks have been supporting the Hawks for the longest. White folks have never cared for that team. Only NBA squad where you'll see mad black folks sitting court side. As the league has ran away from it, that team seems to embrace the ATL hip hop scene. Now you see how it could be seen as offensive?

 

[Tupac in a Business Suit]

Put it like this. ATL is a predominantly black city. Black folks have been supporting the Hawks for the longest. White folks have never cared for that team. Only NBA squad where you'll see mad black folks sitting court side. As the league has ran away from it, that team seems to embrace the ATL hip hop scene. Now you see how it could be seen as offensive?

I see what you mean. And that's a good look for Blacks of Atlanta holding the franchise down for many of years helping them thrive there. I don't know how long the dude has owned the team for but strictly from a business perspective, if blacks have been supporting the team for many of years without them being profitable by NBA standards for a major market, what is wrong with the owner wanting to shift the demographic setting to cater to whites with more dispensable income to raise the teams valuation? Isn't that the reason why one would purchase a team or business in the first place? To increase the value of their investment?

Now I agree, you cant have it both ways. Meaning you cannot systemically oppress people and deny them opportunity and then expect them to spend their last dollars on premium F&B as well as merchandise. Most Blacks including myself would spend their money on food, shelter and clothing rather than a 500 dollar night at a Hawks game.

 

[GunRanger]

Ferry Too?

his ass. Don't know of too many bald cacs that are cool.....

Ferry's doing a great job though. Think carefully about this