The black Basque.
jvaz...@semavenca.com
The black Basque.
There is a kind of fuss going on in the Spanish press about the first
“coloured” player in the Athletic de Bilbao team.
http://www.marca.com/2009/12/15/futbol/europa_league/1260882484.html
As it is known the Bilbao side only align Basque players, since their
foundation.
Jonas Ramalho (15) was born in Barakaldo, Biskaia, of an Angolan
father and a Basque mother.
Some fans say he’s not completely Basque, that being born in the
Basque Country is not enough for being Basque; so they are opposed to
Ramalho playing with the Basque Lions.
Others say he was born in the Basque Country, so he is Basque, and
they see no motive to ban him from the team.
I wonder:
If the player had a German father and was white, there would be the
same reaction?
As for the rule of “only Basque players”: Where does nationalism end
and racism start?
What about the Born a Bred player quota in national competitions? Is
it politically correct in these times of non-racism, non-ultra-
nationalism?
Is the World Cup, with their National Teams, a racist tribal
confrontation?
Juan Vázquez
Lord of War
Why should the owners of a team not have the final say on who plays
for their team? If an owner or manager decides no blacks or arabs or
french or italian then thats how it should be. This is the same
bullshit going on woth Balotelli in Italy. Lippi does not want him but
their is a fuss there too and the racist word has come out against
Lippi in the last couple of weeks. Europe is WHITE!
Jordi
> The black Basque.
>
> There is a kind of fuss going on in the Spanish press about the first
> “coloured” player in the Athletic de Bilbao team.
>
> http://www.marca.com/2009/12/15/futbol/europa_league/1260882484.html
>
> As it is known the Bilbao side only align Basque players, since their
> foundation.
>
> Jonas Ramalho (15) was born in Barakaldo, Biskaia, of an Angolan
> father and a Basque mother.
>
> Some fans say he’s not completely Basque, that being born in the
> Basque Country is not enough for being Basque; so they are opposed to
> Ramalho playing with the Basque Lions.
>
It's not really the fans, but rather some sectors totally opposed to
Athletic trying to make some 'fun' on it like these:
http://www.resistencia-norte.com/2009/12/ningun-extranjero-en-el-athletic.html
Obviously, once it was picked by major media (that is, Marca) they
took it completely wrong. Go read some Athletic discussion forums and
you'll see.
> If the player had a German father and was white, there would be the same reaction?
Obviously not, just look at who started it all.
Clément
>
> As it is known the Bilbao side only align Basque players, since their
> foundation.
>
> Jonas Ramalho (15) was born in Barakaldo, Biskaia, of an Angolan
> father and a Basque mother.
>
>
> Others say he was born in the Basque Country, so he is Basque, and
> they see no motive to ban him from the team.
He also has half Basque ancestry, so this is not an issue at all.
Except, of course, if people object to his color, in which case any
argument over him being or not being Basque is just a lame excuse for
racism.
> I wonder:
>
> If the player had a German father and was white, there would be the
> same reaction?
It depends on one's real motivation to raise the issue.
> As for the rule of “only Basque players”: Where does nationalism end
> and racism start?
Well, is "nationalism" really any better than racism? I mean, if you
strip the concept of nationalism of its supposedly "noble" (and
usually fake) motivations, what's left to it?
I've always (kind of) admired Athletic's policy of only siding Basque
players, because having locally born and trained players (thus keeping
a strong community link) is a nice trait. And a brave one as well, in
these times of huge financial disparity and money domination.
This, of course, is not considering any possible nationalistic (and/or
racist) ramifications of such policy.
> What about the Born a Bred player quota in national competitions? Is
> it politically correct in these times of non-racism, non-ultra-
> nationalism?
To have a born and bred quota in national competitions is about
developing local talent and helping promote economic sanity in the
sport. Even if it fits some people racist/nationalist agendas, it
doesn't have to be a bad thing.
> Is the World Cup, with their National Teams, a racist tribal
> confrontation?
If it ever was, I don't think it is anymore. And that's a good thing.
Abraço,
Luiz Mello