Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young's comments this week that Hawks GM Danny Ferry should return to the team have drawn a variety of comments from television analysts and newspaper columnists. Ferry took an indefinite leave of absence prior to the season after making racially insensitive comments. The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan said, “It's a very strong endorsement from an important source in the city of Atlanta. But I am selling the idea it can help him in the long run. ... It's about being able to sell Danny Ferry to players down the road, and they may not be able to do that.” ESPN's Israel Gutierrez said, "I'm buying the idea of eventually forgiving Danny Ferry and judging him as a human being. ... However, I do not believe the Atlanta Hawks can take the chance that, in the business aspect, they can go ahead and put him back in the GM position when players around the league might say that might be the difference between them signing with Atlanta and signing with somebody else.” ESPN's J.A. Adande: "There's no way, whatever group buys the Hawks, can afford to have Danny Ferry and the baggage he brings operating in that position” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 2/18). In Atlanta, Michael Cunningham wrote the Hawks' new owners ultimately will "have to decide if it makes financial sense" to keep Ferry around. Politics "play a part, too, but only insofar as the franchise wants to maintain good relations with local leaders for when it inevitably asks for public money for one thing or another in the future." What "matters more than Ferry’s personal feelings about race is "whether he creates an environment in which the people who work with and for him are treated fairly and with respect" (AJC.com, 2/18).
GIVEN A NEW LIFELINE? ESPN's Michael Wilbon said no one has "greater credibility" than Young, and his comments carry weight. ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said Young's endorsement "takes away the toxicity from all the other teams," as Ferry likely is "going to be named Executive of the Year” (“PTI,” ESPN, 2/18). ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said of Ferry, “I’ve heard no one say he’s a racist, and the fact that he has been subjected to that level of scrutiny based on this one statement alone I think is egregious. I applaud former Mayor Andrew Young” ("First Take," ESPN2, 2/18). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said, "Eventually he’s going to come back. They’re not going to fire him now because they haven’t fired him (yet). And beyond … the team's really good. That helps his cause.” But ESPN's Bomani Jones said the issue is that Ferry "came to work and did something and said something that you can't say at work, especially not after the Donald Sterling stuff." Jones: "You can't do what (Ferry) did at work, and the predispositions that it seems to indicate make him unfit to work that job" ("Highly Questionable," ESPN2, 2/18). ESPN's Pablo Torre said, "This has been less than six months. You really going to let that guy back in already?” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 2/18).
DOUBLE FEATURE: In Atlanta, Chris Vivlamore notes the Hawks as part of their "celebration of Black History Month," will "host a screening of the Academy Award nominated movie Selma following Friday’s game against the Raptors." Fans who remain following the game "can watch the movie on the center scoreboard and on the court via the new projection system" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/19).
