NBA Wants Players to Leave Guns at Home

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NEW YORK -- David Stern understands having a gun to protect your home. He's not convinced carrying one on the streets makes you any safer.

For that reason, the NBA commissioner said Wednesday that he would prefer his players leave their firearms behind when they go out.

"It's a pretty, I think, widely accepted statistic that if you carry a gun, your chances of being shot by one increase dramatically," Stern said during his preseason conference call. "We think this is an alarming subject, that although you'll read players saying how they feel safer with guns, in fact those guns actually make them less safe. And it's a real issue."

It's one that was raised recently when Indiana's Stephen Jackson shot a gun in the air at least five times outside an Indianapolis strip club on Oct. 6. He originally told police he fired in self-defense during a fight in which he was hit by a car.

The NBA's collective bargaining agreement allows players to own licensed guns, but they can't carry them on any league or team business. Asked what kind of firearm rule he would want if collective bargaining weren't involved, Stern said: "I would favor being able to have a firearm to protect your home. Period."</div>

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I agree with Stern wanting to have the players leave their guns at home. All it has done for those taking it out is negative media attention, a distraction for their team and making themselves look bad when they get caught. We all saw how it Lonny Baxter looked like an idiot waving his gun around and also more recently with the Stephen Jackson incident.

 

Unfortunately guys like STeven Jackson, i.e HOODRATS with money and fame, feel the need to carry guns because there a lot of haters in that culture that want to "test" them or "take" what they got - this happens a lot. Ben Affleck doesn't carry a gun probably because white folks don't think "there's Ben Affleck, I have to jack him so I can brag to my friends". BUT Some black folks who see S-Jax at a strip club think that though, which is sad but REALITY. Fabolous (a rapper) was shot recently by some hating brothers over some imagined "beef". This kind of culture is a reality that Dave Stern doesn't live in and therefore doesn't "get". However, I'm not defending Jackson, just think that it's a lot tougher to be rich and black than to be rich and white.

 

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Unfortunately guys like STeven Jackson, i.e HOODRATS with money and fame, feel the need to carry guns because there a lot of haters in that culture that want to "test" them or "take" what they got - this happens a lot. Ben Affleck doesn't carry a gun probably because white folks don't think "there's Ben Affleck, I have to jack him so I can brag to my friends". BUT Some black folks who see S-Jax at a strip club think that though, which is sad but REALITY. Fabolous (a rapper) was shot recently by some hating brothers over some imagined "beef". This kind of culture is a reality that Dave Stern doesn't live in and therefore doesn't "get". However, I'm not defending Jackson, just think that it's a lot tougher to be rich and black than to be rich and white.</div>

I tend to agree with you actually. I understand what David Stern is saying, and I also agree with him in that NBA players shouldnt be walking the streets with guns, but as you said, its a sad but real culture in that there are alot of people out there who are willing to "take a shot at the champ" so to speak.

 

I dont see a problem with them having guns, Being famous celeb's they need to carry protection. There are crazy fans out there who would love to beat the hell out of there rival teams player.

 

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Unfortunately guys like STeven Jackson, i.e HOODRATS with money and fame, feel the need to carry guns because there a lot of haters in that culture that want to "test" them or "take" what they got - this happens a lot. Ben Affleck doesn't carry a gun probably because white folks don't think "there's Ben Affleck, I have to jack him so I can brag to my friends". BUT Some black folks who see S-Jax at a strip club think that though, which is sad but REALITY. Fabolous (a rapper) was shot recently by some hating brothers over some imagined "beef". This kind of culture is a reality that Dave Stern doesn't live in and therefore doesn't "get". However, I'm not defending Jackson, just think that it's a lot tougher to be rich and black than to be rich and white.</div>

That's probably true.

But maybe David Stern is worrying about selling basketball as a spectator sport to non-black folks. You know, the kind of folks that are prone to having "blackaphobia" or an intense inability to relate to people not like themselves? I mean that's sad if that's the case, but I'm sure it's not... But maybe selling the sport so more people could relate would be beneficial. I mean think about it this way: It would be like having a sport predominantly white and black people not being able to relate or get into it. I mean think Golf before rising star Tiger woods. And then if there's a Fuzzy Zoeller comment about race or some kind of sexist remark, you wonder if other Golfers are that typical white American bigot. I mean it probably happens both ways where people on the outside start thinking badly of that group of athletes. If enough incidents like that happen, people start to generalize.

I'm sure role models like Tiger Woods helped promote Golf to African Americans, which was before seen as a rich old white guy's sport. Hopefully, all sports become open to anyone and they all have their idols or people they can identify with. In basketball, I think it's slowly becoming that way. I mean Lebron is kind of a universal idol because he's just so all American. He's seen as a good guy and he's had a hard life. But he's made the right decisions, so people idolize him. But few athletes are like him in personality because the league is so young and immature sometimes. Imagine being 19 years old and having all this money. It can corrupt.

So maybe the issue is less race, but more with young people suddenly coming into money and not being able to handle it like an adult because of the environment they were brought up in. There's no courtesy, politeness, respect, and gentleman like behavior. I think fans and family type people want to see those values which are seen as American. They don't want to see all these rich people get into trouble. Especially if the game is being sold to the types of folks that have blackaphobia (intense fear or distrust of African Americans.). I'm sure if you're Black, you've experienced it before and you are like, "WTF? I ain't going to do anything to you, assh"

 

This is unfair. Now Stern wants players to leave their gats home?

That man is ridiculous.

 

<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That's probably true.

But maybe David Stern is worrying about selling basketball as a spectator sport to non-black folks. You know, the kind of folks that are prone to having "blackaphobia" or an intense inability to relate to people not like themselves? I mean that's sad if that's the case, but I'm sure it's not... But maybe selling the sport so more people could relate would be beneficial. I mean think about it this way: It would be like having a sport predominantly white and black people not being able to relate or get into it. I mean think Golf before rising star Tiger woods. And then if there's a Fuzzy Zoeller comment about race or some kind of sexist remark, you wonder if other Golfers are that typical white American bigot. I mean it probably happens both ways where people on the outside start thinking badly of that group of athletes. If enough incidents like that happen, people start to generalize.

I'm sure role models like Tiger Woods helped promote Golf to African Americans, which was before seen as a rich old white guy's sport. Hopefully, all sports become open to anyone and they all have their idols or people they can identify with. In basketball, I think it's slowly becoming that way. I mean Lebron is kind of a universal idol because he's just so all American. He's seen as a good guy and he's had a hard life. But he's made the right decisions, so people idolize him. But few athletes are like him in personality because the league is so young and immature sometimes. Imagine being 19 years old and having all this money. It can corrupt.

So maybe the issue is less race, but more with young people suddenly coming into money and not being able to handle it like an adult because of the environment they were brought up in. There's no courtesy, politeness, respect, and gentleman like behavior. I think fans and family type people want to see those values which are seen as American. They don't want to see all these rich people get into trouble. Especially if the game is being sold to the types of folks that have blackaphobia (intense fear or distrust of African Americans.). I'm sure if you're Black, you've experienced it before and you are like, "WTF? I ain't going to do anything to you, assh"</div>

You're right in one way, it's not a "race" thing its more about the culture you grew up in. It just so happens that the vast majority of people who grow up in that culture are black. Tiger Woods from what I understand grew up in a different culture. One where you don't have to pack heat cause someone will take something from you just
cause you have it. What culture you grow up in will INFLUENCE greatly whether you handle new-found fortune well or poorly.

At the same time saying Stern wants to make the sport more friendly to racists, that is a bit unfair, maybe these people aren't racists really they just happen to not like thugs?? I'm sure many of these people that STern is trying to please would have the same problem with say Jason Williams getting arrested for shooting somebody?

Think about how many successful blacks have been killed or shot at by other blacks compared to successful whites that have been killed by other whites?
You've got the growing list of dead rappers, Michael Jordan's old man, Bill Cosby's kid, etc.
I can't even name one successful white person in entertainment or sport that was killed by a member of their own community. And John Lennon doesn't count cause that guy was clearly insane - the guys who shoot these black success stories aren't insane.

 

So basically, Stern doesn't care if players have guns, as long as the public and media don't know or hear about it. He may talk about how it's in the players' best interests, but, in reality, he's motivated completely from a business standpoint.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">So basically, Stern doesn't care if players have guns, as long as the public and media don't know or hear about it. He may talk about how it's in the players' best interests, but, in reality, he's motivated completely from a business standpoint.</div>

True. A better reaction from Stern would be:
"Black America needs help if Steven Jackson can't go to his local neighborhood businesses without the need to pack heat." We're not talking Kobe or LeBron here, we're talking about a guy that only NBA fans would recognize

 

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">True. A better reaction from Stern would be:
"Black America needs help if Steven Jackson can't go to his local neighborhood businesses without the need to pack heat." We're not talking Kobe or LeBron here, we're talking about a guy that only NBA fans would recognize</div>
I might be a little idealistic, but this is strictly a knee-jerk reaction by Stern. Players have been shot before (eg: Andray Blatche), but it has never brought out a response from Stern. What probably did though, is the booing from the Pacer's fans and the fact that Jackson's actions (along with those of several other Pacers) are leaving the Indiana fanbase disenchanted with their home team. Again, this issue really doesn't mean anything to him, unless it's bad for business.

 

To be honest, I'm somewhat surprised about the number of them that do carry firearms about anyway. It will be to do with the places they came from, but still, as shapecity said, they earn enough money to hire a bodyguard to protect them, as opposed to a gun which makes you statistically more likely to get shot anyway.

 

Wow, players can't even defend themselves now. Where is Stern going with this?

 

<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Where does it say they can't defend themselves? Stern just doesn't want the players to bring guns to NBA events or arenas. Let me ask you this ... are you allowed to bring a gun to work? And if you don't work, are you allowed to bring a gun to school?</div>
I didn't read anything about bringing guns to arenas. Stern was saying that he doesn't want NBA players to bring guns outside of their houses.

 

<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Where does it say they can't defend themselves? Stern just doesn't want the players to bring guns to NBA events or arenas. Let me ask you this ... are you allowed to bring a gun to work? And if you don't work, are you allowed to bring a gun to school?</div>
My bad, I guess I didn't really read it this time.

 

<div class="quote_poster">BALLAHOLLIC Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">There are crazy fans out there who would love to beat the hell out of there rival teams player.</div>

And these crazy fans are where? There's always the cops, you know... Regardless of Stern's intentions, I think it's a good thing.

 

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You're right in one way, it's not a "race" thing its more about the culture you grew up in. It just so happens that the vast majority of people who grow up in that culture are black. Tiger Woods from what I understand grew up in a different culture. One where you don't have to pack heat cause someone will take something from you just
cause you have it. What culture you grow up in will INFLUENCE greatly whether you handle new-found fortune well or poorly.

At the same time saying Stern wants to make the sport more friendly to racists, that is a bit unfair, maybe these people aren't racists really they just happen to not like thugs?? I'm sure many of these people that STern is trying to please would have the same problem with say Jason Williams getting arrested for shooting somebody?

Think about how many successful blacks have been killed or shot at by other blacks compared to successful whites that have been killed by other whites?
You've got the growing list of dead rappers, Michael Jordan's old man, Bill Cosby's kid, etc.
I can't even name one successful white person in entertainment or sport that was killed by a member of their own community. And John Lennon doesn't count cause that guy was clearly insane - the guys who shoot these black success stories aren't insane.</div>

I think you're misunderstanding the whole thing. I wasn't talking about guns, but how Stern is very protective of the league's image. I'm very suspicious of the media and mainstream America when it comes to race stuff. I think they're quick to throw a label on any group. They look at somebody or a group of people and they already form conclusions. I mean it's probably human nature, but one has to train the mind not to work that way. I mean let's take the NBA and this gun problem. Is it really worse than any other sports? I mean we've heard about some incidents, but it's usually the same guys that keep messing up and doing dumb stuff. The rest of the league doesn't really have that problem and I've heard comments before that the NBA is full of thugs or "I can't relate to any of the players, etc.". People make it sound like it's an nba thing because of the majority of players, when it's really a handful of dumb individuals like Eddie Griffin, Stephen Jackson, Ron Artest, and other repeat offenders etc. Jason Williams isn't even that much of a headcase compared to those guys recently. Also, the Tiger Woods example wasn't about his background, but more about bringing in an audience that relates to him (either as a young guy, asian, black, etc.)

Also you misunderstood the part where Stern is trying to go after mainstream audience. Stern isn't trying to make the game more friendly to racists, he's trying to do his PR thing to make the game more friendly and attractive to families and individuals who follow a certain team or star players. But it's this same audience that has tons of people that can be prejudiced and blow everything out of proportion and make comments about why they stopped following the nba (because there wasn't a player they could relate to).

I mean it really depends on what they meant when they said that. I mean it can be totally innocent like chinese kids following Yao Ming because he's big and Chinese. I can't explain it. Maybe I'm just ultra sensitive. Everyone's got a reason for following the sport, but I hear some stuff that makes me suspicious there's something going on between the lines.

Me? I follow a player that's underrated. Nash, Jrich, those type of guys. I know I went on a tangent away from the guns topic, but maybe Stern should be taking this matter to the same guys that keep messing up.

 

When I saw this thread title, I actually thought it was a good idea by Stern, but once I read more into it, I realized. You never know what kind of crazy fan out there would love to make some kind of an attack on an NBA player. All pro sport athletes should carry some sort of protection, you just never know what someone might do.

 

Let me get this right. Stern changes the rules of the game every six months, changes the basketball, tells the players they can't show emotion on the court, tells them what they should or shouldn't wear, and NOW he's attempting to tell them how they should protect themselves off the court. I'm sorry commissioner Stern if you don't recieve 1/10th of the attention ur players do, but athletes are targets everywhere they go. Who are YOU to tell them whether they carry a gun or not? Ur not a target, ur in ur cozy little office all day pushing buttons and tampering with the rules of the NBA. This guy thinks he's god