AC360 Exclusive: Kareem Adbdul-Jabbar on Bruce Levenson
Bruce Levenson is the majority owner of the Atlanta Hawks and he is selling the team after racially charged e-mails came to light. He was writing about why the team was not attracting more affluent white season ticket holders. In one e-mail he wrote:
"My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a signficant season ticket base." He added, "I never felt uncomfortable, but I think southern whites simply were not comfortable being in an arena or at a bar where they were in the minority."
Levenson had been one of the most vocal critics of Donald Sterling earlier this year. Unlike Sterling, Levenson is selling his team without a fight. But NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar told Anderson that he does not believe that Levenson was expressing hatred.
New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Charles Blow says he does not believe Levenson should get "a business waiver for bias." He spoke to Anderson in a conversation with Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin.
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Post by: AC360 Filed under: Charles Blow • Exclusive • Jeffrey Toobin • NBA |
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There is no hatred in that statement.
Bruce Levenson is an honorable man and a great business leader. Yes, his comments could have been phrased better, but there is absolutely not one racist word or untrue word in what he said.