Bud Selig, Phil Jackson get it right on immigration law
This man actually had a clear and rational thought.
Bud Selig is doing absolutely nothing again. Only this time he should be commended for it.
Many are pushing Selig to pull the baseball All-Star Game out of Phoenix next season because of Arizona’s new immigration law. Hey, it was bad enough when Selig mandated that the All-Star winner would get home field advantage in the World Series. But now some want an exhibition with a .190-hitter on the ballot (Ken Griffey Jr.) gets elevated to a major political platform?
Sorry. I understand sports and politics often mix. But if it says Braves-Phillies on the
Phil Jackson's take wasn't popular with protesters.
marquee, I don’t want to walk through the turnstiles and get Red State-Blue State.
Athletics and politics often intersect. It’s unavoidable in the Olympics. It’s inevitable in professional sports when a high-profile athlete who wants to push his or her own agenda. But there’s a big difference between a league or team taking a public stand on something and an individual doing it. I don’t care where Major League Baseball stands on Arizona’s immigration law any more than I do where the New York Yankees stand on abortion.
The Phoenix Suns chose to wear commemorative “Los Suns” jerseys at a recent playoff game to protest for the immigration law. The NBA supported the Suns’ decision. No shock there. It was one more jersey the league could license and sell. Hardly the first time David
Just one more product for the NBA.
Stern sold out.
A sports columnist in Detroit attempted to draw a parallel between the NFL once stripping a Super Bowl from Arizona for not recognizing Martin Luther King’s birthday and the situation facing baseball. OK. Big difference. No.1, the last time I checked, Martin Luther King was actually an American citizen. He was the heart and soul of the civil rights movement. His birthday was a national holiday and observed in every state other than Arizona. How does that compare with the debate over whether to tighten immigration laws?
This issue came up again Monday. Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson released a statement that read, “I have respect for those who oppose the new Arizona immigration law, but I am wary of putting entire sports organizations in the middle of political controversies.”
This followed his previous comments: “I don’t think teams should get involved in the political stuff. … Where we stand as basketball teams, we should let that kind of play out and let the political end of that go where it’s going to go.”
He’s got it right. So does the baseball commissioner. Bud Selig: visionary.
♦
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175 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
May 18th, 2010
10:52 am
Seriously, Jeff — Right. I only know sports. Nothing else. It’s a wonder I can make it through the day, really.
Jeff Schultz
May 18th, 2010
10:53 am
Heartofdarkness — Good question. But I can tell you that I HAVE hit the green numbers in roulette before, and it was sweet!
TommyJack
May 18th, 2010
10:56 am
Extremus hit it out of da park. Touch’em all.
Jack
May 18th, 2010
11:00 am
Why don’t you immigration protesting idiots go sneak into mexico or any central or s american country and see what happens to you. legal immigration. it’s not that complicated. they are law breakers. and the stupid obama gov’t doesn’t even read the 10 page document before making their inane comments. what leadership!!
ATL Fan
May 18th, 2010
11:01 am
For those who oppose Arizona’s law, and by default, also oppose the federal law, work to change the law. Tell us why there should not be laws preventing illegal immigration.
During my lifetime it is my opinion that America has not taken illegal immigration serious. I have traveled to Europe and Mexico, and the Countries I have visited make it very clear with their laws AND enforcement, that illegal immigration is a serious matter.
The Arizona law is designed to allow Arizona law enforcement the authority and ability to enforce the current and long-standing federal law.
It would appear to me then that the only reason for the clamour of opposition to the law is based on the fear of enforcement of the law.
None of this should have any place in the sports arena. Shame on the owners and decision-makers who choose to politicize sports based on their own political prejudices.
gdawginkalamazoo
May 18th, 2010
11:06 am
BSIATL, that is kind an generous of you. Can I ask how many immigrants that you are sponsoring or have sponsored?
BSIATL
May 18th, 2010
11:07 am
Extremus – It doesn’t cost me anything to provide assitance to the couple of families that I help in my neighborhood. They are hard working families with small children that use the bus to get to work or run there own landscaping business and work 16 hour days and pay taxes. They spend their money at local grocery stores and department stores, they spend their money at restaurants and getting hair cuts. They spend their money at the same places we do and that my friend more than anything is GREAT for our economy! We need more people out there spending the money they earn and getting more cash into the local, state and national economy. I provide them guidance on the where’s, how’s, and who’s to get to where they need to be to become full citizens and provide them advice (I’m a lawyer) on how the crazy system we call America works. It’s not that hard and doesn’t take a ton of time to do and it is VERY rewarding to show my own kids a good example of how hard work will get you places and caring for people not like yourself will embolden them to become well rounded adults in time. Contrary to popular belief on this blog and other’s here on the AJC there are no government “handouts” going around and nobody is stealing “our” jobs. They pay their own healthcare expenses, they buy their own groceries and they pay their own rent. Unfotunately the path to citizenship takes quite some time (many years in fact) but with a little guidfance from good folks like you and me they can and mostly are very productive members of society while they are here. The govt. isn’t “kowtowing” to any one group and while there are certainly issues with undocumented aliens all over this country, the proper way to remedy those same issues is by providing everyone the means and opportunity to become productive members of society. There will always be the “bad seeds” and there is no denying that on my part. There are “bad seeds” of every skin color and heritage. That is a separate issue.
BSIATL
May 18th, 2010
11:09 am
gdawginkalamazoo – Thank you…I try to do my part to give back. I assist two families consisting of two adults and 2 kids each. I even have one of the little ones speaking with a bit of a southern drawl! Very rewarding and I highly recommend it.
Seriously, Jeff
May 18th, 2010
11:10 am
Jeff,
As I said before, I think you do a great job covering sports. I often read and enjoy your work, and I will continue to do so. I just think that you’re wrong on this particular issue and, based on your recent comments, I think you misunderstand the actual effect of the law. (It is also apparent that several posters on here do not understand the effect of the law, which is ironic, because several have included the comment “just read the law” in their argument.)
Keep up the good work, though. I see links to the right for at least seven, well-written pieces by you.
Dr. Warren
May 18th, 2010
11:12 am
I live in China, folks. Been here for 4 years. Don’t believe the hype about the rise of China–just get down on your knees and thank God that you are American. And enjoy being able to have free discussion about politics anywhere you wish, including a sports blog.
extremus
May 18th, 2010
11:17 am
@Dr. Warren,
I do thank God, Sir; I’m blessed in ways I know I probably don’t even realize by being an American citizen. Thanks for your reminder of what we have in being able to have a civilized discussion about a very devisive issue here in the States.
Charlie
May 18th, 2010
11:21 am
Unreal – Our ancestors came here LEGALLY!! Idiot!
ATL Fan
May 18th, 2010
11:22 am
Seriously, Jeff has this comment: “If you can figure out a way that police can have a ‘…reasonable suspicion that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States…/ that doesn’t consider race, well… you can’t, because that’s the only way you can do it.”
Really? That’s what you think? So, if an officer pulls over a speeder that speaks only French and does not have a drivers license, that would not constitute reasonable suspecion to you? That speeder could be an illegal from Canada.
BSIATL
May 18th, 2010
11:23 am
Jeff – Just wanted to say keep up the good work. I look forward to reading your columns every day. I like your thought provoking topical blogs and the way you mix in current events from outside the “sports genre”. Good stuff!
BSIATL
May 18th, 2010
11:23 am
Charlie – not all of them!
Jim R
May 18th, 2010
11:25 am
Become a citizen legally and then become an American and learn english.. It’s time this government enforce our borders and protect the “citizens”. What is so hard to understand here? JR
Charlie
May 18th, 2010
11:27 am
BSIATL – Maybe not yours but mine did! Every state should follow Arizona’s lead.
ATL Fan
May 18th, 2010
11:31 am
If you can figure out a way that police can have a “…reasonable suspicion that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States…” that doesn’t consider race, well… you can’t, because that’s the only way you can do it.
Really? Is that what you think? What if an officer pulls over a speeder and that person only speaks French and does not have a drivers license, would that not constitute reasonable cause? Who knows that person could be an illegal from Canada.
S Hawk Fan
May 18th, 2010
11:33 am
Seriously Jeff….. I have read the law numerous times! And we disagree! Just because I disagree with you don’t mean I have not done my homework!
What I have asked a few friends of mine that disagree with the law is this …. are you saying it is alright for a person to be living in the United States that is not here legally? Not one will answer! They just say that we should not be “picking on certain groups of people” or “racial profiling”. But they refuse to answer the question!
Why is it alright to break the law? The same law that protects you everyday!! And by the way… we can’t just randomly start picking and choosing which laws are important and which ones are not!
Now that said…. I have no problem with allowing a person that wants to come here to America, the greatest country in the world, to raise their family. I have no problem with making it easier to do this! However, the truth is that until this happens they are breaking the law!! And why is it wrong for them wanting to enforce THE LAW!
Thanks again Jeff for putting this out here!
Why are
gdawginkalamazoo
May 18th, 2010
11:34 am
BSIATL, I read your 11:07 post. The families that pay their taxes and do the things that you mentioned above I have no problem with. You say that they are working toward becoming citizens? They have applied for citizenship and/or visas? Then that is fantastic. Sounds like you are teaching them to speak, read, and write english. If this is your case then you are to be commended on your efforts.
The problem is so huge now with so many illegals here that there is no way to round everyone up and deport them. For those willing to learn the lanuage, get registered and pay taxes then a path to citizenship should be workable. For those who do not or want to commit fraud then they should be returned to their home country.
ty
May 18th, 2010
11:35 am
I live here in AZ and its not as simple as you might think. There is no profiling going on…it would be very hard to do since close to half the state is hispanic anyways..that’s the amount of stupidity coming from the segment that has never read the bill and has no idea what’s going on at the border. I do have a compromise that will work. End ALL entitlement programs and allow illegal immigration. That will stop the immigrants that want to suck of the system and bring in the immigrants that want to work…I doubt that compromise would be enough as the anti-SB70 crowd wants AZ to follow CA lead and go bankrupt in supporting these people.
BSIATL
May 18th, 2010
11:43 am
Charlie – mine did too but like I said…not everyone’s did. That’s about the most uniformed thing I’ve ever read on here. Thanks for the good laugh though and for helping make my point.
Seriously, Jeff
May 18th, 2010
11:43 am
S HAWK FAN:
You’re missing the point. The issue is not whether illegal immigrants are breaking the law – certainly, they are. The issue with this particular law, however, is that it allows police to racially profile American citizens at any time. Under this law, Hispanic American citizens can be questioned about their citizenship by police upon the officer’s “reasonable suspicion” that they are an illegal immigrant. THAT is the problem with the law.
To put it in simpler terms, if there was a law that allowed police to stop you because of your race to check your citizenship (even though you are a citizen and not breaking the law), how would you feel about that? Any time you were stopped for a “seatbelt check” or “license check” you are also questioned about your citizenship – does that work for you? I suspect it would not.
Again, that is what is wrong with the law. No one is saying that illegal immigrants should be allowed to remain in the country. The problem is that the law allows the state to persecute its own, law-abiding citizens, at the state’s discretion.
BSIATL
May 18th, 2010
11:46 am
gdawginkalamazoo – You’d be surprised at how many undocumented families are just like the cases I pointed out. The path is very complicated and loooooooong! It doesn’t help that the Mexican embassy is so messed up and these families have enormous difficulties in getting what they need from the Mexican embassy and/or govt. to start their process here. It’s very difficult, stressful and trying on these families that are simply looking for their American dream. We should make it easier not harder for them to do so.
BSIATL
May 18th, 2010
11:51 am
Jim R – It’s simply not that easy and simplistic. It’s a very complicated issue and we are talking about human beings here aren’t we? And by the way….English is not the official language of the United States. English is the official language in many soverign nations but the USA is not one of them. English is the official language in Namibia and Mauritius though…maybe you should move there!
Marc in FL
May 18th, 2010
12:14 pm
lol, this is fun
Marc in FL
May 18th, 2010
12:20 pm
You know, if Mexico didn’t exist anymore, this wouldn’t be much of a problem… *buzz buzz*
rim
May 18th, 2010
12:32 pm
funny how there are no illegals playing in any major sport and everyone has to have their status papers in oerder to travel in/out of any country they play in. sounds a lot like the az law!
c'mon people
May 18th, 2010
12:36 pm
Enter your comments here
.
when you represent an organization you should clarify initially
that you’re speaking for yourself,only. If they want players to act responsibly than they should act,accordingly.
TL Winslow
May 18th, 2010
1:01 pm
It’s sad to see the U.S. fighting itself over Mexican border-crossing mice while ignoring the elephant in the barn, the incurably corrupt Mexican govt. that robs the poor to give to the rich and drives them over the border seeking a fairer shake despite all obstacles. There can be no real solution to the U.S.-Mexico border problem until that govt. is dissolved. Learn how it can be done with justice to all with the bipartisan Megamerge Dissolution Solution at http://go.to/megamerge
Georgia Tech, ACC content to watch expansion for now | Jeff Schultz
May 18th, 2010
1:08 pm
[...] ♦ Bud Selig, Phil Jackson get it right on immigration law [...]
extremus
May 18th, 2010
1:18 pm
@TLWinslow,
The corrupt and oppressive government in Mexico should not be an excuse to allow its people to freely cross our borders illegally. If the people there want change badly enough, they should rise up and claim it; in any case we should let other countries sort out their own issues because Lord knows we have more than enough to deal with here already on our own. Each nation should be sovereign (meaning we don’t owe the U.N. anything whatsoever) and their governments should fear the people, not the other way around. If you centralize power too much and expect a more powerful human entity to always handle things for you, that path leads to horrors of a kind I don’t think too many folks comprehend. America needs to take care of its own first, now and always.
S Hawk Fan
May 18th, 2010
1:20 pm
Seriously Jeff
I am not the one “missing the point” I am trying to make sense of what you are saying but I discovered a long time ago that sometimes and somethings are never going to make sense! So this is where I am with you!
I have been pulled over twice in my life because my car fit the description of a car the police were looking for. Both times they discovered I was not the person they were looking for and they allowed me to go. Both times I thanked the police for stopping me. Both times they seemed puzzled! I told them I had nothing to hide and that they were simply doing their job! I had no reason as a law abiding citizen to fear why they pulled me over! And I thanked them for trying to find the people that had broken the laws of our great land!
I guess the difference between you and I on our thinking is … I want law breaking citizens stopped! Maybe you would prefer they just turn themselves in and not expect the police to do their job!
Charlie
May 18th, 2010
1:26 pm
BSIATl – I’m very happy to know that I made your day! However, the first two lettters in your name, “BS”, are very indidicative of your posts. Just a bunch of BS.
S Hawk Fan
May 18th, 2010
1:30 pm
You know what…. this has become too personal on issues that we will never agree to!!!! I am officially leaving and waiting to be “First” on Jeff’s next post…. lol
peckinpah
May 18th, 2010
1:30 pm
Schultz = wrong.
Titus Andronicus
May 18th, 2010
1:55 pm
Jeff, your response earlier was this has transcended sports. Then why shouldn’t athletes talk about it? Oddly, it affects Selig’s sport more than any others with the sizeable percentage of Latin American players in the league. You have to wonder if it could affect the Diamondbacks. Say they’re contending and would like to make a trade for, let’s say Vladimir Guerrero who’s having a pretty good year with the Rangers. Would Guerrero be more apt to protest a trade knowing that playing in Arizona as a D’back and for whomever in spring training in the state could lead to harassment by local authorities. What if Guerrero wanted to buy a home there or a car?
Would it affect who the Diamondbacks signed? Would they be less willing to take a chance on a Latin American player? Because more than once in recent years has one of them admitted to fudging his age. Miguel Tejada and Wandy Rodriguez both had fears of deportation when they admitted falsifying documents.
What are the odds that Steve Nash would be pulled over and asked to show proof of citizenship? I say this as, of course, Nash is a Canadian. He could be here illegally, you know.
And because I can’t think of another example, let’s say former catcher Johnny Estrada was traveling in Arizona. There is a greater chance of him being asked to prove his citizenship. What if someone stole Estrada’s wallet that morning and walked outside to get better cellphone reception. There is a good chance that Estrada, who was born in California, could be questioned and sent to prison.
On other hand, if it was Nash walking around outside without a wallet, it’s likely that no one would look twice at him (provided he wasn’t recognized as a celebrity).
BSIATL
May 18th, 2010
2:14 pm
Gee Charlie…very clever indeed for a 10 year old! Your folks must be very proud of you being able to use a computer AND be so darn witty!
jayvee
May 18th, 2010
2:16 pm
So, I see you are not the Jackie Robinson of sportwriters. Congrats.
I live in Arizona and know third-generation Latinos who are terrified that they will be hauled off to jail if they go to the convenience store and forget to take their “papers.” This law is a license to harass, and it was written by two men who consort with white supremacists. I suppose that’s none of pro sports’ business, either. The law will lead to racial profiling, which is unconstitutional and immoral.
Furthermore, if you go to a D-Backs or a Suns game or a Hawks game or Braves game, you will see a custodial staff that includes illegals.99 percent of the illegals in the US are here to work, and the people who benefit most are the businesses that lure them and pay them minimum wage, if that much, and we consumers. Next time you buy a meal or stay in a hotel, don’t be surprised if your bill is a few dollars higher because that illegal who used to wash your dishes or cook your food or make your bed is gone, and :”Real Americans” won’t stoop to do that same job for the rate the illegal would do it.
Sir Edmund Burke famously said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Thanks, Sgt. Shultz and Messers Selig and Jackson. Thanks for doing nothing. I used to really respect Phil Jackson. No more. Never developed any respect of Shultz or Selig, and now I know why.
AllAmerican
May 18th, 2010
2:50 pm
Why does Bud allow the Mets to have two marketing avenues – mets.com and losmets.com Turn the game on tonight and it is on the backstop wall – is that doing nothing or just ignoring so the 92% Latino team doesn’t get upset they are still the Mets not the Los Mets (…who are in last place)
Is it 'hot seat' time already for Mark Richt at Georgia? | Jeff Schultz
May 18th, 2010
3:25 pm
[...] Bud Selig, Phil Jackson get it right on immigration law [...]
usnavyvolfaninva
May 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
The common them I see here is that those in high places who oppose the AZ law (e.g. Holder and now the latest Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan) have not actually read the law. I would invite those of you who oppose it to take the 20 minutes or so to read it and see for yourself, it DOESN’T ALLOW FOR RACIAL PROFILING! Educate yourself before you post!
usnavyvolfaninva
May 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
sorry… “theme” not “them”
usnavyvolfaninva
May 18th, 2010
3:36 pm
All american…. actually, the Braves are now in last place.
usnavyvolfaninva
May 18th, 2010
3:46 pm
jayvee…. show me where the law says that they’ll have to “carry their papers” if they just go to a convenience store…
Stop letting the left-wing blogosphere make your arguments for you and read the law! Educate yourself! It says in plain English (and I’m sure you could get it translated to Spanish–geezzz–) that no one can be stopped unless for ANOTHER OFFENSE FIRST!
Mitchell
May 18th, 2010
3:52 pm
Bud Selig: visionary.
Indeed. Any Braves fan who still posesses the slightest shred respect or appreciation for Bobby Cox at this point should be named Bud Selig’s personal assistant. Because they get it.
They get it and I don’t.
Cox and Selig, two great baseball men.
Hell yeah
May 18th, 2010
4:35 pm
Noche Latina in ATLANTA
please.
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MM from DVILLE
May 18th, 2010
5:12 pm
Don’t you just love reading those leftie rants about “showing your papers”? It sounds so nazi-ish or communistic. “Achtung, Zhow me zee pepperz, schnell” It’s a friggin drivers license! Can’t drive? Get a state issued ID, it’s easier to obtain than a drivers license. Has anyone read any reports of the mostly Latino cops in Arizona actually being accused of “profiling”? I have not. Alot to do about nuttin.
If you had a locked room that contained a Nun, a police officer, a judge and a black teen and a bag of weed showed up on the floor, who would you consider to be the prime suspect? The teen of course. Because he’s black? What if he were white? Yep, still the PRIME suspect. So is the first “racial profiling” while the second is not? The leftie PC police want you and me to say that we suspect all 4 to be equally suspected. That’s crap. The cop may very well be the one who dropped the bag, or the Nun or the judge but that still does not make you wrong for suspecting the most likely candidate. This “profiling” thing is a catch-all that the libs drag out anytime thay can’t make sense out of their agenda. They use it because when they do, everyone automatically shuts up for fear of being tagged “racist” . This is the 21st century version of McCarthy-ism and I’m sick of it.
I’m grateful that the polititians in Arizona had the cajones do do the right thing.
jayvee
May 18th, 2010
6:06 pm
MM from DVILLE: Actually, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas are both under criminal investigation by the Justice Department for myriad abuses, including racial profiling. You can google that and read all about it. Expect indictments any day.
What all you SB 1070 fans don’t seem to understand is that when aliens are arrested and deported, they are dropped off at the border — and they are often back where they were picked up within hours. It’s a revolving door and a colossal waste of time and money. To require local police agencies to do immigration enforcement is to take them away from catching people who are doing truly bad things. This is why the longtime sheriff of Pima County, which encompasses Tucson, has labled SB1070 “stupid.”
A law that allowed people to enter the country to work legally would do many things, including 1. removing the incentive for human smuggling. 2. freeing up border patrol to get off the merry-go-round and focus on drug and human smugglers. 3. bring many millions of Latinos out the shadows and allow them to into the economy, where they can pay payroll taxes like the rest of us. Did you know that illegals contribute $7 billion annually to the Social Security fund, but will never collect any of it? I am not one who claims that they are a net gain on social services, though some studies have suggested that they contribute in more in sales taxes and fees than they cost in education and health care, etc.
I have known illegals who were recruited by major, upstanding U.S. business, to come here an work at ag jobs and construction jobs. They’ve found these recruitment fliers on illegals detained and on the bodies of illegals who died trying to hike across the desert, and hundreds die each year. Arizona has a law to crack down on employers who hire illegals. Guess what. It’s not enforced. And most of those business owners are pasty white. I know of many who have grown quite well-to-do on the backs of alien labor.
SB 1070 is a divisive law that addresses a symptom and not the cause of horrendous immigration policy. It’s an infected Band-Aid on a gaping, gushing wound.