"Bruce Almighty" (Bruce Levenson)

Bruce Levenson: Picture Courtesy of USA Today

Bruce Almighty, a movie created in 2003 featuring Jim Carrey, written to give the perspective of what it would be like to be a man in God's shoes for some time. In actually sitting down and focusing on the movie, there's some strong points that are pointed out that make you think about society today. What if the shoes would be on the other foot. What would be like if you did have the power. Power is the ability to control something or someone into action. Sometimes, the opportunity of having power can overdo what we are able to distinguish is right and wrong.

In this situation of Bruce Almighty I am discussing, I talk about the idea that there is a man in power with lots of money. This Bruce Almighty has a city in his hands emotionally with the power to change things with his words.  Lately, one of the biggest targets in sports is racism. The different faces it presents towards the emotions of a race of people has really taken it's attention away from the game itself. Of course, mass media is going to take everything that is said make it a major news item but this is really a concern that can make a difference.

On, another hand, racial tension is building in America more than ever. The deaths of black youth in America via the hands of whites have become a huge issue. In the same thought, Barack Obama is the President of the United States and it feels like the pressure will continue until the fear of others will decrease. You have to ask yourself, why be afraid of others and what they can do. What kind of examples does that set for the next generation that has to continue to build on a country that seems to be lacking the ability to stay constant as in a growing world.

Donald Sterling, the former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, was the beginning of the frenzy that started in the sports world with racism. The idea that a human being of such wealth would come out to have words about African Americans not attending his games was not only the just the beginning but the force behind what we will continue to go through. Sterling would eventually lose his battle between his wife, lawyers and the NFL with the result in giving up his team. The price would be 2 Billion that he would receive in return but would be banned from the NBA for life.

Well, Bruce Almighty (in my thoughts) would appear again when Bruce Levenson, the owner of the Atlanta Hawks who has come out stating that he would be selling his team. The owner, announced on his own that he had made some remarks that were found racist in his eyes and didn't feel that he should be allowed to be apart of the NBA. His remarks were that they wanted to bring more suburban white people to the games. The idea that the majority of fans are Black, seemed to be not only an issue but a concern because he claimed that he wanted to connect all groups of people. In return, he felt that the 2 year old email to Hawks President Danny Ferry, would be offensive because it would make it seem like one race was more important than another.

Not sure if the 62 year old owner is making references to himself as a racist or if he is trying to keep his legacy in tact because of what he felt would have been revealed very soon. I guess it seems like Sterling has got many people under the radar and watching their backs about everything. Everything is sensitive with words and with the mass media on top of everything, you have to be very careful. The questions I pose is, are we really suppose to be surprised about these actions? Is it really that big of deal because of their idea of what they are trying to do with their business?

If you are looking for the email to see what was exactly said, Please check out the article by USA Today Sports via http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/hawks/2014/09/07/bruce-levenson-racist-email-atlanta-owner-sell-team/15241591/