Phil Jackson’s longtime friend, Charley Rosen, recently spoke to Marc Berman of the New York Post about Jackson’s ‘posse’ comment made towards LeBron James’s group that registered massive hate. Rosen seems beyond irritated at the notion that Jackson could be racist, and believes the entire situation was blown out of proportion.
“That was such bulls–t,’’ Rosen told The Post. “All of a sudden it’s a bad word. But [Allen] Iverson talks about his boys. It’s taking politically incorrect to the nth degree. Do I think he meant anything racial by it? Do you think there’s a racial bone in his body? There have been racist coaches in the NBA and Phil isn’t close to being one of them.
“It was overblown. It’s manufactured. Why is LeBron so sensitive about it? It’s Phil Jackson. If a so-called cracker said it, OK. But it’s Phil. Please. He’s not going to respect Phil again. Ridiculous. There’s racially sensitive things to worry about than freaking out about ‘posse.’ ”
Phil Jackson’s decision to use the word ‘posse’ wasn’t a good one, but labeling him as a racist seems far-fetched. Jackson has spent decades playing, watching and coaching NBA basketball, a league mostly made up of African Americans.
Jackson’s friend, Charley Rosen, firmly believes this entire situation was unnecessary and manufactured. Whether you agree with him or not, deeming Phil Jackson as a racist solely based off this comment is nonsensical.
Nonetheless, by using that word, Phil Jackson brought the negative attention and animosity on himself. He has yet to apologize or publicly comment further on the responses from LeBron, his team and Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.
