A fight broke out on the Detroit Pistons basketball court with under a minute left in the game on November 19, 2004. Players from the Pistons, and the Pacers were involved in a fight requiring officials to intervene. At this time, a fan in the stands threw a cup filled with liquid at Ron Artest hitting him. Within seconds, the event turned into one of the worst brawls ever seen in NBA history. Fans and players alike were fighting like beasts on the court while the media televised every minute of it. This was the new image of athletes in the National Basketball Association. NBA commissioner David Stern had to do something to save the reputation of the all-American athlete. In October of 2005 Mr. Stern introduced NBA Cares program to the public.
NBA Cares is a charitable organization that reaches out to local communities, making a difference in the lives of children and adults world wide. The new organization committed to raise $100 million dollars, volunteer one million hours and build one hundred youth sites within the first five years of its existence.So my question is this: What is NBA Cares doing for greener living? Can professional athletes teach the youth of America the importance of taking care of their planet? Why is it that out of 34 sponsored organizations teaming up with the NBA, not one of them is related to environmentally sound living? NBA Cares works with internationally-recognized youth-serving programs that support education, health-related causes, and family development, but no programs that encourage a greener lifestyle. I think what the players of the NBA are doing is wonderful. It is changing lives daily, and setting an encouraging example for the youth who look up to them. However, where are the future ball players going to play ball? Or read and live healthy lives if it is no longer healthy to live on Earth? This is what I want to explore through my blog as an ongoing project for the semester
I researched all 30 NBA teams, and the charities to which they donate their time. From Shaq teaming up with the American Red Cross in a community swim safety campaign, to Elton Brand reading to local LA elementary schools, to Amare Stoudemire visiting a Phoenix children’s hospital, no player is encouraging eating organic foods or using energy conscious light bulbs. The only shred of environmental awareness I could find involved an event that occurred about five years ago when Steve Nash still played for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2002, Community centers in South Dallas competed to collect the greatest amount of recyclable goods during a set amount of time. The winner received a grant from Nike, and was publicly recognized during halftime at a home game. 
What happened to this great idea? Why hasn’t this ever been repeated? The Dallas Mavericks planned to have a Recycling Theme Night five years ago and it never happened. The event was planned by a Tara O’Keefe, an Environment and Development Planner for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. I wrote Mrs. O’Keefe an email asking her what happened to the themed night, and questioning whether more recycling events were planned in the future with the Mavs. I have not received a response yet, but I am going to be persistent with my request. Having competitions between schools, and fans for the most recyclable goods is a step in the right direction and an idea that needs to be moved forward.
During this last week, I have tried to contact organizers for NBA Cares to find out what it would take to get a greener lifestyle organization on the list of partners to team up with NBA teams nation-wide. I have not received answers yet. I think the NBA is headed in the right direction so far, and may need suggestions on how to incorporate the green movement into their list of social responsibilities.
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