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
Bud Selig, Phil Jackson get it right on immigration law
May 18th, 2010
7:07 pm
[...] –SNIP– 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. Read more at http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/05/17/bud-selig-phil-jackson-get-it-right-on-immigration... [...]
John
May 18th, 2010
7:14 pm
Stay the hell of of my country. Ga. needs to pass the same law.
MM from DVILLE
May 18th, 2010
8:02 pm
jayvee Thanks for your thoughtful and civil reply. I took your advise and Googled “Sheriff Arpio Investigated” and got one return. There is an article written in Mar ‘09 that the [Obama] Justice dept had made a decision to “investigate alleged profiling reports” I understand that from your point of view, and others, that you feel the investigation is warranted and just. I believe that it smacks of politics. If there was indeed a track record of abuse, it would have come under the scrutiny of local Democratic politicians and I believe they would not have hesitated to seek and demand local investigations. Everyone in Arizona is not in collusion with the Sheriff. I don’t “expect indictments any day” and you shouldn’t either.
Be assured that we SB1070 fans do in fact know that the illegals are turning right around and returning, often under brutal and/or deadly conditions, after being dropped at the border. Deportation should not be our first line of defence but thats our only recourse at this point. Do you suggest that we fly them to south Mexico before unloading them?
This is all happening because our Federal Government is too lilly livered to stop it. Not just BHO. Everyone before him all the way back to Harry ‘Give Em Hell” Truman. They are all too interested in protecting their own cushy jobs than they are in protecting our borders. They are afraid of alienating any segment of the society even the illegals because they know that the illegals have supporters. Are you among them? I hope this bill is the death knell for those elected officials too weak to fight and too self centered to do the jobs they are paid so well to do.
I agree 100% with your last paragraph.
Green card holder
May 18th, 2010
11:16 pm
Wow – The majority of the discourse on this subject makes me long for the postings of m, Yellow Fuzz, Ramble On, buLLdawg, St Simons and their ilk.
I would hazard a guess that the majority of the people posting, if pulled over by the police in AZ would not be able to prove that they are lawful residents of the US. A drivers license is not a proof of either citizenship or legal residency – I have one and I am not a citizen. If any of you go to AZ you had better take your US passport or birth certificate.
Dandy Don
May 18th, 2010
11:54 pm
Whats next in AZ? Gonna make the Jews wear the Star of David again?
Dandy Don
May 18th, 2010
11:56 pm
People dont seem to mind illegals as long as they are picking our fruit and cutting our grass.
Funny how that works.
Dandy Don
May 19th, 2010
12:05 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNO6On7cK1M
Do you really want that guy on your team?
Big D Dawg
May 19th, 2010
12:27 am
BSIATL — I want to know how in the world illegals are paying taxes? They have no social security number so, how does that work?
jayvee
May 19th, 2010
1:45 am
Illegals have fake Social Security cards. You can’t get a job that actually cuts a check without one, but fake cards are very easy to get. Illegals pay sales taxes, gas taxes, government fees. If Arizona loses the estimated 500,000 illegals who are here, coupled with the crippling boycott being launched, compounded by the financial coup by the banks, the economy will go from dismal to putrid. All those big-business, free-market Republicans will assure the death knell of Arizona. The death spiral has begun. Sad and counterproductive.
TruthSerum
May 19th, 2010
3:59 am
Dezz Nuttz
May 18th, 2010
3:27 pm
Truth has surfaced that woodson wanted Chris Paul and Roy Brandon but was over ruled by Sund for Marvin Williams and Randolf Morris….Way to go Sund-of-a-bytchh. You aise is the one that should be traded!
swhite1115
May 19th, 2010
7:31 am
Uh, I just have five words for you on this issue, Jeff – St. Louis Rams, Rush Limbaugh.
Leave politics out indeed.
shane
May 19th, 2010
7:59 am
BSIATL — I want to know how in the world illegals are paying taxes? They have no social security number so, how does that work?
Its called Sales tax
Seriously?
May 19th, 2010
8:33 am
shane –
most illegals have fake social security cards, and do in fact pay federal income taxes every time they get a paycheck. There are just as many legal citizens that get paid under the table and avoid paying federal income taxes as there are illegal immigrants.
Dave
May 19th, 2010
9:19 am
BSIATL…You lose all credibility when you refer to ILLEGAL ALIENS as undocumented….THEY BROKE THE LAW GETTING HERE! THEY ARE ILLEGAL!
Matt
May 19th, 2010
10:14 am
you can’t change the past. I’m sorry the Indians got screwed but that was 200 years ago and I had nothing to do about it. Also, isn’t society supposed to learn from their mistakes???? Just because it was done once does that mean it should be done again???? Not to mention that the majority of this country was uninhabited land at the time the settlers came over. They didn’t have to deal with overpopulation, crime, crummy economy, etc. Why is it such a big deal to ask people to go through the proper steps and paperwork???
If I wanted to move to Italy I wouldn’t expect to just be able to come over on a boat, find a place to live, and not pay taxes and then when people get pissed at me I should just hold a rally and tell everyone that I’m being oppressed because of my race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You wanna come here, fine, but contribute SOMETHING!!!!!!!!
Yurtle_the_turtle
May 19th, 2010
12:08 pm
Any person not supporting Arizona’s law simply hasn’t read it. It mirrors the current Federal Law AND doesn’t support racial profiling. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t single out one group at all. Laura (blog at 12:38 am) is just an idiot. I’m proud of Arizona and it’s attempt to stop illegal activity. Calderon and the Mexican government should just stop lining their pockets and actually provide its citizens with a decent economic plan.
Jimi
May 19th, 2010
2:05 pm
We have the identical law here in Mexifornia, actually, it’s much stronger than the AZ law. It’s just not enforced like prop 187. Toothless laws are nothing to get excited about. 50+% of AZ law enforcement are hispanic and will not enforce it like it’s ignored in Mexifornia.
“Laws, laws, we don’t enforce no stinking LAWS”! ~ Barry Soetoro, Indonesian citizen.
Lakers Coach Phil Jackson’s stand on Arizona immigration law brings praise and criticism. What do you think? | LOS ANGELES AT COST
May 19th, 2010
3:22 pm
[...] His comments prompted a few dozen protesters to march in front of Staples Center on Monday. Others have said Jackson's comment's are totally appropriate. [...]
Bobby
May 19th, 2010
5:03 pm
What do people expect Mr. Jackson and Selig to do? Should we bring our customs, are sports, and everything else to a halt to cater to Mexico’s corruption and social problems? That’s what it’s about. Stop blaming Arizona for trying to protect itself as a sovereign state! It’s lunacy.
Terry
May 20th, 2010
1:16 am
You see wxwax this is not about Latinos only. This is about all the people coming into the U.S. unlawfully no matter what country they come from. This is about all the people coming through from the middle east and asia as well. This is a big problem and needs to be dealt with now. Kudos to Arizona for having the huevos to step up and do the right thing!
TDub
Terry
May 20th, 2010
1:33 am
I have an idea! Let’s just have our law enforcement nationwide question everyone of their legal status. No one could argue racial profiling then and I would bet very few would object, especially in light of what is going on all around the country.
TDub
Lakers Coach Phil Jackson’s stand on Arizona immigration law brings praise and criticism. What do you think? | Los Angeles Hotels
May 20th, 2010
6:26 am
[...] His comments prompted a few dozen protesters to march in front of Staples Center on Monday. Others have said Jackson’s comment’s are totally appropriate. [...]
Bud Selig, Phil Jackson get it right on immigration law | Baseball News Update
May 20th, 2010
11:10 am
[...] Bud Selig, Phil Jackson get it right on immigration law [...]
GameCock Brave
May 23rd, 2010
6:47 am
Jeff,
Great story! I am now a fan of yours. Also, does anyone else get the hypocrisy of the Suns and the NBA? “Los Suns” was merely a marketing scheme to add more fans and sell more jersey’s to the “sheep” that wanted to make a political statement. Did the Suns and the NBA donate all proceeds of those jersey sales to immigration reform or asylum? I have not read of such generosity.
Viktoria
June 5th, 2010
11:00 pm
The first illegal immigrants came from Europe. They brought more illegalls from Africa. USA is made by illegalls. Terrorism started in America just after 1492.