“Joe Lacob is racist,” is the unsolicited direct message I got from a friend who’s a famous local TV anchor in the San Francisco Bay Area. And since I have over 141,000 Twitter Followers, you can forget trying to figure out who that might be, because the general feeling is that the Warrior’s inexperienced owner has an issue dealing with a 49-year-old, confident, black man – even if your head coach is supposed to be confident and cocky.
That Joe Labob’s considered racist was the theme of our direct chat, and he started it, and continued by informing me that “it’s been known for awhile.”
The devil’s in the details of this back-channel chatter, and it’s played out in the very naming of who the Golden State Warriors are considering as the next head coach: Steve Kerr (white), Steve Van Gundy (white), Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg (white) – only Lionel Hollins is black.
There are a number of black head coaches Joe Lacob could consider, and you’d think, given the racial soap opera that was the whole Donald Sterling mess, and just a week ago, that Lacob would prove himself less tone-deaf, and at least be much smarter in his moves. How about Avery Johnson, who coached the Dallas Mavericks and is now on ESPN? Why not talk to Mike Woodson, since many believe he should have been given another shot with the Knicks? What about Byron Scott, the LA Lakers legend, who’s had a good run as a head coach?
Why not at least put those names, all good black coaches, in the hat with the white guys he’s allowed the media to mention?
Joe? Joe?
But nope. Not Joe The word, even as written by ESPN’s Mark Stein, is that the Warriors don’t want a black head coach who’s “confident”, “cocky” and “boisterous”, and I emphasize the “boi” in boisterous.
Wow.
There must be something in the Oakland waters, because the Oakland Raiders let go of Hue Jackson after just one season in 2011, for being “confident”, “cocky” and “boisterous” – and their general manager, Reggie McKensie, is black. Of course, the Silver and Black have not even come close to the .500 record and near-playoff appearance that Jackson posted in his only year.
Seems Oakland team owners and managers favor style over substance: they want a white coach because they’re conditioned to think white men are smarter than their black counterparts in the same managerial positions. And they think hiring a black person is more in the 1960s mode of social change, than actually bringing in a good coach. In retrospect, and from what I’m being told, Lacob wanted someone who was more a boy than a coach – and not a boi.
To hell with what the fans and players want, it’s all about their fragile egos. To hell with the playoffs.
Oh, and did I mention that Joe Lacob’s trying to move the Warriors out of Oakland, considered a “black town,” and to San Francisco, where he will not have such issues to deal with?
Racism sucks. Its for losers.
Joe Lacob, just lose, baby.
Zennie Abraham | Zennie Abraham or “Zennie62” is the founder of Zennie62Media which consists of zennie62blog.com and a multimedia blog news aggregator and video network, and 78-blog network, with social media and content development services and consulting. Zennie is a pioneer video blogger, YouTube Partner, social media practitioner, game developer, and pundit. Note: news aggregator content does not reflect the personal views of Mr. Abraham.