HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Seth Ferranti

147 Comments »

1. brandon Said,

   August 31, 2007 @ 1:59 pm

   nice post. i been saying this for a while now. thats why the nba is falling way behind other sports like mlb, and nascar. they take away personalities, and everyone is like robots now.

2. Bob Mcgeeho Said,

   August 31, 2007 @ 2:02 pm

   Seth, I’ve read your articles before, and I have come to the conclusion you must be like some 15 year old in High School. Your logic is so flawed and ridiculous, that it’s funny. If you can’t even see the complete absurdity of what you are saying, you shouldn’t be a writer for anyone.
   You don’t have to know a thing about coming from the hood or any of that. These basketball players are getting paid millions and millions of dollars a year to play basketball and represent their respective communities. Coming from the “hood’ means nothing, because you are expected to conduct yourself professionally like you would in any other job. There are people in the NBA who have overcome things soooooooooooo much worse than the “Hood”, and they don’t act like idiots.
   Also, it sounds as if you are justifying what they do off the court because of where they are from. So Reuben Patterson was totally OK when he raped that woman?
   Once again, Seth, if you are some fifteen year old writing for this website then I can see how you came to these conclusions, but if not, then please actually THINK about what you are saying before you write it.

3. Frank_head Said,

   August 31, 2007 @ 2:11 pm

   Why the heck did I just read that. I want to read about the current free agent market and projections for the coming year. Seth sux

4. number 3 Said,

   August 31, 2007 @ 2:18 pm

   i agree you cant stop someone from bein themselves but you dont need to be hood to be marketable.MJ,Lebron,Dwade and Kobe arent hood at all and are some of the most marketable players ever..
   but i think i jus got somethin against melo..i never touched his jersey again after that knicks fight..anybody want a free melo jersey?

5. jeff Said,

   August 31, 2007 @ 2:21 pm

   look bob…. u most likely didnt come from the ghetto and nor did i…… but when you grow up being raised in that environment, no amount of money is gonna change who you are ….. real people dont change their whole personality just so people like you can be happy………

   players who come from the hood are inspiration to young kids who also live in the ghetto….. and make them believe that they can reach thier goals……. they dont have the same resources as rich tightwads…….. who can get professional trainers to help them cuz they have money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6. Rick Trotter Said,

   August 31, 2007 @ 2:34 pm

   This a very poor argument for individuality in the NBA. “Repping the hood” does not have to continually be associated with violence and poor decisions. Iverson’s off court trouble doesn’t make him more hood, nor does Melo’s infamous cheap shot. Ironically neither one of those incidents happened while AI was in an Armani. I don’t recall Anthony gently removing his sports jacket and gently folding it over a chair before trying to cold cock some random Knick. The dress code was a poor move but it was done as a vain measure of control by Stern. It didn’t keep Stephen Jackson from heating up a strip club parking lot, or Rafer Alston from going Jason Vorhees in a nightclub, or Ron Artest from…well…being Ron Ron. No one believes a suit makes a man a professional. Perhaps the NBA should employ rigorous interviews and background checks before heaping millions on immature, uncultured talent. As for this article, it is sloppily written and half cocked. Seth’s use of ‘hood’ vernacular and colloquialisms is misplaced and insulting. Please stop. The NBA doesn’t need hood icons just better basketball.

7. baller baller Said,

   August 31, 2007 @ 2:36 pm

   i think this article is great. the first guy talkin about harder things than comin up out the hood. it aint to many harder things i can think of. True enough the league cant just be the wild wild west but you should embrace the players and there culture instead of trying to ban it. Go to any arena and see what kind of music they are playin and what most of the white kids that have never been to the hood look loike. They mostly are dressed like rappers. so its really hipocridical for stern to be trying to ban ideas of a culture that makes himmost of his revenue. And as far as writers thats like me being from the hood writing about how bill gates lives. I wouldnt know nothing about it.

8. Robert Said,

   August 31, 2007 @ 2:38 pm

   Sometimes I wonder if this guy even knows what he writes about. Obviously he has no idea how hard it is to get into the nba. NBA players are not some black dudes from the street their young men who had to be able to graduate from high school or be eligible for college before coming to the nba.

9. frank Said,

   August 31, 2007 @ 2:40 pm

   i now know how it feels like to waste 5 minutes of my life. instead of reading that article, i could’ve done something productive like pickup the dog poop in my front yard.

10. Pat Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 3:01 pm

    ‘Melo looked pretty rough and thuggish when he slapped that dude and retreated to midcourt.

11. matthew c Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 3:10 pm

    what the hell are u talkin about?

12. the EXPOSURE Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 3:16 pm

    Just to add to your article, I think most kids from the “hood” today that have a REASONABLE chance at playing some type of proffesional basketball get taken out of that HOOD element early on in their lives. Between AAU, Select Camps etc. basketball becomes a YEAR ROUND venture which greatly reduces the hood aspect. Carmello aka “Yellow” Anthony threw a sucker punch at NY Forward Marty Collins last season then backpeddled faster than Deon Sanders in his prime. THAT IS NOT HOOD. Nor should it be, he has not been “HOOD” since 6 or 7 … since then he has been what MOST NBA players born and raised in the inner city are - talented, pampered, immature products of their environment … but NOT HOOD.

13. DAVID Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

    So if a “guy” from the hood makes it to corporate America, he gets to still be a hoodie at board meetings, wear long gold chains and talk like an 8 year old, and I guess just get wild ’cause that’s where he be comin from…..yeah, right !!

14. Mike Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 3:41 pm

    This article is a joke! Its not hood icons that make the league sell, its the individuals. The fact they are from the ghettos or freaking beverly hills doesn’t mean crap. We love Kobe for his uniqueness, we love AI for his blunt honesty jus like we loved Charles Barkely for his.
    This article sounds like a white kid from a small town is trying to write an article for his african american appreciation class. I repeat, where they come from isnt why we love’em.

15. Bob Mcgeeho Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 3:41 pm

    anyone who can’t imagine something tougher than growing up in the hood, is an idiot. Why don’t you ask Dikembe Mutumbo about growing up rough. He is from the Congo, a TAD bit more rough than the hood. Growing up in America, in the worst conditions, is like growing up rich compared to other countries. Please don’t ever make such a foolish statement as not being able to believe there are harder ways to grow up than the ghetto of AMERICA.
    And it has nothing to do with changing for other people. It is your job for god’s sake. You get paid money to do your job. Part of the job of an NBA player is media spotlight. So stop acting like some 13 year old who can’t string a sentence together without using slang, and grow up. This article was written by an idiot who actually thinks that the majority of NBA players are from the ghetto. A very small percent come from the ghetto, because there aren’t ANY opportunities in the “hood” to get into the NBA.
    And by “hood’” that means AI can draw guns on people and beat his wife and it’s just part of who he is? Give me a break.

16. Allan Dawgs Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 3:43 pm

    So I read the comments first and went into reading this article with great trepidation. Has Seth lost it? Has Seth put out support for rapists and killers, never mind gold chains! Unfortunately the goof balls who laid down their opinions were not quite the sharpest blades in the drawer. They did not even pick up on the most controversial statement Seth made, about the victims of the war on drugs being the jailed dealers and users (which while controversial is a legitimate point of view expressed by millions of people who study or understand the consequences of putting away people for years for drug related “crimes”). I believe Seth’s point is that there is a culture from the hood that can be respected more by the powers that be and that rising out of inner city poverty is something that should be celebrated not dissed just because of cultural differences. Now that I’m finished chewing my piece I gotta find my grill, outta here.

17. J Boogie Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 3:45 pm

    Seth, I am from the hood and I am also an aspiring sports writer. I am not sure the guys who posted before understand that you really have to be from these places to understand the players. I love Melo and AI because they represent me. Outside of illegal activities, their swagger sums up everything I live. I applaud you for speaking your mind. I know what your saying, and I know what the players are saying, because every hood is the same. We all could just chill in the barbershop and chop it up without any problems. I love hip hop, I hate crime, I love basketball, and I hate people who comit the crimes. I am a product of my environment and I am proud of it.

18. Sergio Castañeda Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 4:04 pm

    I think that mr seth doesnt realize that NBA is NOT just USA’s hoodlum is the world’s NBA is seen al over the world, im from mexico, and we see a lot of basketball here, and so does all of Europe, Brasil, Argentina, Central and South America and of course over 150 million chinese who see rockets games, so i think that iverson and anthony (who are very well paid) dont have to act like idiots or knuckleheads every time that they made a mistake, dont get me wrong, theyr great players (especially iverson), and yes they’re from the hood, so what????????, a lot of players have had it worst that that (remember Divac in 92 or Petrovic)they were miles from home where there was a REAL war and their families were in great danger, and i dont remember that they were taking cheap shoots or anythingm they juste kept on playing, so, my point is, it is great that NBA Basketball is a great opportunity for people with very few options, but they dont need to act like idiots, especially because theyre great players,

19. Gabriel Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 4:04 pm

    I am so sick of hearing about this crap from people with very little intelligence. 1) I guess we should cater to the middle of the pack. I guess we should base everything on what makes the most money. Throw out standards, the standard is now what makes you go “ooh” or “wow”. 2)Seth has no clue about the hood, probably never even seen one. What an insult to poor blacks everywhere. The hood is now about 100 thousand dollar necklaces and baggy fit clothing? I thought it was about the struggle for normal folks. Getting up, having everything stacked against you and still striving for success, every day. These guys aren’t “hood”, they are just from bad neighborhoods. They are millionaires who have been pampered since high school. And it shows in everything they do. Carmelo goes to the Olympics and throws fits because of playing time. Iverson probably was secretly crying when he found out every day isn’t casual Friday. What tough hood bred those two self entitlement queens? And what about all the guys that come from the hood and act like professionals with class? They do exist you know, it IS possible to adapt. We have been adapting for only about 3,000 years you know.

20. That dude Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 4:36 pm

    People, if you are not from there ( the hood) you cannot understand . If you have not lived, worked, loved, played there you cannot understand . people are who they are where you are from has a direct effect on how you view the world no matter what happens. I work for the ultimate conformist organization i can think of, the army. To this day if someone tries to treat me like i am less than a person i will check them ( put them in there place). heh BOB making a comparison about two things that you have no first hand knowlege of shows your ignorance. heh BOB if you do not like his article, why are you posting on here? the more post he gets regarless of your opinion the harder it will be for you to get him off here. BOB even if you are a fan of a certain player does not mean you agree with all they do. Mike what do you think has the biggest influence on your personality? answer probably where you come from and how you were raised. to all the individuals who say speaking like you come from the hood makes you sound like a 8/13 year old drives the point hom of my first statement. If you are not from there you do not understand. Personalities drive baskebal it is entertainment, the most “influential” palyer in the leauge that guy from the spurs is the most boring he gets the least amount of love of any superstar, the spurs play good ball real good ball they still bore the hell out of me. I would rather watch kobe AI or melo loose than watch them win.

21. Gabriel Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 4:42 pm

    One more suggestion for anyone who is from a bad neighborhood (like myself), go find the film City of God. There is a documentary in addition to the movie(great movie too). Watch it, see what a real tough neighborhood is like. It will give you greater appreciation for guys like Mutombo and Manute Bol, and put AI and Anthony in perspective. Those two spend every penny they have trying to help the people there, while Anthony and AI spend theirs on necklaces (probably mined from the mines in Africa that are the very reason for the horrific conditions Bol and Mutombo endured). If it is so bad, wouldn’t the people there take precedence over their own necks?

22. B Hunt Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 5:29 pm

    Why is it so hard to understand that representing “thug life” isn’t a badge of honor? This type of lifestyle is something you rise above, not hold onto. What’s so glorious about coming from a life of obscenity, poverty, abuse, mistrust, and all the other byproducts of life in the hood. Why would anyone want to maintain that, glorify that, or in other words, “keep it real”? Who cares!

    And another thing, I grew up poor. I don’t want to hear about how I wouldn’t understand. I’m proud of how I worked to get away from those things. And another thing, to paint all sportswriters as “white middle aged” suggesting they don’t understand poverty smacks of stupidity. I guess that’s why you ended up in prison, failure to think before you act, speak, or in this case, write.

23. Tnunn Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 5:40 pm

    Seth i can see where you are coming from but i wouldnt use the word hood. I would say that the league is trying to seperate its self from the hip hop image it has due to the life style of most its players. Its not a hood image its a more urband image that the legaue is trying to stray away from because of close minded david stern. By no meanse am I condoning the illegal acts of some players but these act were commited by people from all walks of life. The negative image of players commiting crimes should not be blamed on a certain culture but on the players because there are plenty of players from the “hood” who conduct themesleves in a professional manner. I am a black male but i am from a very affluent community yet i still identify with the hip hop culture of many players in the league wheter they are from the projects or are from malibu beach. Its fruitless to censor a players dress in an attempt to alter their behavior because these guys are still public figures so they will be seen outside ofthe nba world in there normal clothing. Dress is a form of expression which is also apart of a players image. A players image goes beyond just what he can do on the basketball and thats what attracts alot more fans to players is there image snd there attire is apart of that. The hip hop image wil lalways be in basketball whether stern likes it or not and no matter how the players dress. This is not about being hood but better yet a culture and the negative sterotypes that come along with it because of the few decsions made by individuals from a certain area. The league should not punish the everyone for the actions of a certain few. Its just the stereotype that the league is filled with over paid hoddlums so when an incedient does arise all they want to say is i told you so. People need to realize the game is more than a game its about money as well and a players image is almost just as important as there skill level so the good ol commish just needs to let everyone be themselves and not associate poor decsion making by a select few represent the culture as a whole.

24. B Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 6:16 pm

    man, this article is pathetic..from the hood? come out of a proper european ghetto or an african one n den you can start talkn about the hood, not this commercialized rubbish..they get paids millions n millions and their allowed 2 act like thugs?..na man..if dey get paid 2 play like they do, and are in the position of commercials, games etc etc advertisement that their in, they have to take it with the job, being raised in a bad area doesnt mean you have the right to be a bad person, i love iverson and hes kept outta trouble n all..but carmelo needs 2 wake up..aint get no cred fo da suckerpunches he throws

25. boo Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 6:16 pm

    J Boogie I got to ask how do you like their swagger? I grew up in the “hood”through my teenage years and the swagger and cockiness just pissed me off. I don’t mind confidence but the swagger that goes along with that lifestyle is just fucking ridiculous and its something that has a really negative impact on hip hop culture. It’s usually the catalyst of most of the fightings and shootings and shit that goes down in the hood. People need to get some god damn fucking humility. Off the top of my head I can think of probably 7 guys that were classmates of mine or a tentively knew that got killed because of their ungodly and unfounded pride. Don’t get me wrong I am not advocating being a little bitch, but shooting a guy for shit like “disrespecting you” (Guy A shoots Guy B for beating him in a basketball game and walking away despite all the heckling from Guy A that was going on all game), thats just bullshit. Fuck the hood, I don’t want to fucking rep it, I never want to be around those kind of people or that lifestyle again and anyone that does is just fucking stupid or doesn’t truely understand what it is like to live in the hood.

26. Mephisto Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 6:33 pm

    Well said Sergio.

27. Antonio Ramirez Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 6:52 pm

    Extremely poorly written article. It shows a complete lack of knowledge of what the “hood” is. Also how are you equating the dress code with a repressing of players from the “hood”. Melo isn’t hood. This article has vague racist undertones as well (some sentences really seem to equate black and having cornrows and any sort of incident with being “hood”). Just absolutely pathetic

28. royal Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 7:22 pm

    all-hood team
    g-a.iverson -gf-ron artest
    g-c.butler c-b.wallace
    f-s.jackson
    f-c.anthony
    c.r.wallace

29. BRockin25 Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 8:06 pm

    Gabriel, being a Baltimore native,I can at least speak for Anthony giving back to his community with his earnings. Check his myspace or fan website for that info. You are making racist generalizations if you assume that Anthony and AI “every penny they have” on necklaces rather than giving back. Ferranti stated above that “people need to stop talking about something they know nothing about”, and you clearly fall under that category.
    As for your view that “hood” people dont act like AI/Anthony, and that they are acting like idiots, thats on you, but merchandise/tickets sales prove how marketable these athletes are, and how valuable they are to the NBA’s global image, in spite of their off-court troubles. The writers opinion of their behavior is also on him, but I must agree with his argument that the NBA financially benefits from these “hood icons”.

30. Philly259 Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 9:02 pm

    Wouldn’t it be better to really “rep” the hood by donating money to schools or speaking out about the injustices that readily occur in inner cities and around the country like the jena 6?

    right right… Jena who?

31. kevin Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 9:52 pm

    This article is so true. White middle class people will never understand the plite of how it is to be a young African American male in this white world. Someone brought of the Rafer Alston thing in the club but the must have not read what the owner said that the statement made against Mr. Alston were false. everybody forgets about a drunk Bret Farve playing football where was all the outrage then or they dont remember Kerry Collins that got a DUI and then came to work and called someone the n word was middle class white america in a uproar over that no. Lets not forget Bill Romanowski who spit in JJ Stokes face on monday night football what if that where Ray Lewis who did this to Tom Brady people would want his head on a silver platter. What ever black people do is so scrutinized. You guys who dont like the article were you outraged when the police officers got off with the beating of Rodney King? Middle class America are the same people who go to the games and cheer these so called “hood athletes” yall are their biggest fans until they get in some trouble. Dont hear people making a big deal out off the refree who was betting on the games, oh i forgot he is a middle class american. This is the only country where a white woman can kill her husband while he is sleep and get 7 months in jail, but Mike Vick so call fights dogs and middle class america does not want him to play football ever again. Please MIDDLE CLASS AMERICA when will you all realize that this is still a racist country and that black are still getting the short end of the stick. My last statement “THE JENA SIX” if you dont know bout this google it and read

32. Slope Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 10:00 pm

    Yo i feel where Seth is coming from. Problem is the paying homage to hood thing is played. How many muh-fuccas try to get out of the hood? what’s the first thing a cat wants to do when gets some loot? Get his moms outta the fuccin’ hood!!!!!!!! The only thing the hood reps is a place you’re trying to escape. Seth needs to realize that the “hood” and mentality that can come with it just robs cats of hope.

33. David James Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 11:06 pm

    Mr Mcgeeho I agree, but I don’t think that you understood fully what he was trying to say, and Jeff I think that you meant that; it is not the job of these players to be role models to kids but the role of parents to be their role models. I blame parents for kids looking up to these guys I am a 23 year old student and would say that it is ridiculous to look up to these guys. Yes they are outstanding basketball players, gifted athletes, but as far as we know it the buck stops there. I respect their game but I cannot speak on the individual because I do not know them. Again it is the parents responsibility to be role models for their kids, not AI’s or Carmelo Anthony’s, and also I think that AI and Carmelo would probably find this article offensive, you are demeaning them to nothing more than representatives of an underpriveldged society, with no idea of who they are exactly, and if you are not from the “hood” as you so endearingly speak about it, it is not your place to discuss people from underpriveldged societies.

34. jay Said,

    August 31, 2007 @ 11:11 pm

    I think what Seth is trying to say is that the NBA right now is run by a bunch of HYPOCRITES!!! they want to show the world a clean and “professional” image to the point where they are already stepping on another guys’ individuality. This is not about violent behaviors carried over from the hood (or patterson raping a woman as one of the guys suggested for that matter hehehe) but the culture and attitude of players towards the game. Just take the dress code as an example. They forced Iverson to wear suits going into the game or when sitting in the sideline, WOW is it just me or did the demand for suits in the US suddenly shot up through the roof!!! (maybe Stern has investments in Armani, hehehe!!!). If Mutombo came into the arena wearing the traditional dress from his country, will he get fined??? When you watch a game inside an arena, how many in the audience are actually wearing suits???

    One more thing, who are the thugs and criminals on the court??? Is it the players who wears chains in the arena??? Is it the guys rapping and dancing before game time??? Is is the the guy who sucker punches another player for intentionally trying to harm his teammate??? Or is it the white guy with the whistle who gambles more than what some people in the HOOD can use to get through the day??? Care to answer that one….

35. LeroyN Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 12:24 am

    Seth, i will not say that you’re logic is wrong, but this logic is completely absurd. in the world of professionalism in which you’re getting paid millions and constantly having your back watched over by the media, a sports player should have the decency to behave in a good mannerly fashion. they should know not to over-react, thus causing a scene or riot. a variable also worth consideration is that these professionals serve as role-models for adolescents and kids, and i frankly would not want my children idolizing some thug who can’t behave himself/herself, knowing that millions of kids at home are watching. …and for calling AI and Carmello a thug? yes, i think it is justified to call them thugs, considering their previous flints with the law and on-court issues, but they also have/had the oppurtunities to change. With Melo, his entire mentality after the brawl suspension has changed him to the better; mentally, spritually and in the way he plays the game. I also fully understand on how a ball player can’t totally ditch who they once were. But this is a professional industry, if he/she wants to choose to behave the way he/she does, do it elsewhere that does involve their profession. There are just certian rules you have to adhere to when you are a global icon. Also, i would love to know where you got your statistics of Middleclass white folks. Those stats sound awfully obscured, or plain made-up, or not carefully examined. And worse yet, how you decided that this “ideal” conduct is the middle white class’ preference. The conduct that you’re against is just plainly the morally correct one; the one that gives you the right virtues; the one that church teaches you. And in my opinion, i’d rather have good virtues and be morally brought up correctly than behave like a thuggish animal that must resort to wrong behavior.

36. LeroyN Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 12:27 am

    I understand that this is a racist community. But please don’t like act like a jackass because you feel you’ve been unjustified. Give love to others, and youll receive love back.

37. Brian Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 12:28 am

    One of the worst articles I’ve read anywhere, EVER.

38. Gabriel Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 1:16 am

    Brockin25, first off, I’m sorry if you think my comments were racial, they were not. I You want me to check out Melo’s myspace? Too busy tryin to carve out MY space! But hey, you wanna tell me how much he gives? I guarantee, GUARANTEE you it is not even close to 1 percent of his yearly salary. So do not try and throw it in my face that he gives out some coats in the winter for some quality face time and a tax break. These two make over 33 million this year alone, not including endorsements. They could make a REAL impact without suffering 1 bit if it was important to them. Another thing, I have never had a pot to piss in, and still don’t. Maybe that is a racial undertone of your own?

    And to this clown claiming white people have it out for blacks. Dude Ray Lewis was involved in a murder, lied about it, and not only did he NOT go to jail, played football that same year. Mike Tyson was allowed to do anything he wanted, and still fight. Ron Artest attacked the wrong 5′5″ white guy that looked about 15 years old and fans in Indiana (where the Grand Wizard of the KKK currently resides I believe) were LIVID with his suspension. Jason Williams shot and killed his limo driver with no punishment, where was the uproar in the black community? Pete Rose is banned for life despite being a top 5 lead-off man for GAMBLING! John Rocker popped off in a magazine interview and got suspended. And yes, I think tons of white people were upset over Collins and almost everybody hates Romo. Dude, you need to stop this whining. It’’s pathetic and getting old. No matter what, some people will hate you for what you are. Every race of people has been persecuted and enslaved, every race has enslaved and persecuted. That is a cold hard FACT! Truth is, this is about the only country in this world where minorities can get jobs that pay 20 million a year. The people in this country have come a LONG way the last 150 years, and everyone should feel blessed to be here, period.

    As far as athletes not being role models. I personally agree. But it’s pretty naive to think that it’s that simple. Kids look up to them, parents cannot stop that. It’s apart of the fantasy life you create for yourself when you are a child. Who hasn’t looked at someone as a kid and hoped they could be like them one day? It’s what a lot of people gain inspiration from. It’s how a lot of people achieve their dreams. Every athlete has an athlete they admired as a child, every actor has an actor they admired growing up. You cannot change human nature, you can however, change your mind about what is important.

39. Shane Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 3:54 am

    I liked the part where you act like there aren’t poor white people who grow up with a hard life in ghettos and shit too. Get the fuck outta here.

40. Shaun Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 3:58 am

    pleae quote which writers have said this about these players, i want to know, you cannot make blanket statements without quotes, this is sterotypes, ignorance, and prejucduices on your part. who called a.i. and melo criminals, i want to know, who called them thugs, i want to know. please give me one quote. i bet you can’t.

41. Shaun Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 4:00 am

    who called them thugs, who called them criminals…i want to know, you cannot make blakent statements about people without a reference, this is ignorance and racism yourself, who said they are thugs and criminals, i want to know, i bet you cannot tell me, all you are doing is spreading hate….

42. smoke Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 4:05 am

    How “hood” can iverson be when he brings his braider, i mean hair stylist, on every road trip so he can have those cornrows tight? Melo lost all his hood credentials when he ran from little boy nate in ny.

43. Anis Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 5:07 am

    man this is a crap as article with a stupid opinion! first off carmelo aint hood! he went 2 oak hill during high school..dats a private school where all he did was play ball n board there..he went 2 syracuse..a respectable college programme and dat aint no ghetto..soo he dont represent nutin..n u have to be kiddin me thinkin america got d hardest hoods..go to belgrade, serbia..rio de janiero, brazil..or around france..u c d hoods there..u c how people been livin..n if ur a pro..u gota act professional..just like any job! u get paid to do ur sport and represent it well..n dat aint no white man thang..coz der plenty of white people who living hard around d world..dats just a professional and respectable thing! hood aint got nutin 2 do with it..so seth stop thinking u know something when d whole public disagrees with your dumb opinion. 1

44. GDark Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 7:38 am

    Ridiculous, ridiculous argument. Why was that posted? This website just went down a notch. Ridiculous.

45. Robert Archibald Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 8:58 am

    Wow, reading that article made me want to move to the hood! If I could raise my kids there it would be a great place for them to develop.

    I was curious if Seth would ever say why the NBA should cater more to their hood icons, but he didn’t. Only that nobody else understands. Explain to us then. I can tell you why ‘hood icons’ should behave like ‘middle class white folk’ - so they can earn more money.

    I like AI’s heart, Melo running like a girl has really turned me off him, but just because Seth likes these two players doesn’t mean we all should. I like Steve Nash, and I could write an article about how the unjust NBA made him change out of his jeans and t-shirt, and promote Canada because that is where Nash is from, but that would be a stupid article - just like this one.

46. Kenzo Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 9:00 am

    this is the worst article ever hopefully you don’t represent sports writers from the hood….

47. kurt Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 9:10 am

    Horrible article. Yeah let’s all fight and be hood, that’d be an AWESOME idea!

48. Rich Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 9:25 am

    a) You could replace the sticks with battle axes and no one is watching hockey. Its a dead sport. Dont compare it to the NBA.
    b) If you want to watch fighting, UFC is on almost everyday.
    c) Colin Powell is from the hood, should he walk around with a big clock around his neck and yell out “COOOLINN POWELLLL”? No hes an educated man who worked his way out of poverty and represents that we all can be better no matter where we came from.
    d) AI has not carried any torch. He had one year where he made it out of a terrible conference and got smoked by the real torch carrier, Mr. Shaquille O’Neal. Also Tim Duncan, but no one cares because hes too bland, despite being the most perfect big man, best teammate, and most consumate professional the NBA has ever seen.
    e) Isiah was from the hood as well. He didnt need antics, he just let his game do the talking for him. Those 2 rings said all he needed to.
    f) Why am I not shocked that someone sitting in prision advocates violence in an event where children are present? Maybe you need to sit down and look at your own morals and youll find out your views might explain why you are where you are.
    g) How do I get my own column on HoopsHype.com, bc its obvious they are just handing them out to anyone…

49. trao Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 9:35 am

    after all this reading, i think people from the hood are just stupid and uncapable to stop and think instead of start fighting. here in spain these kind of people are called “garrulos”, and most of them come from a place called “badalona”

50. jigs Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 10:00 am

    now i know why sir charles once said “athletes should not be considered role models”. Seth dude you just actually justified him OH HAIL SIR CHARLES… they are professionals man and they must act like one

51. David Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 10:19 am

    This article was filled with opinion and some facts ( the NBA doesn’t want thugs),but if you are going to work in the American society you have to conform. Everybody would love to be themselves, but that is rarely profitable or professional. Seth article has some truth, David Stern doesn’t want the NBA to be seen as a jail league, look at the NFL, they receive large criticism due to their players getting into “dumb” situations. David Stern is making money catering to professionalism, and the largest base of fans in the league are middle class Americans (whom are everyday professional people), they want to see basketball games, not a boxing matches. Now players should have a little more leniency in their dress code, but to say ignorant or do dumb things, such as being on a dont snitch video (Carmelo), makes the league look bad. Image is everything and regardless of were you come from you should know that you are representation of your culture, and organization. So is the NBA wrong for trying to seperate from hip hop image (todays image of hip hop is to treat women like crap, hate authority, and care only for yourself)? No. It’s only fault is maybe not allowing people to show a little individuality.

52. DS Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 11:38 am

    Anis are that that dense. Oak Hill is a school that most players go to there senior year in High School. I knew of a player that use to live in the projects and went there his senior year. He ended up getting kicked out. BTW your grammar is awful.

53. jimjones Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 11:43 am

    Hey Gabriel,

    You racist fool… so what if we can make 20 million a year…. why should that matter… we r complaining and whining u sad!!! r u insane man… how would u feel if for hunderds of years… u’ve been abruised… and used… to build america…. in the hot blazing heat…. while… u sip on ur umbrella drinks…. rape… murdered…for no other reason than being black… as soon as a black man does something… u people are all on him…. forgettin all ur crimes… that u committed … unpunished… u need to check yourself gabriel…

54. Ekundayo Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 12:42 pm

    Ethnocentrism can be defined as “the tendency to look at other cultures through the eyes of one’s own culture, believing that one’s own culture is morally superior, and thereby misrepresenting others.”
    To those who are comparing the “hoods” of America to “hoods” in others parts of the world: the psychological distress experienced by individuals of first world countries can be greater, equal to, or lesser than those in second or third world countries. That’s the way it works when you have individuals dealing with things in THEIR social environments.

55. BRockin25 Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 12:56 pm

    Gabriel, you can’t guarantee me anything when you are too lazy and ignorant to check the facts. And Melo contributes a substantial amount of his time to giving back not just his money. If it was about “face time”, wouldnt you have some awareness of his charitable contributions?

    I get the gist of a lot of your ideas, and I don’t think you mean wrong, but I think you generalize far too often. Whites do have it out for blacks, and there is far more evidence on that side than on yours. However, I respect your attempt to treat every situation and individual on their own merits. We should all feel blessed to be here. And I think what you said about role models is dead on.

56. Gabriel Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 1:51 pm

    jimjones, this is the problem, you’re dumbass cannot differentiate between ME raping and murdering, and someone I’ve never met, knew or seen raping and murdering. I and 99% of white folks in this country have done neither. You know TONS of white folks come from immigrant workers from overseas, who were also discriminated against. I never committed a violent crime in my life, you need a reality check. You are the racist one, assuming I “sipped my umbrella drinks” while blacks were getting raped and murdered. I am 27 years old, tell me how the hell I did any of that. I’ve lived in the hood son, and been discriminated against for being a white man in a black neighborhood. I got jumped by some gang members while walking home from a friends for being white in the wrong place, almost lost my life. So go fuck yourself. Truth is, RIGHT NOW in Africa, you can still get killed for being from a different tribe, by other black people. In Irag Sunni and Shiites kill each other for the same things. In Palestine, people are blowing themselves up to kill each other over different religious beliefs. Truth is, RIGHT NOW, there are a hell of a lot more blacks raping and murdering each other than whites, go get mad about that. But I guess when your post name is a sorry ass no talent rappper who pretends to be a gangster and talks about murdering other black men in his music, you might not make that connection. I prefer to look at the good about this country, and hope to make it even better. You want to look back in the PAST and bitch about it.

    brockin25, it’s not that I’m too ignorant to look up Melo’s charity contributions. I don’t like wannabe thugs, period. And I have NO interest in them what-so-ever. I know this, I saw the stop snitchin DVD, and he was NOT helping uplift his community in that. That kind of crap promotes the attitude that is the problem. I hope Carmelo can find himself. He is an unbelievable talent, no doubt about it. When he was at Syracuse, I was a huge fan of his. I was amazed by his composure as an 18 year old at the final four. But I think the money and status has went to his head. I understand you have a different opinion and like Carmelo, and that is fine. I just wish all these rappers and athletes with 500 thousand worth of jewelery on would realize the difference they could make if they e-bay that shit and put that money into programs for their people. How many houses could repair for poor single mothers? How many young black kids could they send to college?

57. White middle aged Euro Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 2:11 pm

    I don`t care about the “Hood`s”. Bunch of NBA players are from the hoods, bunce of them are stupid. Never read a book, they rather used drogs. I mean, that`s why NBA quality is coming down to the earth. Players still have same incredible athletic ability, but they don`t understand nuanceses of the game (passwork, ball movement, off the ball game, consistent defense)…And you Ferranti are full of shit if you believe they should be forgiven about. Im glad people like you are in jail

58. almost black Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 2:30 pm

    Not only the articles is flaw and dumb, but that guy Kevin said;”This article is so true. White middle class people will never understand the plite of how it is to be a young African American male in this white world”. Well, I’m black and I don’t understand why we have to be smoking pot, selling guns, quitting school, dressing like idiots and whinning for everything that we as a culture make wrong in this global society. Playing in the NBA is a privilage, only 450 aprox play in the NBA out of thousans of players that plays pro basket aorund the world. The hood means nothing, the ghetto means nothing, a decent live is what we should achieve, instead of “keep in it real”.

59. almost black Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 2:35 pm

    Well said Gabriel, and that fool said the country was built by blacks? is he high or just stupid! This country was built by whites, blacks, latinos, asians, and anybody who works, pay taxes and is not into “keeping in it real”. Right now, latinos not only are making more for the good ol’ USA, but they are going to surpass Negros by year 2012 as the main minority.

60. wolfman jack the psychedelic funk Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 3:58 pm

    anyone in the nba could be somebody’s hero. people follow their lives, want to be like them, want to be them. nba players get paid a lot. andray blatche, allen iverson, rafer alston, ron ron, stephen jackson; these guys influence a lot of people, and when some one who identifies with being hood, being from the hood; they look to these guys as leaders. they try to be like their heroes. these guys inforce the negative aspects of growing up in the hood, regardless of whether or not they themselves grew up in the ghetto, they are hood icons. seth, i dont care if controversy sells or violence sells. these guys; through their leadership, have probably contributed to the destruction of some young people’s lives. you want to make the millions, be in the spotlight? like spiderman says! with great power comes great responsibility.

61. wolfman jack the psychedelic funk Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 4:02 pm

    also, its shallow to think that:
    - growing up in the hood is tougher than growing up in a war torn country like lots of serbs did, lots of africans people do.
    - people only watch hockey for the fighting, ever talked to a hockey fan?
    - “the nba is falling way behind other sports like mlb, and nascar.” (brandon) i dont see a whole lotta personality at nascar games like i do in the nba.

    seth is right when he says:
    - the nba is attacking hood culture.

62. wolfman jack the psychedelic funk Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 4:07 pm

    ps
    gabriel, white people dont exactly have a perfect record when it comes to not raping and murdering other people.

63. Harry Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 4:34 pm

    Content aside, the article’s poorly written. There’s something to what you’re saying Seth, but learn to write with rhythm and substance.

64. Tamilan Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 5:25 pm

    Carmelo might be from the hood, doesn’t mean he’s gangster. He punched Jared Jeffries and backed up all the way to mid court like he practiced that drill all his life. The only thing wrong with the nba is the dress code…basketball is not like an office job, its a sport. Just because Stern only looks acceptable in suits doesn’t mean he should force nba players to dress the way he prefers.

65. William Sevidal Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 7:13 pm

    I wouldn’t agree with you on this one.

    The NBA players that came out from the “hood” or the ghetto don’t have to wear all the hip-hop stuff and act like a hoodrat. I’m not saying that they should always wear formal clothes as David Stern is trying to imply.

    I’m just saying that these NBA players are getting paid millions of dollars and are not poor anymore. These players are not gangsters and David Stern did a right thing by making it seem like that. A lot of kids look up to these players and are very influential to their lives. A lot of kids who don’t live in the ghetto are acting like they are living in the ghetto by acting like the celebrity that they like.

    Playing in the NBA is a privilege, if a player doesn’t want to follow the rules, then GET OUT! There are plenty of players who will gladly take your spot.

66. d-shine Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 7:22 pm

    This article is absolute trash……Get a clue, looser.

67. Mike Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 7:39 pm

    Wow is the author of this article for real?

    AI and Carmelo have been pampered since they were in high school.There is nothing hood about them.

    There are players in the NBA who had their homes destroyed and families killed in a bloody war (Peja,Vlade,Drazen,Giricek ect…)The hood is NOTHING compared to 4 years of non stop blood shed.Are any of those guys “thugs’?

    What about Manute Bol?the man has been through more than some could imagine and look at him.He is a hero.

    Your article is rubbish,kid get a clue.

68. almost black Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 7:44 pm

    If you work for walmart, you have to use that stupid blue vest, is you work for target is the woeful red vest, if you work for the NBA, is a suit!

69. almost black Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 7:49 pm

    By the way, I don’t see Nowitzski complaining, neither is MIke Miller, Carlos Arroyo, Manu Ginobili, Dikembee Mutombo or anybody that is not into smoking pot, bet in dogfights or wanna use a stupid throwback. There’s a reason Seth is in jail, if he wants representation in balling, write about the prison legends…

70. Paul Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 8:34 pm

    Whoever says that where you’re from has a direct effect on how you view the world dumber than a bag of hammers. I don’t care if you’re from the hood or if you’re a rich boy from Malibu, YOU decide how you view the world. Nobody controls your thoughts and actions except for YOU. That’s common sense folks. The whole hood thing is crap. Do you expect us to feel sorry for you because you’re from there?

    Seth, what you’re saying is that it’s okay for these guys to act like knuckleheads, pull guns on people, use drugs…..ect. because where they’re from, it’s commonplace. You’re an idiot. The point you made pretty much condones the idiotic actions of a few players from the hood who tripped up.

    I wouldn’t exactly call sucker punching a guy then running away like a cat after it’s been sprayed with water “hood.” No one cares about that crap anymore.

    In the NBA (and professional leagues everywhere for that matter, in all sports) coaches and GM’s don’t give a f*ck where you’re from. If you’ve got game and the right attitude, they’ll sign you.

    I lived in the ghetto until I was 9, but you don’t see me showing up for work or school dressed in gold chains, talking like someone who failed their first grade entrance exam, dressing like a hobo and poppin’ a punk ass who disrespected me by looking at me the wrong way. I dress in what’s comfortable and what looks good, which for me, is preppy clothing. I don’t have to rep. f*ck all. I treat people how I want and expect to be treated, which is with class and dignity.

71. LeroyN Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 8:50 pm

    To Shaun,

    You want me to justify that they are criminals and thugs?

    Carmello punched jared jeffries last year at the garden with malicious intent. Is that not justified as a crime in the law of the nba? And for Allen Iverson, during his senior year of high school he was involved in a fight with a group of caucasians. Although both groups (black and white) should have spent time in jail, only the blacks (including AI) served time in jail. Is that not a crime?

72. Candice Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 11:01 pm

    Carmelo made Forber #8 list for celebritries who give back to their community, with the likes of Oprah. Also Carmelo has given back the most out of all NBA stars, which means he has given back more than Wade and Bron.

    Yall should check his and Aleen’s official sites to see what they did this summer. Just Googe their names and check it for yourselves. Anyone who doesn’ think that they haven’t changed mainly AI yall are sdaly mistaken. AI does not beat his wife whatever you heard was wrong amazingly everyone knows the negative and never focuses on the positive.

73. Candice Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 11:03 pm

    Also Lebron has Tattoo’s covering his arms, he’s just missing the braids.

    Neith Ai or Melo have crimnal records and have never been chrged for anything.

74. Candice Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 11:05 pm

    AI sentenced was overturned by the Governor,Leroy so what does that say? He wasn’t really famous yet and din’t have money. All his family did was write a letter to prove his innocence.

75. FCBarça2007 Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 11:48 pm

    I loved just about everything Gabriel said. ghettos in usa arent that bad. the worst place to grow up in is africa no questions asked. dikembe mutombo is a great man and was also a good player. you dont see him whining about shit he knows even if he doesnt like something its still awesome compared to how he used to live. same with manute bol and luol deng. there are ghettos in europe as well especially in france and england. its also bad in the ex yugo regions not as bad as it used to be during real wars. northern euro countries have ghettos as well, except its not as diverse, but its still poor people fighting.
    american ghettos arent beautiful, but everybody here is always tryin to rep it. its all bull. rep it cuz your poor and have no life? everyone should look up to ILLEGAL immigrants. great people they come here, find a place to work at and stay, bring their families, feed them and live above half of legal americans with full citizenship rights who dont use them. im not talking about mexicans because there are more than latinos that are illegal. a bunch of whites, africans, asians, and god knows what else are also like that. most of the ghetto population lives in the ghetto, which is still “suffering from years of torture, rape, and all other shit when whites are watching them work and sipping their drinks” you have to be the BIGGEST RACIST FUCK to think that. america isnt tough at all to survive at compared to any other country really. and america is supposed to be non racist. from my time being here all ive seen is blacks are good ones and whites are the bad ones. or the other way around. you guys are forgeting other races too. i hate the mike vick situation. they shouldnt even be considering jail. he needs to play. oh and look at don imus we all know what he said, and if a black guy said it he would just be credited for using humor. my point is this is one of the most racist countries in the world and they make the racial boundaries by trying to justify all this shit like african american, asian american and then there is just white and mexican. WTF? shouldnt it be euro american and latin american or hispanic american? if were going by colors then there is white black brown yellow red right? its either that or the w/e-american. i am white by the way and this was a real long possibly offensive to some people comment.

76. LeroyN Said,

    September 1, 2007 @ 11:52 pm

    To Jimjones,

    None of us knows how it feels to be enslaved, only our ancestors do. Let bygones be bygones and live in the present and prepare for the future. We shouldnt let past history hinder our way to our destiny, and please dont use african enslavement for your arguement of how “my ancestors went through this…”, please almost every other race has been enslaved by another race. e.g. chinese by mongols, blacks by white americans, filipinos by spaniards, scotts by the english. its just that they werent as well documented, considering its time period and 3rd world status. i for being chinese, dont give a rats ass about this racism most of you are talking about “whites on blacks.” you must be speaking outta your ass when you believe that thats the only racism that goes on. there are many hatecrimes on whites too that goes unreported, but the justice system isnt as harsh on that. and the media also place more emphasis on whites on blacks because of americas history.

77. Mark Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 1:01 am

    What is this guy trying to emphasize? that just because they came out of the “hood” they are expected to act like the rotten apples the league, that these people dont have any class and aren’t expected to have any? Well first of all every individual where ever they came from is responsible for their own decision and players and anyone that came out from hoods deserve a lot of respect. But should should they get a break from doing something wrong? I dont think so.

78. almost black Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 1:39 am

    well said Leroy, racism is a two way street!

79. Joe Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 2:06 am

    Worst article ever? Perhaps.

80. Ratinum Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 7:10 am

    The question is why do you want them to be hood so badly? These dudes are not hood. They are not eating bologna sandwiches anymore. They are not eating ramen noodles anymore. They are not getting their phone and lights cut off. They are not cooling themselves with water from the fire hydrant. They have good credit and large insurance policies. They are not hood, they are obsessed with the hood like people that watch court TV are obsessed with law enforcement and prisons. They are driving exotic European cars and eating at the finest steakhouses every day. The NBA is trying to curb the depravity that is almost assured when you give a very young man, black or otherwise, an insane amount of money and lots of free time to think of dumb things to do with it. Think Vick. So asking these dudes to have a little decorum and common sense is not a bad thing. If they want to be “hood”, then they can give away all of their salaries and belongings to charity and just keep $30k per year to support themselved and their families. Then they can eat block cheese sandwiches and be hood.

81. royal Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 9:16 am

    the nba should have a hood month, where they play rap during the whole game, they have strippers at half time, they serve only 40’s and chicken and kool aid at half time, they call less fouls, the refs wear headbands, and snoop dogg gets to be the commissioner for the month

82. royal Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 9:24 am

    tamilian, carmelo is a gangsta, he went to college turned a program from the bottom to win a championship, as a fresh
    had sex with larry browns wife, since he didnt let him play in the olympics,
    bitch slapped the 7 ft jared jeffries, and just continued playing like it wasnt nuthin, was caught on tape talking to a know baltimore drunk dealer
    and was got with a backpack with some weed in it, and paid off his homeboy to say it was he’s, m.vick, should have taken notes.

83. royal Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 9:27 am

    michael jordan is not from the hood because he didnt sign a pre-nump
    juanita is a hood legend

84. moudy Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 9:27 am

    This is truly the stupidest thing I’ve ever read. I wish I could get the last couple minutes of my life back!

85. So I says, I Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 10:16 am

    “From the hood” is a gay expression that no one should want a part of. One day people will say it a different way and while a new expression will be just as vacuous or nebulous, hopefully it will not be so gay. “I am from who cares” would be one I might embrace. But I still embrace the spirit of your argument. Ron Artest and AI will always be cool. But then again Marbury never will be, so maybe it’s not a rule.

86. jimjones Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 10:17 am

    Gabriel,

    I think u need to read you history books man… go to school…. there was a reason u got beaten up…. go read a book bro…

87. jimjones Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 10:41 am

    Hey Gabriel,

    You are comparing a tribe to an entire country bro… how do you compare them????? U r talkin an entire country than enslaved a race for their benefit and stupidity… u cant compare it bro…

    for eg…. in the 1967… it was unconstitutional for a white person to marry a black!!! 1967!!!… so come on man…. a black person couldnt play middle linebacker or quaterback… cause he wasn’t smart enough… and that was in the 70’s….. so its pretty recent man… and its not just america… it was lots of countries in the world… so please man……dont talk about things u dont get..

    have a nice day… remember this is just article we r commenting on… and lets not take it too seriously…
    one love..

88. andrew Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 12:08 pm

    i respectfully disagree. the nba’s best years featured magic johnson, larry bird and michael jordan, surrounded by a plethora of other stars like malone, stockton, reggie miller, shaquille o’neal, hakeem, robinson, grant hill, payton, ewing, mullin, pippen, abdul jabbar (and the list goes on). not a single one of those is a ‘hood’ player. the point is, those were the most successful recent years of the nba. each team was led by a non-hood guy.

    the nba has been in a huge lull right now, a recession since those guys i named above started to age. iverson and melo and artest have had their biggest years during this recession, and it hasn’t led to more money for the nba. in fact, it has contributed to the downfall of the league. that’s why stern implemented the dress code.

    i have nothing wrong with the dress code. this is a professional league and these guys should act (and dress) like it. the guys i named above were professionals.

    don’t get me wrong, i have nothing wrong with players being who they are and acknowledging where they come from, no matter where that is. if iverson and melo are the nba’s ‘hood ambassadors’ then they should have set a better example instead of getting into trouble. they can be who they are, but i don’t think anyone agrees being who they are means they have been great recently, but they have each had their share.

    while they shouldn’t forget about where they come from, the hood isn’t a nice place. there is crime, violence, death. it goes in that order. the nba doesn’t want the ‘hood’ to expand into the league. many believe it already has.

    i do think the nba should acknowledge the ‘hood’ more. but they should also make it a bigger part of their goodwill mission to build huge, drug and crime-free youth centers in the middle of these neighborhoods. the nba and its investors have enough money to get rid of the hood and turn these neighborhoods into crime-free, thriving communities. melo and ai could be the repping that movement, transforming the hood into a safe place, getting rid of the crime, maintaining the culture, but doing good.

89. BRockin25 Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 12:30 pm

    Gabriel…don’t expect me to respect your opinions when you don’t do your homework. Like I said, you are free and entitled to like or dislike someone, but to outright claim that they act a certain way, with obvious evidence to the contrary, is just plain wrong. Its like arresting someone w/o a fair trial.

    On the Stop Snitching DVD, Carmelo was ignorant of his reach and influence publicly, and was more or less hanging out w/ people from his community. It wasn’t uplifting, but you could bet he was assuming that the exposure of the film, and the magnification of his presence in it, would be limited. Its not an excuse, its just the truth.

    Regardless, to judge him off of one tape is ridiculous. He isnt a fake thug, hes a basketball player that grew up around real thugs. Thats my opinion, and you dont have to agree, but unlike you, I have weighed the positive and negative of what hes done, not just one side.

90. Greg Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 12:35 pm

    Melo, hood? Let’s not forget what happened in New york. I’m from Detroit born and rasied– I have a job and I do not act “hood” at work. These players are employees of the NBA. If I owned this league I would not want them to act like idiots. Besides, I’ve seen Care Bears that had more hood in them than Melo.

91. nick Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 1:49 pm

    melo has contributed to many organizations.

    his positives outweigh his negatives.

    everyone just move on.

    and yes that article was pretty redonkulous. if he would do more research it would have been a better article.

92. nick Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 1:53 pm

    i agree that melo made a wrong choice throwing the punch, but put yourself in his shoes, when a teammate can seriously get injured theres no excuse for that type of play. so melo got into someone’s face like a respectable teammate should do. you stick up for your teammates.

    but hes moved on, and is a better person for it.

    melo is an unbelievable talent. respect.

93. nick Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 1:57 pm

    kobe got into a fight with reggie.

    its just the competitive nature, and heat of the moment environment.

    same with jordan.

    if lebron got into it with someone, would you accuse him of being gangsta?

    lame.

    gabriel and jimjones, y’all belong in a different post, this is not for your racial opinions.

94. tw Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 2:58 pm

    I agree! you cannot take regular mustard and turn it into grey pu pon….lol…Seth, I agree with you 100%. People like Bob…what’s his name? O! Bob Mcgehoo is a great example of misunderstanding the Hood. Bob! Seth was not saying all NBA players should be able to act IGNORANT. what he was saying was character makes money..THATS ALL. and being loyal to the “Homies” is an example of Hood Friendship. In other words, “IF i make it out, so are you, homie.” Also far as Ruben Patterson? Using Ruben Patterson was a horrible example of misbehavior. As Humans, we are judged based on accountability and responsibilities. In Ruben’s case? His action were poor judgements based on being a individual. Not the Entire League, but as individuals.

    Furthermore, we (consumers) have to remember..yes NBA players get paid millions of dollars. But think about it? NBA players are getting paid chump change compared to the owners. The NBA owners are getting paid billions of dollars! Do you have an answer for that?

    TW

95. LeroyN Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 4:16 pm

    Lets all stop bickering and just settle on the the fact that this article stinks as it is. Anyone who generalizes such a statement on how the majority of the population watches NFL, Nascars and such other sports just due to the violence shown is a complete idiot. Would you guys rather have an organized NBA with rules that players must adhere by, or some kind of anarchist league where players are constantly fighting, calls arent called and players getting constantly injured due to physical violence? -I watch the NBA to learn more about the game, so i could implement it to my own game. Not to learn how to be a wild animal unleashed.

96. e Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 4:24 pm

    Seth, at times I find your article interesting, but with this post I have to say you are way off base.

    a. people may or may not be watching for violence or controversy but they arent paying the bills, advertisers are. The greatest NBA times Bill Russell era, Bird/Magic era none were marred with as much nonsense as today. No Hood/Drama NBA top 50 players such as: Oscar Robinson, Dr. J, Rick Barry, Jerry West and Kareem represent about 40 or so player that were no drama/hood. Only about 10 were either drama personalities or problematic.

    Now in the second paragraph you state that thug players should be able to do what they want. Just like corrupt politicians and CEO? Why, what gives anyone have the right to dismantle a rule and do as they please. Melo, was an idiot for that whole snitching thing-is he a great player..sure but he is not beyond reproach. And AI has admittedly acted childish at times-great player sure but still wrong.

    Third paragraph. So far off base I can’t even begin to argue with you. Suffice to say, straight up irresponsible writing and thinking.

    Fourth paragraph, redundant woh-is-me victim mentality writing. Go interview AI and Melo, as hood as you think they are they left and are happy they are out. Thats the struggle and strength…leaving. Realizing that we all eat a little crow and bend ways we dont care to in order to get the bigger prize. If we all did whatever the fuck we wanted to we’d be…we’ll where you are, in prison. There are rules for reasons and yes sometimes on a case by case basis the rules dont make sense and are unjust but they are needed on whole to preserve some order. Now go read Strunk and White and take at look at the NBA top 50 greatest and do a hood no hood check on that.

97. Mark Said,

    September 2, 2007 @ 8:13 pm

    Seriously? You really think that this is a good argument? Let me break it down for you… The NBA is a business, that is the first thing that must be understood. The NBA is not what it used to be, it isn’t that great of a product anymore because we don’t have class acts such as Bird, Magic, and Jordan anymore. Secondly, to be in the NBA is a privilege, it is a fraternity of the finest athletes in the world. So why on earth is it such a big deal to put on a suit and look professional and more marketable. Every NBA player should understand that they can put on a suit and keep their “hood” characteristics. Look at Jay-Z, he understands business, it is okay for him to put on a suit but not AI or Melo? No one said stop wearing the bling, no one said that they had to sell out, and no one said they had to stop listening to hip hop.
    On another note, if violence and entertainment is what America really wanted, they would watch WWF wrestling or Ultimate Fighting.
    The NBA is a league that is trying to promote class and become a better business. These athletes get paid millions of dollars to do what they love most, so you can’t tell me that these players can’t suck it up and wear a suit before every game. In the summer they can wear whatever the hell they want, but when it comes down to going to work, everyone should be business like.

98. Gabriel Said,

    September 3, 2007 @ 12:53 am

    jimjones, the reason I got beat up was racism. But you know what I lived through it. And I know the youngsters that jumped me are a product of their environment, and it’s not necessarily their fault. And I refuse to clump all black folks into a single group and hate them for it. Which, IMO, is what you are doing to white folks. Like it or not, that shit was normal back then, and in a lot of places still is. Those people were ignorant, raised by ignorance, let it be what it is. I suggest you go out and focus your anger on the rapes and murders that go on TODAY! “Everything in this world can be replaced, except time wasted” Start snitchin’, get these clowns away from your children. You asked how I can compare a tribe to an entire country. Because that is what THIS country is made up of. You descended from a tribe of Indians in Africa. I came from some clan of gringos in western Europe somewhere. I NEVER said what happened in the past was right. It was horrible, why can’t we all agree on that and move forward as a country. I’ve read many books, I suggest you read something that isn’t by Dyson or West, or about Malcom X. Plus, American History books are FULL of lies homey, don’t trust’em. All this hatred between whites and blacks is exactly what real racists thrive on. You have hate for regular white folks, that causes them to have hate for you, and the skinheads sit back and smile. Same situation goes the other way, cycle repeated. It need’s to be broke. When the poor in this country come together, no matter where they come from, the real progress begins. It’s rich vs. poor, not white vs. black. Just my opinion

    brockin25, All you have ever provided to this conversation is excuses for Melo’s behavior. The way he acted at the Olympics, the way he acted on that DVD, and the way he acted on Punk’d are far more an indication of his character than any charitable contributions he makes when camera’s are on. And I still gurantee you it isn’t even 1%. If he is so concerned over his community, why does he hang out with drug dealers on gangster rappers DVD’’s(a rapper who constantly claims he is a Compton Blood)? Aren’t these the very people responsible for sabotaging every ounce of progress in the black community? Gangsters and Dope Dealers? Or is it all the white man?

    I’ve said my peace, thanks to everybody for posting their opinions(even jimjones and brockin25, I appreciate ya’ll challenging my views, and I truly wish ya’ll the best of everything, no hard feelings). The biggest problems between blacks and whites is the failure to communicate and share ideas. Real Talk.

99. Matt Said,

    September 3, 2007 @ 2:53 am

    This hip-hop crap is just as commercialised as any other white owned profit-centric enterprise. It is an industry of ostentatious wealth, immature gloating and sexist objectification. There is nothing more pathetic than a ‘player’ in a video clip bragging about being real while brandishing 20kgs of jewelry and the horrible women grinding and dancing.

    For this Seth dimwit to characterize ‘the hood’ as millionaires with gold chains and all the rest is incredibly ethereal. Does Seth claim to lived in the hood? Shouldn’t he be aware it is distinguished by grinding poverty and people trying to eat???? What do these people have in common with Iverson/Carmelo?? Very little.

    Pathetic article

100. Ted Said,

     September 3, 2007 @ 11:30 am

     I’ve been monitoring the brilliant comments on this article for several days, and I think they were best summarized by this winner:

     “Anis are that that dense. Oak Hill is a school that most players go to there senior year in High School. I knew of a player that use to live in the projects and went there his senior year. He ended up getting kicked out. BTW your grammar is awful.”

     Many thanks, Grammar Boy. William Saffire would undoubtedly be impressed with your proofreading proficience (please tell me English is your third or fourth language..).

     Keep it up, Seth. Apparently a few people got your point(s).

101. nick Said,

     September 3, 2007 @ 1:43 pm

     gabriel,

     ok no, i’m pretty sure melo donated 3 million back to syracuse for the gym.

     secondly, if it’s only 1% of his, how much have you gave back?

     exactly.

102. bigdre Said,

     September 3, 2007 @ 6:20 pm

     it’s not the way they dress or their swag on court that’s the problem, it’s the sht*t they do off the court. the carmelo dvd, the iverson assault, kids watch them.

103. Jeremy Martin Said,

     September 3, 2007 @ 9:06 pm

     This is quite honestly the worst crap I ever read on any basketball website. If you started a thread on clublakers.com with this garbage in it it would be locked in less than 10 minutes. “Hood icons”???? AND PLEASE, PLEASE WANNA BE SCOOP JACKSON, STOP TYPING LIKE YOU ARE TALKING LIKE A THUG OR GHETTO. This article would make Jason Whitlock’s stomach turn.

104. Nate Kavanaugh Said,

     September 3, 2007 @ 10:21 pm

     Wow… I don’t know what to say. That’s the biggest load of crap I think I’ve ever read. Hey Seth, when you grow up and have a job, you’ll realize that your boss doesn’t care where you’re from or who you rep. It simply doesn’t matter, hate to burst your bubble. It’s amazing though how so many folks (though the silent majority have spoken in response to this blog) actually make excuses for grown men being unprofessional. By the way, just because violence sells is absolutely not a sound rationale for saying that it is acceptable. Yes, people are drawn to the television when a NASCAR wreck is being replayed, but that is vastly different than saying thug behavior (including NHL fighting, also a stupid past time) is okay. I don’t want to hear about where all these guys are from, I want to see them perfecting their craft, which is supposed to be the name of the game anyway. Besides, guys from the “hood” apparently are just a bunch of cowards anyway, judging from Carmelo’s classic Madison Square Garden slap-and-run last year. Let me guess- was he just keepin’ it real?

105. Adrian Zapata Said,

     September 3, 2007 @ 10:50 pm

     Wow. Why does hoopshype even let this guy write? We should all stop visiting this site just for the fact that they let this garbage on.

106. Zaneox Said,

     September 4, 2007 @ 6:26 am

     This is probably the dumbest article I’ve ever seen, it must deep in the off-season if this crap can make it on an basketball website, anywhere.

     NBA players are professionals, this is their job, and should be treated the same way as anyone else in a highly paid job. Getting in fights and carrying around guns isn’t in anyones job description and should be kept out of the league. These guys are role models that kids look up to - like it or not, there are millions of kids that will copy every move these guys make, especially guys like AI and Carmelo.

     They don’t have to change their personalities, no one has asked them to. Just don’t do illegal shit - pretty standard with everyone else in the world really, so why put it on a website??

107. sillyrabbit. Said,

     September 4, 2007 @ 10:38 am

     hahaha. this is hoopshype.com and some asshole up there is talking about rodney king. hey i have a good idea, lets take basketball and turn it into an all out race war….. ready, go!

108. sillyrabbit. Said,

     September 4, 2007 @ 10:41 am

     i would also pay money to see seth ferranti tell chris pronger that his sport means nothing. hope you don’t like your arms attached to your torso.

109. Dan Said,

     September 4, 2007 @ 1:14 pm

     Yeah dogg, thug life for ever.

     Dude, get a clue! This isn’t about white-middle class and black-lower class. Businesses have owners, and owners have ways they want their businesses run. Listen to guys like Charles Barkley and Bill Cosby. They know what they’re talking about. You don’t wear baggy jeans and jerseys to job interviews, or to work.

     They’re making millions of dollars, yet they feel they are being outcast because the league doesn’t like how they act and dress? Well guess what? WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD!! If you want to stay a thug, because you are from the hood, then STAY THERE and see where that gets you!

     WAKE UP! As long as thugs think they are being held down, they will continue to live in the hood. So will their children, and their grandchildren.

     So keep that street cred! That’s what matters right? Not your family’s well being, or the chance to improve your life and lifestyle. No, it’s your street cred. You have to prove to all the other thugs that you are still one and you will never change. Wow, I’m sure that’s exactly what Martin Luther King, Jr. did all those marches for, right?

     He’s probably turning over in his grave right now reading some of you asinine comments.

110. p chen Said,

     September 4, 2007 @ 5:00 pm

     All this argument about a pretty lame article while there are more pressing matters. FREE THE JENNA SIX!

     Btw, racists and haters, just so you don’t get all hot under your bums, I’m not an African American.

     FREE THE JENNA SIX!

111. jose freitas Said,

     September 5, 2007 @ 5:27 am

     Mr Ferranti

     I am white and middle class and I really don’t like the thug attitude.
     I wanna see dunks and hoops not tatoos or gangsta clothes.

     The main critic I have for AI is that he never really understood that the NBA game is not the hood court. And it is a pitty cause he can play.

     Going again on the root issues, you are right that if someone if from the hood, that’s what he is.

     I really despise people who get rich and then forget who they are, the place where they came from, the friends or even their families.

112. Tony S Said,

     September 5, 2007 @ 9:45 am

     I grew up in the South Bronx and rose above it. There’s a difference between “Keeping it Real” and recognizing where you come from and Keepin it Ghetto.

     As far as Melo is concerned… He’s a young man and people forget that. He’s growing and learning what is truly important. He’ll get there. LeBron already understands that… Kobe understood it and then lost it because he was spoiled and then started to understand again…

     Iverson is a strange character because he UNDERSTANDS… he really does… but he relapses. He’s one of those “good guys that make poor decisions”.

     Having tattoos and listening to hip hop doesn’t make you street. The life makes you street. When you’re a professional athlete, you’re a target because you’re visible and you’re wealthy and every action is a reflection of what/who you represent…. How well were those Jail Blazers doing before they purged the roster? Bad attitudes and ghetto mentality are contagious because it is similar to a pack mentality. You can rise above it without losing your identity… and you should.

     There are a lot of young and old men all around you, Seth, that thought it was important to be Thug and didn’t really know what Keepin it Real means…. Consider that.

     There is no excuse for ignorance, just as there is no excuse for arrogance.

113. Tony S Said,

     September 5, 2007 @ 9:48 am

     One more thing… Reuben Patterson and Mike Vick were loyal to their boys too… look what happened. If your boys aren’t loyal to you and aren’t willing or able to return the loyalty you give them… you have to re-evaluate the situation.

     Just as an athlete represents their team and league… their friends represent the athlete.

     Ok… I’m just gonna put it out there… I hated this article’s blindness.

114. Tony S Said,

     September 5, 2007 @ 9:51 am

     Oh and cut the “product of your environment” crap. Our environments are part of who we are but they do not define us. We are all men (and women) and we are the masters of our own actions. We have to take responsibility for ourselves and stop blaming ‘the hood’. Stupid. Only when we are responsible do we rise.

115. almost black Said,

     September 5, 2007 @ 10:27 am

     Hood icons dont play in the NBA, dont drink Cristal and dont live in the suburbs….

116. Eduardo Said,

     September 5, 2007 @ 11:06 am

     If I was from the “hood” I would be offended at this article. Hell, I’m still offended. No one has a problem with Allen Iverson or Camerlo Anthony being proud of the neighborhoods they grew up in. People have a problem with sucker punching somebody for no reason, and then running away. Or agreeing on video that killing a ’snitch’ is the way to go. Or going on ignorant tirades against ‘practice’. Or pretty much just mangling the english language any chance they get.

     To say that engaging in this sort of behavior, that glorifying violence, ig