Brand calls Rose's comment "ignorant"
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Brand calls Rose's comment "ignorant"
There's a lot of context around the recent ESPN documentary of Michigan's Fab Five, which aired Sunday. The documentary itself is riveting, but it seems to have taken on a life of its own with the comments from Fab Five member, Jalen Rose, who currently works as an ESPN analyst. (Also of note, Rose was an executive producer on the documentary.) If you don't have any background on this, basically here is your Cliff's Notes: ESPN aired a documentary about how Michigan's Fab Five influenced the culture -- basketball and otherwise -- during their time at Michigan in the early 90's.
Rose's comment within the documentary is as follows: "I hated Duke and I hated everything Duke stood for. Schools like Duke didn't recruit players like me. I felt like they only recruited black players that were Uncle Toms."
OK ... so ... that was Rose talking about what he felt like when he was 17 years old. But he hasn't exactly backed away from the statement in the days since the documentary aired. What we're left with is a swirl of controversy (as well as a very interesting cultural subject) that has circled the NBA and mainstream in the last three days. This isn't an entirely new idea, stereoptyping black players who don't necessarily fit into the traditional stereotype of black players, but it's been interesting because Rose's comments were so straight forward and were regarding such a popular culture time (early 90's basketball, Fab Five, NCAA, etc).
Earlier today Rose Tweeted the following: "For those MOANING about how something or someone was portrayed in the doc note that it was FRAMED from 1991-93 not 2011 #quit crying." And then a minute later this: "I'm not speaking on what the players have to say ... I didn't say anything in the doc that I didn't say to the players FACE #fact."
All of this relates to the 76ers because starting power forward Elton Brand, of course, attended and starred for Duke for two seasons, until 1999. First, since this story has such legs, here are two links for everyone. First, former Duke star Grant Hill wrote an open letter to the New York Times, responding to Rose's comments. You can find Hill's letter here: Hill. But if you don't prefer to navigate away, here's this sentence that sums up Hill's feelings: "It was a sad and somewhat pathetic turn of events, therefore, to see friends narrating this interesting documentary about their moment in time and calling me a bitch and worse, calling all black players at Duke “Uncle Toms” and, to some degree, disparaging my parents for their education, work ethic and commitment to each other and to me. I should have guessed there was something regrettable in the documentary when I received a Twitter apology from Jalen before its premiere."
Another pertinent link is centered around Brand himself, who had an email exchange with a fellow Duke student when he chose to leave school early to enter the NBA draft. You can find that exchange here: Brand.
All of this leading into the following: I caught up with Brand before tonight's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Here's what he said about Rose's documentary comments, as well as his follow-up Tweet that "I didn't say anything in the doc that I didn't say to the players FACE."
Elton on his reaction to Rose's comment: "You know, I just know that it sounded kind of ignorant, but at that time he's 17 years old, that's how a lot of young adults are. I know people from where I was from felt the same way, you know? But I knew it wasn't true and guys using those words are kind of harsh: sellout or Uncle Tom. Just because their parents stay together or worked hard? That doesn't make sense."
Elton on whether Rose has actually expressed this belief to his "FACE": "It was a difference in cultures. Duke was a prestigious school and Michigan, well it's pretty academically sound itself, so, you know what I mean? But I think that was just the rivalry, he might have said that on the court to those guys and he definitely felt that way and if that's his opinion, then that's how he felt."
Have you felt that has been a battle for you your whole career: having a "good rap" and how that might be viewed?
"I love it. I love it. I really wish I did grow up in an affluent background, I really wish I did. You know what I mean? It would have been easier on my mom, easier on my family. For any race or culture, that's nothing to look down upon."
Do you see how certain factors (following rules, being on time, etc.), if you twist it around, can be viewed as selling out?
"Right, being affluent, being on time, trying to get education. But it's nothing to be looked down upon. At all."
***
Here's the take from after tonight's 104-94 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Andre Iguodala (right knee chondromalacia, irritation under the knee cap) was in the starting lineup on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. Iguodala was first listed as day-to-day, then game-time, then probable, and there was really little doubt about Iguodala’s status after Wednesday morning’s shoot around when Iguodala said he’d piled up treatments, hadn’t been 100 percent all season anyway, and just needed to fight through the pain. He did. What was less certain than Iguodala’s status was the 76ers ability to forget back-to-back losses and figure things out against the lowly, but occasionally surprising Clippers.
On Wednesday night, in what was playing out to be an average NBA game, an interesting, physical, emotional game broke out.
It started with a breakaway by Clippers star Blake Griffin. Sixers Jodie Meeks and Tony Battie were chasing Griffin. Meeks ran in front and swiped backward at Griffin. Battie, trailing the play slightly, looked to be wrapping up Griffin to make sure he didn't complete the play. Battie appeared to be trying to hold Griffin up, keep him from falling, but Griffin seemed to misinterpret Battie' intentions and popped off the floor like he might go after Battie. Battie was called for a flagrant foul 1 (initially it was a 2, which means automatic ejection, but it was almost immediately downgraded).
Just before the half, with the Sixers having shot fewer team free throws (11) than Griffin shot by himself (13), Doug Collins earned two technicals and was ejected from the game with 15.8 seconds remaining in the second quarter. All of this extracurricular activity seemed to spur the Sixers, who scored 30 points in the third quarter and basically turned this thing into a pseudo-blowout.
In the locker room afterward, here's what Collins and point guard Jrue Holiday said about the game.
Collins: "I sure didn't want to get ejected, but I just thought I had to stand up. I just thought I had to stand up for our guys. And they were great, they responded, talked at halftime about how important this game was ... great win, I think with this win tonight we move to sixth ... again, I felt helpless in here watching it, but I was so proud of our guys. They were tough and got a great win."
Did he feel he had to stand up because of the free throw disparity?
"I have to be careful what I say, I don't want to get fined any more money. My grandkids are already upset at me and stuff like that, so I have to be careful."
Collins then turned it over to associate head coach Michael Curry. Also of note, and quite important, with tonight's win the Sixers are tied with the New York Knicks for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference.
Here's what Jrue said about Collins' ejection and what it meant to the team:
"I think it definitely [energized the team]. It definitely riled us up, coach took a hit for us. We got his back, too. The least we could do is win the game."
Is that what you talked about at halftime?
"Yeah, I mean, we came in energetic and enthused and, I mean, 10 minutes left and they were still doing the halftime show and we were outside ready to warm up. So, we were definitely excited to get back out there and fight for coach."
Sixers fly to Sacramento tomorrow.
--Kate
Each week, Kate will check in from the road and answer fan questions about the Sixers. Click here to ask Kate a question or e-mail her at kfagan@phillynews.com.
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Jalen Rose should just be grateful for having the ability and opportunity to have gotten to where he is...and STFU.— tndmrtr- RACIST plain and simple!!!!! If people can't see that than Stevie Wonder says hello. If a white kid said those same comments, you'd have every black player in the league/world wanting him to be fired and deported someplace. Typical black athletes refusing to call another black athlete what he really is, and that's a piece of sh*t!— twpman1
- The comments by Rose are the reason Black America is in the toilet. Most blacks do not respect success. They actually complain about success. Blacks equate success as acting white. The real problem is blacks are too lazy to do the right thing.— shultz99
- Words that should be totally removed from out language....on is n______, the other is uncle tom.....ONLY ignorant people use either.....as to Grant HILL.....NO apologies necessary for parents who stayed together, worked hard, got and education and wanted their kid to go to a good school acadmically and be involeved with a great BBall program.......as to Duke....been there....had a kid go there....Yes, they are little snobby, but so are all schools (Princeton, Standford etc) who are proud of their accomplishments...Life is not jsut about basketball.....and if it is you live a sad and ineffective life........Rose should have by now risen above his tragic background.......He did no service to his peers or those who see him as a role model.......You can take the kid out of the country but you cannot take the country out of the kid....sad— nuggett
- How long was this? Just asking, we knew about that then, give me a break.— crow-towes
Comment removed.- Gotta love it. People crack me up. Ignorant is a good word ... but it really all goes back to bitterness. Rose being bitter that Duke didn't want him. Interestingy, rumor has it that Duke actually did recruit Chris Weber. Go figure. Now, the EBrand email exchange?classic material: "I would also like to extend an invitation for you not to waste your or my time ever agin. Never being considered a part of your posh group of yuppies really hurts me to the heart. Yeah, right. Because I don't care about you or your alumni." I can only imagine that lady's response. "Well, I never ..." Lol!!— PhiladelTodd
- @SHULTZ99 is a racist, how can you say that about blacks do you know them all? so I guess all the black ball players, doctors, lawyers and other professions are lazy? I guess the president is also lazy? hey how about you stop being lazy and start using your brain or are you jus a racist?— will69
- No. 90% of them are lazy. Why do you think all the black neighborhoods are ghettos? The handful of good blacks can't even find a good black neighborhood becuase there are so few good blacks.
Could you name me just one black neighborhood in Philly that is neat, clean, safe and has good schools? There is not any.— shultz99 - wrong!! mt airy is a great neighborhood. so is laverock(a black suburb near cheltenham). so there you have it, not just one, but two examples for you. btw, those neighborhoods are much better then port richmond, fishtown, and northeast. fyi, atlanta is a black city that is ten times cleaner and safer then philly. i laugh at idiots like you. too easy
- Jalen Rose is just another scumbag loser!— meltinlarrybok
- get a clue everyone is racist in one wau or another...white ppl more so then others...but with that being said rose said how he felt because he was judged thru out his life...received hate mail...got hammered for wearing black socks like come on...how would u feel if u went to an all blk skool and couldn't enjoy ur type of music u like or wear the clothes u want to wear with out being thought of as a thug— popoff
- Nothing like Rose to improve race relations...no wonder there's so much animosity between races with spokesmen like him.— dogman5
- To the author: Can you take a moment and ask Elton Brand about the link to the email you posted. As a long-time Duke follower, I recall that email being an urban legend that was a hoax. Elton Brand is married to a Duke alum, works Duke camps with Coach K, and his foundation supports programs in Durham. He wasn't Elton Brand NBA #42 on the alleged date of the letter you link to -- he was drafted in June of that year and he never signed things with his full name. At the time the Carolina website included it, there were also some other "hater" spoofs alleging relationships etc. I don't have the citation, but I recall reading in more than one place that Elton had nothing to do with it. Since you have access to EB, perhaps he can tell you the truth. If he did write the email, it would be news to many of us some 12 years later. (He went to the same high school as Gov Pataki in NY -- who refers to EB as the most well known grad in that town).— SarahSemprini
- Why is it that no one wants to admit, or take responsibility for the ignorant fools that reside within their cultures? With the drop out rates what they are in Philly among "black alpha males", and both the mayor of Philly and the POTUS both being black, it is obvious that not all blacks are ignorant, lazy or as clueless as DonovanMcNabb. But who is going to claim the ignorant? Whether they be white, black or brown, no one wants to admit that they are ignorant fools in their races or cultures. They just expect the rest of us to look the other way and act like it isn't happening? You can see how well that's working in Philly these last 20 years.— BigDaddy3150
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
