S. Samuel
Less than a week after posting his controversial New York Post column centering on rap mogul Jay-Z and the Brooklyn Nets, columnist Phil Mushnik has stepped forward to protect his image.
Speaking via a statement, Mushnik lashed out at media outlets labeling him a racist.
“I’m never comfortable using that word [n*gger]. That’s the way I was raised. Shame on my parents,” a sarcastic Mushnick writes. “The ONE time I spelled it out – for accuracy – I was widely condemned as a racist. So either way, I’m a bigot. I know what’s in my heart and my head, the way I was raised, and the way I raised my kids. But you’ve painted me a racist. Good work, James. And good work, if you can get it.” As we pointed out to Mushnick, we never called him a racist — not once. We don’t know the guy and won’t speculate on his racial sympathies. What we do know is that he used the word “n—–s” in a column, which is an incredibly stupid, insensitive things to do — regardless of the context, or the race of the person using the word. (Village Voice)
Mushnik’s controversial column began making headlines after its publishing last Friday (May 4).
“As long as the Nets are allowing Jay-Z to call their marketing shots — what a shock that he chose black and white as the new team colors to stress, as the Nets explained, their new “urban” home — why not have him apply the full Jay-Z treatment? Why the Brooklyn Nets when they can be the New York N——s? The cheerleaders could be the Brooklyn B—-hes or Hoes. Team logo? A 9 mm with hollow-tip shell casings strewn beneath. Wanna be Jay-Z hip? Then go all the way!” (New York Post)
Shortly after the immediate outcries, Mushnick also stepped forward to defend himself.
“Bob – Such obvious, wishful and ignorant mischaracterizations of what I write are common. I don’t call black men the N-word; I don’t regard young women as bitches and whores; I don’t glorify the use of assault weapons and drugs. Jay-Z, on the other hand…..Is he the only NBA owner allowed to call black men N—ers?” Jay-Z profits from the worst and most sustaining self-enslaving stereotypes of black-American culture and I’M the racist? Some truths, I guess, are just hard to read, let alone think about. (Same column I provide support for Amar’e Stoudemire at a time when everyone in town is ripping him to shreds. That was my LEAD, too, but what does that matter?)” (Bobs Blitz)
Last week, the Brooklyn Nets attire was officially unveiled.
The Nets began settling into their new neighborhood Monday, unveiling new colors and logos at a sporting goods store on Flatbush Avenue, across the street from its soon-to-be-completed home arena, the $1 billion Barclays Center. “Hello Brooklyn,”‘ center Brook Lopez said. “I’ve been waiting a long time to say that. It’s very exciting.” Lopez was joined by coach Avery Johnson, General Manager Billy King, Bruce Ratner, the real estate developer and minority owner who was the catalyst behind the team’s relocation, and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. (Sports Illustrated)
Check out a Brooklyn Nets video below:
