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PHX owner has team to wear "Los Suns" to protest immigration law

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"Los Suns" back Latinos in wake of new immigration law

(AFP) – 3 hours ago

PHOENIX, Arizona — Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, a harsh critic of a new Arizona immigration law, will have his team wear a Latino-supporting "Los Suns" version of its jersey in the NBA playoffs.

Sarver said Tuesday that the Suns will wear the jerseys, used twice in regular season games that Phoenix won both times, during Wednesday's second game of the Suns' NBA second-round series against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Suns, who won the opener 111-102 on Monday, will make the move on Cinco de Mayo, a popular Latino holiday.

Sarver said the jerseys will "honor our Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona, and our nation."

He joined critics of the state's new immigration law, which Latino groups and civil rights organizations fear could lead to racial profiling of Hispanics, a law US President Barack Obama has called "misguided."

"However intended, the result of passing the law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question and Arizona's already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them," Sarver said.

The law Sarver termed "flawed" makes it a crime to be in the United States illegally and directs police to inquire about immigration status and demand to see documentation if they suspect a person is in the nation illegally.

"We want to celebrate the diversity that exists in our state and the diversity that exists in the NBA, make sure that people understand that we know what's going on and we don't agree with the law," Suns general manager Steve Kerr said.

Some have called for the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game to be moved from Phoenix as a result of the law.

Phoenix Suns players backed the idea and decided to wear the jerseys once the idea was brought to them.

"It's fantastic," said guard Steve Nash, a South African-born Canadian. "I think the law is very misguided. I think it's, unfortunately, to the detriment of our society and our civil liberties.

"It's very important for us to stand up for things we believe in. As a team and as an organization, we have a lot of love and support for all of our fans. The league is very multicultural. We have players from all over the world, and our Latino community here is very strong and important to us."

Added Suns star Amare Stoudemire: "It's going to be great to wear Los Suns to let the Latin community know that we're behind them 100 percent."

NBA players union leaders agreed.

"We applaud the actions of Phoenix Suns players and management and join them in taking a stand against the misguided efforts of Arizona lawmakers," NBA Players Association leader Billy Hunter said in a statement.

"We are consulting with our members and our player leadership to determine the most effective way for our union to continue to voice our opposition to this legislation."

The Spurs couldn't get "Los Spurs" jerseys in time or they would have worn them, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said.

"It's a wonderful idea because it kind of shows what we all should be about," he said. "A lot of administrations have done nothing about the immigration deal and now everybody's paying the price, especially a lot of people in Arizona. That's a bad thing, but the reaction is important, too, and this reaction, I believe with Mr. Sarver, is inappropriate."
Personally I'm not in favor of this law, but that's another issue. I don't think Mr. Sarver's actions are appropriate. While "Los Suns" are not offensive -- like he said the words are just there to honor the Latino population, and the Suns have worn the uniforms before -- the message is clearly political this time around. To me mixing sports and politics is a no-no. What's your take?
 
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Upholding the NBA's Noche Latino in commemoration of the Latino Influx on the NBA as well as a motivation for social justice in AZ.
 
I don't see any problem with the Suns taking a stand as a whole organization on an issue they feel strongly about
 
I don't see any problem with the Suns taking a stand as a whole organization on an issue they feel strongly about
Do all the players support the owner's decision? I don't think we know. Even if none of the players is against the owner, maybe not all share his strong political interest. Finally I don't think it's the right venue to express such things, no matter how vague the message is. Just my 2 cents.
 
Do all the players support the owner's decision? I don't think we know. Even if none of the players is against the owner, maybe not all share his strong political interest. Finally I don't think it's the right venue to express such things, no matter how vague the message is. Just my 2 cents.

Steve Nash went on the record of saying that each player was asked if they had a problem with the idea, and the result was unanimous support. So it's like he forced players to go against their own views.
 
To me mixing sports and politics is a no-no. What's your take?
I have no problem with it. Owners use the money they make to support candidates all the time, so why not just have a more public display?
 
What about those fans who support the law? Sarver runs the risk of driving those people away from games.
 
What about those fans who support the law? Sarver runs the risk of driving those people away from games.

He obviously knows that, but took principle over money.

Echoing:

Steve Nash went on the record of saying that each player was asked if they had a problem with the idea, and the result was unanimous support. So it's like he forced players to go against their own views.

I have no problem with it. Owners use the money they make to support candidates all the time, so why not just have a more public display?
 
Political gesture by Phoenix Suns, a rarity in sports, angers many fans

by Craig Harris - May. 6, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic


It is not in the same league as other major civil-rights protests in the history of sports, but Robert Sarver's decision to have his Phoenix Suns wear "Los Suns" jerseys Wednesday to protest Arizona's new immigration law
is unusual.

That's the view of Richard O. Davies, a University of Nevada-Reno professor who specializes in sports history.


"Normally, sports figures are reluctant to stick their necks out," Davies said. "And it's very unusual for teams to take a stand."

Arizona was in the national spotlight again Wednesday after Sarver, the Suns' managing general partner, announced his team would wear the special uniforms in an outward expression of distaste for Arizona's new law.

Sarver, other team officials and players also criticized the law, which makes it a state crime to be in Arizona without proper documentation and requires local police to check the legal status of suspected undocumented immigrants.

The move got the attention of President Barack Obama, who made reference to the jerseys Wednesday in a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the White House. But it also got the attention of some irate fans - there is substantial public support for the law in Arizona - and conservative radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, who called the move sad and shortsighted.

One outraged fan told The Arizona Republic that she shredded her four lower-level tickets to Wednesday's game against the San Antonio Spurs in protest. Meanwhile, 84 letters to the editor were sent to The Republic on Wednesday, 79 opposed to Sarver's decision.

"I'm very unhappy, and I don't think they should get involved," said Roger Gibbard, who lives outside Queen Creek and has been a Suns fan since 1981.

Yet Davies, the professor, said sports figures have played major roles in civil-rights movements over the years. He pointed to Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier in 1947, the Black Power salute by U.S. sprinters at the 1968 Olympics, and boxer Muhammad Ali's refusal to fight in the Vietnam War.

Sports figures have a unique ability, given their popularity, to turn the spotlight on key issues, whether viewed through a moral or political lens.

Davies said Sarver's decision is nowhere close to the historical events in which sports figures fought to eliminate racial barriers, but "it's out of the ordinary" because most teams don't want to take stands, regardless of the principles involved, that might alienate fans who buy tickets and merchandise.

The professor added that most superstar athletes, notably basketball's Michael Jordan, have refused to take political or social stands for fear of alienating those who buy products they endorse.

Sarver's decision clearly created a firestorm. By midday Wednesday, he no longer wanted to talk about it. He also declined to answer questions about whether the decision could hurt the team financially.

"I'm not going to go there," he said. "I don't have any more public comments."

Rick Welts, the team's chief executive, said fans appeared to be split on the issue. He said the response was "exactly what we expected." The team has no plans to wear the "Los Suns" jerseys for the rest of the best-of-seven-game series with the Spurs, Welts said.

A spokesman for Gov. Jan Brewer, meanwhile, said she was surprised that the Suns had denounced the immigration law, given the bill was "debated publicly for four months" at the Capitol.

"I don't recall the Phoenix Suns ever taking a position in an open public discussion on this," said Paul Senseman, the governor's spokesman. Senseman called some of the comments made by Suns General Manager Steve Kerr comparing the law to Nazi Germany "ugly" and "hateful."

Down the street from US Airways Center, the Arizona Diamondbacks
, who have been the target of protests on the road during the past two weeks, plan to wear "Los D-Backs" jerseys on Sept. 4 to honor Hispanic Heritage Day. The team has worn those jerseys the past two years for special occasions and planned, before the immigration law was signed, to wear them again in September.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...enix-suns-los-suns-jerseys.html#ixzz0n97DYFxp
 
Political gesture by Phoenix Suns, a rarity in sports, angers many fans
Precisely why I was against it at first. One of the great things about sports is it unites people. Look at this forum -- we may be from different countries (that don't always like one another) but we share a passion, and this is what makes sports so great. Bringing politics to the sports arena only accomplishes the opposite.
 
PHX' Latino owner has team to wear "Los Suns" to protest immigration law

Robert Sarver is Latino?

Political gesture by Phoenix Suns, a rarity in sports, angers many fans

Rush Limbaugh called this "who called the move sad and shortsighted." LOL. That's how I feel about the law (and actually Rush Limbaugh for that matter). Actually, this shouldn't be labeled as a liberal vs. conservative thing, many conservative - and especially libertarians - are against this because this is also an example of Big Brother watching us.

"Davies said Sarver's decision is nowhere close to the historical events in which sports figures fought to eliminate racial barriers." Old tactic, fighting for civil rights back then was good (even though I wonder if they would truly have been for it back then), but now it's somehow different. This is not about letting "illegals" run rampant, but from stoping a possible direction towards a police state. Many U.S. citizens (especially Latinos) could be subject to harrassmant by cops just based on how they look (already happens, but now cops would have a law to back it up).

The real problem is how all the Latino baseball players are reacting and that the All-Star Game will be there next year I believe.
 
As long as the Suns keep winning I doubt they'll suffer any fan backlash, people will be angry mutter about "liberals" for a day, then see they're up 2-0 against the Spurs and get over it. If they don't there will be others to take their spot.
 
immigration is a complicated issue in america. unlike europe america is a country of immigrants. in america you see last names like ruggerio,lopez,o'flaugherty,eick,shwartz,wentz,johansson, jackson etc.. you get my point. the problem is that america is in a economical reseccion. so many americans are forgetting their past because of the economical pinch. compettition for jobs, housing, etc... plus sept. 11 created resentment and mistrust towards immigrants, even though latins were not envolved, they get the backlash. plus a small group of right wing ,white supremacist have controlled the immigration debate and are using that as well as a black president to fuel their comeback.
 
Rush Limbaugh called this "who called the move sad and shortsighted." LOL. That's how I feel about the law (and actually Rush Limbaugh for that matter).
Dittos.
The real problem is how all the Latino baseball players are reacting and that the All-Star Game will be there next year I believe.
The All-Star game and the spring training in 2011. Latinos are much bigger in baseball than they are in basketball, so if they decide to protest, it'll be awful for the MLB. And the MLB will probably support those players because they're so important to their game.
perucho123 said:
the problem is that america is in a economical reseccion. so many americans are forgetting their past because of the economical pinch.
That's right. We're getting off-topic, but you're right that immigration is not really a big issue when the economy is good. Immigrants have always been easy "scapegoats" for when the economy is bad.
 
I look at the jerseys and I start thinking, "Nice gesture, but shouldn't that read LOS SOLES?":)
 
immigration is a complicated issue in america. unlike europe america is a country of immigrants. in america you see last names like ruggerio,lopez,o'flaugherty,eick,shwartz,wentz,johansson, jackson etc.. you get my point. the problem is that america is in a economical reseccion. so many americans are forgetting their past because of the economical pinch. compettition for jobs, housing, etc... plus sept. 11 created resentment and mistrust towards immigrants, even though latins were not envolved, they get the backlash. plus a small group of right wing ,white supremacist have controlled the immigration debate and are using that as well as a black president to fuel their comeback.

That's right. We're getting off-topic, but you're right that immigration is not really a big issue when the economy is good. Immigrants have always been easy "scapegoats" for when the economy is bad.

I have to disagree with you that this is a recession thing or 9/11 thing. This attitude towards immigratants and "illegal" immigrants is nothing new. In fact just look at attitudes towards Italian and Irish Catholics at the beginning of the 20th century, even more towards Jews and the Chinese.

Not to mention but all through the 90s I heard the immigration debate. It's a good wedge issue for Republicans to attach Democrats on.

Again, nothing new.

Also, I would say that Obama is mixed (being both black and white). Not to mention that there have been more raids and harsher laws against "illegals" under Obama's first year then Bush's worse (best?).

I look at the jerseys and I start thinking, "Nice gesture, but shouldn't that read LOS SOLES?":)

I would say no, because "Suns" is the name. One usually doesn't translate the official name of a team or etc...
 
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