Danny Ferry On Loul Deng: "He’s Got Some African In Him”
A team meeting in June 2014 where general manager Danny Ferry referenced free agent prospect Loul Deng as "He's got some African in him" started the unearthing of the racist email of embattled Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson.
The said conference call was attended by seven Hawks owner, team coaches and scouts. Ferry was reading from a player profile of then free agent and now Miami Heat forward Deng which was allegedly read verbatim by Ferry. This launched an initiative from a member from the Atlanta-based ownership to conduct an internal investigation. Around 24,000 documents and 19 people were interviewed to clarify concerns on racism in the conduct of the team's affairs.
It was during the course of the said investigation that an inflammatory email of Levenson was uncovered and is now the subject for the team's sale following Levenson's resignation. Although the NBA has not yet meted any decision and fines to the owner, Levenson on his own accord has already decided to let go of the team.
The controversial e-mail of Levenson concluded that "southern whites" were uncomfortable at games due to the heavy presence of blacks. The Hawks, despite qualifying for the post-season, were 28th in attendance last year.
"My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a significant season ticket base," Levenson wrote in the said email.
Ferry does not go unscathed as the team has announced that it is meting the former San Antonio Spurs player some disciplinary punishment. Details of the penalties were not disclosed but it was revealed that Ferry will still remain as the team's general manager. He already met with the team's coaches and players Sunday to issue his personal apology and he also personally contacted Deng and Deng's agent, Ron Shade per Yahoo Sports.
Deng, who just signed a two year $20 million dollar deal with the Heat, is one of the league's model citizens. The Sudanese was the recipient of the prestigious J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award last April and is largely regarded as a locker room stabilizer. He is also a two-time all-star and played nine seasons with the Chicago Bulls and half a season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
