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Mark Cuban's imperfect comparison

Dallas Mavericks owner had some interesting words with regard to the Donald Sterling controversy, which many right-wing sites have picked up on as "rationale thoughts."

Cuban called the potential matter "a very very very slippery slope," elaborating on the matter with this:

"If it's about racism and we're ready to kick people out of the league, OK? Then what about homophobia?... What about somebody who's anti-semitic? What about a xenophobe?... In this country, people are allowed to be morons."

While I can see where Mr. Cuban is coming from, I think his comparison is a matter of apples and oranges. In any one of those other scenarios (homophobia, anti-semitic, xenophobia), there would be some anger, most likely a fine, possibly a short suspension, but it would not bring about the same level of emotion as it would (and did) with regard to racism against blacks. The reason is quite simple. According to a 2013 report, blacks make up 76.3% of all NBA players, 43.3% of all NBA head coaches, and 35.7% of all NBA professional staff positions. While the percentage of African-Americans as head coaches and in professional staff positions is significantly higher in the NBA than in other pro sports, the most significant number is that 76.3. Over three-quarters of NBA players are black. When Donald Sterling made his racist comments against blacks, he insulted 3/4 of NBA players, including a large majority of players on his very own team. So, while I can understand where Mr. Cuban is coming from, like I said, it's a matter of apples and oranges. Many in the league may get angry if an owner made derogatory statements against homosexuals or people of a certain faith, but it would not cause the kind of uproar it did when Donald Sterling insulted over 75% of NBA players. That'd be like a head of a Mormon church insulting whites (according to a 2008 study, approximately 91% of Mormons are white)...

http://thinkprogress.org/sports/2014/04/28/3431928/mark-cuban-says-kicking-clippers-owner-out-of-nba-for-racist-comments-is-a-very-very-very-slippery-slope/

http://www.tidesport.org/RGRC/2013/2013_NBA_RGRC.pdf

http://commons.trincoll.edu/aris/2011/12/14/mormon-study-shows-regional-concentration-and-growing-republicanism/
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