Anyway, in response to a comment about Shaq not wanting to reveal or be associated with Islam (particularly Nation of Islam) too much, since the NBA hasn't been very tolerant or welcoming of outspoken black Muslims, particularly Craig Hodges, I wrote the following:
"Craig Hodges was totally blacklisted from the NBA after appearing in Afrocentric gear and acting mad militant at the White House during the Bulls celebratory appearance with Pres. Bush. That sh*t cost him his career, in his own words. Of course, he gets props because he thinks he could still bust Reggie Miller's ass!"
That was based on my recollections of what got Craig Hodges kicked out, and an article I read many years ago - in the Village Voice, I think. They just to have some great sports articles back in the day - very unique looks at big and small sports stories of the time. I decided to do some research, and see what I could find on the topic. Here is what I found:
According to this article from The Guardian: "And Chicago Bulls guard Craig Hodges, who in 1991 was blackballed for having the temerity to speak out against the first Gulf War while on a visit to the White House."
This post by Paul Scott: "...or Chicago Bulls player Craig Hodges who was blacklisted by the NBA for wearing a dashiki to the White House."
I should note now that I lazily wrote "Afrocentric gear" because I was too tired to look up the correct spelling of "dashiki".
This site has the outline of a NY Times article on the topic:
"Recently Revealed: Was Chicago Bulls Player Fired and Blacklisted for Giving President Bush a Letter Concerning Iraq During a White House Visit by the Team After Their First Repeat as NBA Champions?
Craig Hodges, a member of the first two Chicago Bulls Championship NBA basketball teams, claims he was not only fired by the Bulls for speaking out on political issues as an African-American, but also blacklisted by the entire NBA as a result when he could not even get a tryout with any one of the NBA franshices afterwards.
The court case Craig Hodges vs. the National Basketball Association alleges "the owners and operators of the 29 NBA member franchises have participated as co-conspirators" in "blackballing" him from the entire National Basketball Association "because of his outspoken political nature as an African-American man."
Hodges was a 10 year NBA veteran, the last four years with the Bulls, and he played in the majority of the Bulls' games during their second consecutive NBA Championship."
David Zirin chimes in with this comment in his article on Carlos Delgado: "In 1991 Bulls guard Craig Hodges found himself black balled from the NBA after protesting the Gulf War at a visit to George Bush's White House with the champion Chicago Bulls."
Conscious Choice had this to say in 2005 on the topic:
"Most Chicago Bulls fans remember 1991 as the year their team beat the Lakers to win the first of six NBA championships in the '90s. The championship team won an invitation to the White House, where Bulls guard Craig Hodges slipped a letter to President George H.W. Bush Sr. Later Hodges said he found himself blacklisted.
There's some controversy as to exactly what the letter said. Online resources say the letter was mostly about the NBA's poor record of hiring African American coaches. In any event, Hodges said that after he took a stand, his career was soon over."
And finally, The American Prospect wrote this in May 1997:
"A White House congratulatory ceremony for a championship sports team is usually just a big, friendly photo opportunity, filled with the platitudes and gift exchanges typical of such an apolitical celebration. But in 1991, when the National Basketball Association (NBA) champion Chicago Bulls, Craig Hodges, then a backup guards for the Bulls, saw an opportunity for activism.
Instead of presenting Bush with the customary team jersey, Hodges, who wore a dashiki for the occasion, handed the President a letter asking him to be more vigilant in rectifying injustices against African ..."
Whatever the case, it seems that the "crimes" Craig Hodges, the most potent three-point shooter in the NBA at the time, committed are: wearing a dashiki to the White House, and either speaking out for African-Americans, or speaking out against the Iraqi War. Or perhaps a combination of both. The end result is this: his NBA career was cut short in his prime.
This all happened not too long ago, and the commissioner in charge then is still in charge - David Stern. Stern has been a good commissioner to NBA players, including black players, for a myriad of reasons. But he has also made some mistakes in his time, and this might be a prime example of an misstep on his part.
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Great post, I grew up with that dude firing 3's. It always amazes me how the Bulls completely changed everyone from the 93 title to the 96 title. Longley replaced Cartwright. Kerr replaced Hodges. Rodman replaced Horace. Haper replaced BJ. It really was crazy how they just kept MJ and Scottie and no one else.
I disagree. Yes, Hodges did get traded once or twice because of his beliefs. But if you read "The Jordan Rules" book written as the 1991 season was happening, it's clear why he was on his way out of the league. He was a terrible defender who couldn't play point guard, couldn't gain assists (despite having MJ and Pippen on his team) and was too small to play shooting guard on most teams. Now, on the right team (the Knicks, for example) with a dominating inside presence, he still might have found a job, if he were younger. But he had already been in the league for 10 years, and he was a guard. It's not so unusual for a guard to be done after 10 years in the league (think Kevin Johnson). Sorry, but I believe Craig himself has spread this story, and that he is wrong. For the last four years of his career, Craig's minutes, ppg, and 3 point percentage decreased each year. (Actually, it's the last 6 years for ppg). See http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hodgecr01.html for details. I think that Craig was a man of true faith who tried to make changes, but I also think that he is trifling with the truth to make these discrimination stories up.
SML, good article and I did not know about this letter that Hodges slipped to the prez. Good researching.
MC, I would be inclined to give your stance more benefit of doubt except for the fact that hodges did not recive a TRYOUT. I mean, Master P was even granted a tryout. That fact spells b-l-a-c-k-b-a-l-l-e-d to me...
MC Bias: I was initially recollecting my memories on what had supposedly happened, and decided to research what had been written about Craig Hodges' accusations. All the quotes above are from other sources, some of which are pretty well respected publications - the Guardian, the NY Times, the American Prospect. Those are their words, not my own.
My view on the matter: Hodges was still in his prime (31, or same age as Ray Allen now), and playing a major role in the rotation of a 3-time championship team. He was an outstanding 3pt%, who shoot 48% from downtown just two seasons prior! He was also a great FT shooter, hitting 96% the season before. Those are impressive numbers. He was a great pure shooter, and he was a SG, not a PG (so assists wasn't he job; stretching the defense in the triangle offense was). Maybe not a starter in most leagues, but some team could have used him in their rotation.
The best analogy I can come up with is if the Heat had won three championship in a row, and all of a sudden Jason Kapano disappeared from the league.
I agree that Craig Hodges is the source of this story - he sued the NBA over the issue, unsuccessfully I might add.
Rickhouse: That was the most impressive thing about those teams... Horace Grant became Dennis Rodman; Will Perdue and Bill Cartwright become Luc Longley; Hodges becomes Paxson becomes Kerr. And Ron Harper replaced BJ. That's the true testiment to the greatness of both Jordan and Pippen.
He didn't get blacklisted. He just wasn't any good.
You think if a team thought he could help them he wouldn't be picked up??? This is a league that gives chances to anyone.
Hodges can blame it on anything he wants. He was just a one dimensional player with an attitude problem.
Bo: The NBA is full of "one-dimensional" players. Just yesterday Reggie Evans got traded. He has a four-year contract. And all he does is rebound. You have one-dimensional shot-blockers, 3PT shooters, defensive specialists, etc. Role players, especially championship-winning role player, have value.
You hit it right on the nail with the last part of your comment: "attitude problem". Indeed, that's why the NBA got rid of him. If he had a "good attitude", no doubt they would have found him work. And yes, if he had more value, like if he could hit home runs like a star, he would have been signed to another team (see Carlos Delgado, another example of a social activism in sports; he would probably have been run out of MLB if he wasn't a star).
"Attitude Problem"? Having watched those Bulls Championships with Hodges on the team he NEVER, EVER, EVER was a problem. He was a complete team player, who I will agree was one-dimesional, but hardly someone who disrupted the team. Its amazing when someone Black speaks out on issues he labeled a "militant" or someone having an "attitude"!!!
It certainly is an odd situation. On one hand, Hodges was cut when he could still play which suggests that maybe he was blacklisted. However, people that can play always get second (and third and fourth, etc.) chances. Even John Rocker who was about the biggest "villian" in sports history got more chances. That fact alone makes you think that this whole thing is made up. Hodges' problem is that he just wasn't good enough for teams to overlook his flaws (which describes everyone who isn't in the NBA). That's not being blacklisted, that's just reality.
Lousy attitude later in csreer, sometimes you need to keep your moth shut lest it screw up your livelyhood.
Bill
Craig Hodges made 19 in a row in the 3-point contest, a feat that will never be matched.
He was the greatest shooter I ever saw, hands down.
The fact that he stood up to that piece of shit bush, the iran-contra crook, makes him a hero to me.
Craig, if you are reading this, you are the best ever, both athleticly and politically.
Mike C.
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