Racism and basketball ...

[tooblue]

in light of the ongoing discussions in the religion thread I thought many here might like this article:

http://www.time.com/time/arts/articl...604096,00.html

[Solon]

Originally Posted by tooblue

in light of the ongoing discussions in teh religion thread I thought many here might like this article:

http://www.time.com/time/arts/articl...604096,00.html

Very interesting article. Thanks for posting.

[Indy Coug]

Some BYU fans have opined that Rose's relatively fast-paced offense won't work because of the lack of black players on the team. One of them referred to it as "jungle ball".

[PaloAltoCougar]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

Some BYU fans have opined that Rose's relatively fast-paced offense won't work because of the lack of black players on the team. One of them referred to it as "jungle ball".

As I close in on a milestone 10th post, I solicit the board's counsel on the use of the term "jungle ball." I've used that term sparingly, but consistently, since high school to describe a highly disorganized, fast-paced and decidedly not-team-oriented approach to the game. It was not intended to be a racial reference, but merely a description of the feral nature of our style, such as it was. We started using the term in high school, an era which followed (albeit not by much) the retirement of the peach basket; spare me the ageist slander.

Anyway, is the term now regarded as racist? Is there even a point to asking the question of an audience comprised predominantly of melanin-free middle-aged males? Despite your suspect credentials, if you so advise, I'll retire the term from my limited inventory.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

As I close in on a milestone 10th post, I solicit the board's counsel on the use of the term "jungle ball." I've used that term sparingly, but consistently, since high school to describe a highly disorganized, fast-paced and decidedly not-team-oriented approach to the game. It was not intended to be a racial reference, but merely a description of the feral nature of our style, such as it was. We started using the term in high school, an era which followed (albeit not by much) the retirement of the peach basket; spare me the ageist slander.

Anyway, is the term now regarded as racist? Is there even a point to asking the question of an audience comprised predominantly of melanin-free middle-aged males? Despite your suspect credentials, if you so advise, I'll retire the term from my limited inventory.

Well, mighty prolific poster that you are, Peach Basket must be related to its German sister in describing Basketball, Korbball. I remember when we were derided for using that term in Germany, proud to use an authentic German word which much like EDV had fallen into disuse.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

As I close in on a milestone 10th post, I solicit the board's counsel on the use of the term "jungle ball." I've used that term sparingly, but consistently, since high school to describe a highly disorganized, fast-paced and decidedly not-team-oriented approach to the game. It was not intended to be a racial reference, but merely a description of the feral nature of our style, such as it was. We started using the term in high school, an era which followed (albeit not by much) the retirement of the peach basket; spare me the ageist slander.

Anyway, is the term now regarded as racist? Is there even a point to asking the question of an audience comprised predominantly of melanin-free middle-aged males? Despite your suspect credentials, if you so advise, I'll retire the term from my limited inventory.

Call it what you want to call it. If folks are offended by the term, it is because they choose to be offended.

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

Call it what you want to call it. If folks are offended by the term, it is because they choose to be offended.

Don't ever tell any liberal or "intellectual" that....believe me I've tried on here. lol.

[MikeWaters]

I think it depends on its usage. If you are watching a team play that is entirely black, and you derisively call it "jungle ball", that may have racist connotations.

But if you are a Mormon scout leader and you refer to other troops only playing "jungle ball" on scout night, that is free of connotation, I think.

When the guy on cougarboard says "Tell Dave Rose to get rid of the jungle ball, and let's implement the Princeton offense!"

That has race written all over it.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I think it depends on its usage. If you are watching a team play that is entirely black, and you derisively call it "jungle ball", that may have racist connotations.

But if you are a Mormon scout leader and you refer to other troops only playing "jungle ball" on scout night, that is free of connotation, I think.

When the guy on cougarboard says "Tell Dave Rose to get rid of the jungle ball, and let's implement the Princeton offense!"

That has race written all over it.

That is possible.

I see it as disorganized ball, regardless of race. We need a new handy term, devoid or racial connotation to convey the same activity.

[Detroitdad]

Jungleball is racist. There are an enormous number of derogatory names for blacks that are related to the word "jungle." I doubt that this will change minds ofmost of the people that use the term and they will persist in using it. But to say that it is not racist is to sugarcoat it.