Does T-Mac Have a Point?

The whole world has had a few days to dissect, lambaste, and crucify Tracy McGrady for his recent comments concerning the 2008 NBA All-Star Game being held in New Orleans. On television, in the newspapers, and in the blogs of basketball fans everywhere, T-Mac is seen as a spoiled chump who would rather collect (and sit on) his duckets than sacrifice one weekend to play in front of the fans who help pay his salary.

However, there have been a minute few who have defended McGrady's concern, looking beyond the words "I don't think it's the right city to have this type of event right now."

Columnist Jason Whitlock has even suggested taking this time as the opportunity for the NBA to exact its plan to take the exhibition overseas.

I'm not here to be McGrady's right-hand man. The All-Star Game was promised to New Orleans, and the Association should continue its course to play it there in February of '08. But I didn't write this column to crush T-Mac, either. The city has magnified problems that can't be fixed overnight. There will hopefully be significant progress by this time next year, but if you follow the current timeline, "significant" could be a stretch.

I get that there are plenty of reasons to blame him for not giving New Orleans an opportunity to prove itself. Heck, the Big Easy has hosted nine Super Bowls, not to mention its annual list of the Sugar Bowl, three professional franchises, and everyone's favorite party, Mardi Gras. However, I'm taking a different angle.

Like me, several readers have probably heard of, and enjoyed, the ESPN show, "Top five reasons you can't blame..." I'd like to take a stab at an idea for the show. Here are the five best arguments for you not to crush Tracy McGrady for his comments regarding New Orleans and NBA All-Star Weekend:

Las Vegas Had its Problems

It's understandable that Sin City might have underestimated the weight of the NBA's showcase weekend. The city doesn't have a top-tier professional team and, thus, hasn't hosted an all-star extravaganza. At least the city and its police force were whole, though, and hearing reports of over 400 arrests in a four-day span doesn't sit too well.

New Orleans is still a shell of itself. Louisiana Weekly contributing writer Bill Quigley writes of the city's population being down over 59% (from 454,000 to 187,000) and the police force being whittled away by the hundreds. Several reports talk about the one conviction for 162 homicides in 2006 (not to mention thousands of felony suspects released due to lack of timely processing). Those numbers don't add up to a pretty picture.

Outside Influences

I don't agree with Whitlock too often, but I can't help it this time around. The NBA does have a thuggish, hip-hop mentality. Don't get me wrong, I dig rap like most black people my age. Unfortunately, there's a condition of "bein' hard" that accompanies quite a bit of that lifestyle. And even if a sports star is above getting into fist-fights or worse, some members of his posse might not be.

The problem with all this ... it will follow a person wherever they take it, no matter if it's Los Angeles, Milwaukee, or Charlotte. Now, while I don't really agree with moving the game to Europe, I do think that this culture needs to be looked at. And David Stern can't do anything to shake things up. That's up to the players themselves.

Post-Katrina Conditions

Anyone who's been to the Big Easy knew that while rich in culture and history, it had a seedy underbelly that was just as enticing as any tour around the French Quarter. When I went for a visit in August 2002, just strolling down Bourbon Street on a typical Friday night was an adventure. It was music, booze, potential trouble, and cops everywhere.

Now, that underbelly has been somewhat exposed, and it will take time to control it. Quigley's article, released on March 5th, touches on everything from lack of operational hospitals to problems with drinking water and people "living in gutted-out houses with no electricity."

Remember when, just after the hurricane hit, the New Orleans Saints talked about a need to continue winning so people could keep the city in the front of their minds? It's now 18 months later, and while dollars and sweat have been poured into the region, there's still a lot of problems that can only be fixed slowly.

He's Not the Only One

McGrady seems to be taking the brunt of the heat for his comments, especially after Players' Union executive Billy Hunter backed off his earlier statement addressing many similar concerns. However, the Rockets' star scorer wasn't the only player to express himself on the issue. Shoot, he wasn't even the only player on his own team.

Rockets guard Rafer Alston:

"I'm scared right now, only because of the situation down there now. If it's like that now, what happens when you have 500,000 people on their way down there and people who earn a substantial amount of money down there?"

Oh, and let's not forget to include the opinion of a certain superstar who grew up and played ball around that region.

Heat and former LSU center Shaquille O'Neal:

"I would rather see it come to Miami or even New York. I don't know what New Orleans' situation is, but from watching the Spike Lee special and watching the news, it doesn't look like it's ready for something like that."

Plenty of people would have trepidations of heading into a region with conditions as bad as they are for portions of the Gulf Coast. That doesn't means it's right, but it is human.

He's Entitled to His Own Opinion

It's becoming a cliché to hear how an athlete is damned if he does (express his true opinions), damned if he doesn't (stays bland and out of controversy's range). McGrady said what was on his mind. I might not think it was the smartest thing to say, but it was heartfelt and logical. Plus, he hasn't backed off those comments (as of March 4th, anyway), which has to be worth something.

So, if T-Mac doesn't feel safe, he won't participate in All-Star Weekend? All right ... and? The fans have the right to choose him, and he's got the right to stay home. Send a breakout performer in his place. That guy might even deserve it more.

In the end, Tracy's the one that will have to face his critics, but with his history of misstep quotes (security in Athens and making it to the second round of the playoffs come to mind), he seems to be able to handle that.

Enter Brian Kenny, saying, "Now that you've read these pieces of evidence, you can decide for yourselves. Keep in mind that we're not trying to change anyone's opinion on T-Mac. We're here to keep the discussion going."

Hopefully, through all this, McGrady's comments keep the discussion going on how to make New Orleans a place where his words are history and not making it.