FORGET THAT JESSE JACKSON SAID IT. DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

Oh, he's gone and done it. Jesse Jackson has played the "race card." He's likened Dan Gilbert's mentality to a modern day slave owner, turning on a runaway slave that has done what is in his best interest. These days in America people love to get upset; people love to not listen; people LOVE LOVE LOVE to get offended and the quicker the better. Did anyone wonder if Jesse Jackson had a point?

Obviously, LeBron James, multi-millionaire is not a slave nor do I believe Rev. Jackson thinks LeBron is a slave. What he indicated is that he does believe Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, based on the veracity of his comments, was "acting" like a slave owner. Now that is incendiary. In this country when slavery or the holocaust is mentioned in any context outside of a literal, historical one causes many people much consternation. Jesse Jackson's presence is ubiquitous in the civil rights arena. He has been hailed as a hero and at the same time seen as a grand stander out for personal gain and fame. His history clouds any issue he decides to speak on, even if he might have a valid point. Some people thinks his latest comments are too far outside the box or straight dumb. One friend of mine says "Jesse's showing his behind again," but is he on to something? Dan Gilbert turned on LeBron James quicker than a Mike Tyson hook in '86. As soon as James decided to take his abilities elsewhere Gilbert went over the top with a missive attacking James' personal and professional character. The one hour special was self-centered. Gilbert was right about that. But then to call him a quitter, etc. If he was so bad why did he want to keep him there? Could it be the one hundred million dollars his franchise lost in value once "King" James departed? Well known NY Times sports columnist William Rhoden penned a book on this vary subject called "Forty Million Dollar Slaves" that called into question the relationship between athletes and their "owners."


Now did Mr. Jackson need to make this statement to the public? No. Could he have sent a letter or had a phone conversation with Dan Gilbert? Yes. Would that have been better? Probably. Why? Because most people in this country have lost a sense of nuance or the ability to analyze beyond the face of a statement. And say Dr. King had said something like this not having the baggage of Jesse Jackson, most folks wouldn't have said a thing. If one leaves their opinions about Jesse Jackson's history out of it then they can ask themselves if he has an insight that bares a hint of truth.

Dan Gilbert is not a slave owner. His players are not slaves. They are all million or billion dollar men. But the control of the business invariably goes to the owners in professional sports leagues. And even though Gilbert is not a slave owner his vitriolic letter and the irrational fury behind it could lead one to suspect a man who has lost more than a great player. He acts like he and the Cleveland faithful has lost a way of life; a way of making money. And THAT can be likened to slave owners at the start of reconstruction. Don't take Jesse Jackson's word for it. Get your children's history books out and read.