Photo credit: Sportschump.net
Earlier this week, the San Antonio Spurs finished off the
two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat in a stifling
five game series. The win secured San Antonio’s place as
a respected dynasty in the league in a significant manner
for a couple of reasons. First, this win gave the Spurs their
fifth title overall. Second, all five titles were attained after
the arrival of their legendary center, Tim Duncan. And
lastly, the remaining four titles were won with two other
members that would make up the team’s ‘Big 3’, Tony
Parker and Manu Ginobili. This recent win was also fueled
in part due to the contributions of key role players that
also don’t hail from the continental United States such
as Boris Diaw, Patrick ‘Paddy’ Mills and Tiago Splitter. And
that should speak volumes.
Photo credit: Le Monde
The fact that all of these players have contributed to the success
of an NBA franchise that was once part of a rival league and have
helped secure basketball as the greatest global sport behind football
aka soccer shouldn’t be overlooked. Take these facts into account:
the Spurs have in essence capitalized on incorporating foreign-born
players into a system that wins. Clean, crisp passing. Great court
vision. A high emphasis on teamwork. Substantial hard-working
ethic. In short, they’ve taken what has fueled immigrants here
since this country was founded. Tim Duncan, from St.Croix in the
Virgin Islands. Tony Parker, whose father hails from Chicago, from
France. Manu Ginobili, from Argentina. I mean, Boris Diaw and Tony
Parker are boys from their days at INSEP(National Institute of Sports
and Physical Education) in Paris. Add the Brazilian Tiago Splitter
who most saw as a raw prospect and Paddy Mills from Austrailia.
They represent the brimming culmination of a league that has
embraced the international player. And in a way, a league - and a
nation - that is still coming to grips with the rise of the emigrant.
The United States is still encumbered by race and the numerous
tentacales of hate and confusion the subject causes here. We can
root for baseball teams riddled with players from Cuba, Panama,
the Dominican Republic & other Latin countries, but will keep mum
on the decreasing number of Black players in the game. In the
past three years, Black players making significant contributions
in the NHL have been the target of filthy racial slurs. And we’ve
already dealt with the disguting spring of Donald Sterling in the
NBA. The Spurs’ win doesn’t even seem to register anymore in
the public eye. Sure, you can credit that to the media fixation on
the Miami Heat and their superstar, Lebron James. You can even
make the case that the Spurs are ‘boring’. No flash. But in some
way, you wonder if they’re being overlooked because they’re that
diverse of a team and go about their business. The Spurs, it can
be argued, are the exception that proves the rule when it comes
to emigrants and sports issues in the U.S.
Photo credit: IBTimes
Perhaps it’s fitting that the Spurs’ win coincided with the opening
matches of the 2014 World Cup currently taking place in Brazil.
There is definitely more interest in soccer this go-round in part
due to the growing strength of the U.S. team and also the rise
of Major League Soccer. It’s back to the levels of 1994 when the
Cup was held here. Emigrants are a significant part of the World
Cup experience. Take Italy’s star, Mario Balotelli who plays for
AC Milan. Paul Pogha and Karim Benzema of France. Vincent
Kompany of Belgium. Hell, even the American side boasts a few
immigrants in Jozy Altidore and Jermaine Jones to name a couple.
The emigrant influence cannot be disputed. Look at France - that
nation has undergone political strife influenced by right-wing racist
thinking courtesy of the fascist National Front political party and
others. This ire has been directed at African and Arab immigrants.
Yet, they will still cheer ‘Allez Les Bleus’ for a team that without
immigrants, wouldn’t be able to take the field as shown in a recent
article making waves on the ‘Net. Karim Benzema himself spoke
about it in a quote from an interview: “If I score, I’m French. If I
don’t score or there are problems, I’m Arab.” He has also had
some controversy with his refusal to sing the national anthem,
or the Marseillaise, on prior occassions. He knows full well how
the double standard works and his place in that system.
Part of the whole issue is that there is an attempt to overlook this
impact by the system and by fans. During France’s recent group
win over Switzerland, I saw a couple of French guys dressed up
as Afro-Brazilian women in candomble outfits. It flashed for a
minute but it irked me because it was another example of them
having fun mimicking something ‘other’ or ‘exotic’. And FIFA is
now dealing with reports of racist remarks hurled by Argentine
fans. Here in the States, there is a conflict for some rooting for
the U.S. Not only because we’re considered upstarts, but also
because of some political outlooks. It’s also surprising just how
little we seem to hear about how players of immigrant backgrounds
have helped this team tremendously, even to the point where
the coach could leave off Landon Donovan, their best striker.
And the point is underscored as the U.S. faces the powerhouse
Portugal team without the Haitian-born Altidore, one of their
best offensive threats.
Photo credit: WorldSoccertalk
It does give one hope that seeing all of these players with
immigrant backgrounds can make an impact off the field.
Here in the U.S., one of the most pressing issues is how
to include and to treat the growing emigrant population
without scorn or derision fueled by corporate stooges and
crooked politicians. America IS an immigrant nation, whether
you choose to believe it or not. Just because you don’t hear
it much, doesn’t mean you won’t be reminded of it when
you look at the Native American reservations. It’s present
even as nut-jobs call the current president an immigrant
who doesn’t deserve the office and asking him to show
his papers because he’s a Black man while supporting a
fringe extremist who hails from Canada as a true American.
(When you figure that one out, let me know.) And our
sports teams have always reflected that. The San Antonio
Spurs are just another example, as are this version of
the United States National Mens Team in soccer. It’s just
another discussion we - and the world - have to have
honestly, and openly.