John Beilein: Continuing his education

[CavsFaninNJ]

I'm sorry, but only in an era of social media outrage could this be looked at as a front page story on ESPN or anywhere else. The term "thug" doesn't apply to anyone on our roster, white or black, and makes no sense at all on its face. The man very clearly misspoke unless you see Beilein as an out-and-out racist.

"Slugs" on the other hand, makes perfect sense to describe what it is like watching this team attempt to get back on defense in transition. And, the funny part of it is that Love, Cedi, Zizic ... these guys are maybe the most "sluggish" offenders.

And, as others have pointed out, maybe the most concerning part of this is the speed with which it leaked to the media. This organization is a god damn disaster.

People are missing the point. I don't think that saying thug makes Beilein an "out-and-out" racist, or that it matters all that much if he is or not. It might just show how a rookie coach in his late 60s can't relate to today's players - not just his struggles with rotations and coaching in the modern NBA - but off the court as well. And like others have said, a slip like this is interpreted the worst (and leaks the quickest) when it's a coach the players didn't mesh with in the first place.

 

[BigErieCavsFan]

In other words they're all prema fucking donnas.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Prema?
Primo?

 

[LeeBuckeye]

 

[Kouki]

Yeah if you don't see the problem with the word thug then you just don't get it. There can definitely be a racial connotation with it.

Richard Sherman: 'Thug' is accepted way of calling someone N-word

During a Wednesday press conference, Seahawks CB Richard Sherman was asked if the word 'thug' bothered him more than any other term.

www.cbssports.com

At least JB didn't call the team nappy-headed hos?

 

[avs2000]

Yeah if you don't see the problem with the word thug then you just don't get it. There can definitely be a racial connotation with it.

Richard Sherman: 'Thug' is accepted way of calling someone N-word

During a Wednesday press conference, Seahawks CB Richard Sherman was asked if the word 'thug' bothered him more than any other term.

www.cbssports.com

At least JB didn't call the team nappy-headed hos?

When he also said it to love delly cedi and zizic at the same time ? Dont the cavs have safe zones ? This country has been wimpified.

 

[Randolphkeys]

The posts about freedoms of speech are misplaced. They will not be held on RCF. I will ban/temp ban anyone who continues this discussion because this is a privately owned website that gets to ban people who goes on "freedom of speech" rants.

End of topic. Please discuss the head coach.

 

[David.]

Yeah if you don't see the problem with the word thug then you just don't get it. There can definitely be a racial connotation with it.

Richard Sherman: 'Thug' is accepted way of calling someone N-word

During a Wednesday press conference, Seahawks CB Richard Sherman was asked if the word 'thug' bothered him more than any other term.

www.cbssports.com

At least JB didn't call the team nappy-headed hos?

Or people disagree with you and you just don't get it?

Is it possible you've been subjected to some stuff that you really don't feel good about, and this vaguely reminds you of it but doesn't really fit logically into the same mold? And that emotional response prevents you from seeing it for what it actually is?

Is it possible that he meant they're playing too physically and that the word thug would actually fit if that were the Case? And that because you believe thug means n word you see this as racist? Do you see how that doesn't really make sense? He's not using the word how you want it to be used.

 

[Cavatt]

Or people disagree with you and you just don't get it?

Is it possible you've been subjected to some stuff that you really don't feel good about, and this vaguely reminds you of it but doesn't really fit logically into the same mold? And that emotional response prevents you from seeing it for what it actually is?

Is it possible that he meant they're playing too physically and that the word thug would actually fit if that were the Case? And that because you believe thug means n word you see this as racist? Do you see how that doesn't really make sense? He's not using the word how you want it to be used.

What difference does that make if the team took it the way Iwantakouki says and the way it was reported?

The issue here is that even if this is small thing, it unfortunately illustrates the disconnect between this old coach and his young team.

You have to assume the coach apologizing means he doesn't want to project whatever attitude he ended up with. I mean you don't want a guy who is alienating his team, right? Knowing your audience is a really important part of the head coaching gig.

Phil Jackson was heavily criticized for such language and it was awhile ago. That was a big deal at the time and if the "best coach" gets criticism for that, a rookie coach ought to pay attention.

Jackson: Zen-aphobic

Phil Jackson spit on an entire culture -- <i> twice</i> -- and there's no way Scoop Jackson is letting him get away with it.

www.espn.com

Basketball players are men even if we call them kids a lot. A coach needs the respect of his team. That's all.

 

[Green Lantern]

We'll see how they respond by the way they play tonight.

 

[David.]

Or people disagree with you and you just don't get it?

Is it possible you've been subjected to some stuff that you really don't feel good about, and this vaguely reminds you of it but doesn't really fit logically into the same mold? And that emotional response prevents you from seeing it for what it actually is?

Is it possible that he meant they're playing too physically and that the word thug would actually fit if that were the Case? And that because you believe thug means n word you see this as racist? Do you see how that doesn't really make sense? He's not using the word how you want it to be used.

What difference does that make if the team took it the way Iwantakouki says and the way it was reported?

The fact that it's an entirely different argument than the one I just had aside, it a bad precedent to call things racist that aren't, especially if it has the power to ruin their careers and lives. And to upset a bunch of people and legitimize their belief that somethjng is racist if it isn't how it was intended, and also just isn't.

 

[inliner311]

The fact that it's an entirely different argument than the one I just had aside, it a bad precedent to call things racist that aren't, especially if it has the power to ruin their careers and lives. And to upset a bunch of people and legitimize their belief that somethjng is racist if it isn't how it was intended, and also just isn't.

I think the team put it out there and gave Woj all the info so that it wouldn't come out later as a one sided story. Imagine the team getting blindsided with this a couple days or weeks down the road and coming out with the slug story a couple hours laters. It could happen during a game and players could be asked to comment in post game interviews.

 

[cavaliers421]

I think the team put it out there and gave Woj all the info so that it wouldn't come out later as a one sided story. Imagine the team getting blindsided with this a couple days or weeks down the road and coming out with the slug story a couple hours laters. It could happen during a game and players could be asked to comment in post game interviews.

Personally, I think the better move would be to just address it as soon as possible with the players and when the story does come out you can say it's already been dealt with. The fact that Woj was the one with the story is interesting as he did a podcast with Beilein after he was hired by the Cavs. Maybe Beilein himself contacted Woj?

 

[CavsFaninNJ]

We'll see how they respond by the way they play tonight.

I bet $10 on a sick parlay which will win me $841 if I hit all 5.

Cavs by 11+
Cavs lead at halftime
Garland 14+ points
Kove 19+ points
Thompson 12 points or less

So I'm hoping they want to quiet down the noise around Slug Gate and get that double digit win. But not Tristan. Quiet game for you, sir.

 

[Cavatt]

The fact that it's an entirely different argument than the one I just had aside, it a bad precedent to call things racist that aren't, especially if it has the power to ruin their careers and lives. And to upset a bunch of people and legitimize their belief that somethjng is racist if it isn't how it was intended, and also just isn't.

Well, Beilein is certainly within his rights to explain why what he said isn't racist, but it actually matter more how the "audience" takes what he said than how he may feel in his heart of hearts.

Is this the hill to die on for Beilein? I don't think it is, which is why he has apologized and moved on. You happen to be in a less precarious position where how the players felt about it has no affect on your life. If this brings Beilein into a situation where his players trust him as a man of integrity, then this will have been a positive thing. Dunno about you, but I have never respected a boss that can't admit mistakes.