Thursday, July 12, 2007

Someone thinks former Oregon player Aaron Brooks is representin' for the Crips

We've all read those lame stories before by crusty old white sports columnists talking about how when a player throws up three digits after nailing a 3-pointer that he's "representing" for some gang.

This, of course, is totally hilarious, because we all know the player is just letting the world know he hit a three - not that he's a member of some gang.

But sometimes things get a little fuzzy. And sometimes there is a real question about what signs players are throwing up mean.

Well, it appears that former Oregon player Aaron Brooks (who's now with the Rockets) may in fact be doing more than just letting people know he hit a big three. There's one columnist out there who thinks Brooks actually flashed a Crips sign during the 2007 NCAA 3-point contest (which Brooks won), and he has some proof to back it up. Although I should mention the columnist, Gary Toms, made the mistake of calling Brooks a freshman in his article - which I guess should instantly make me wary of whatever conclusions he comes to. But here you go.
  • On March 31, the ESPN Network covered the "NCAA 3-Point Shootout". The event was nationally televised, and something happened during the contest that prompted me to write this article. The winner of the contest was a freshman named Aaron Brooks (Toms is wrong, Brooks was a senior), who plays for the University of Oregon Ducks. I was watching the shootout with a dear friend of mine, who happens to be a veteran law enforcement official. At the end of the contest, Brooks walked into the frame of the camera and flashed a hand sign. My friend looked at me, and I at him, and we both said, "Oh, hell no he didn't!" It appeared to be the sign of "The Crips". My friend said cops and federal agents are given a list of signs that some of the most lethal gangs in the country identify with, and he alleged Brooks was showing his loyalty and love for The Crips.
I realize this isn't exactly like having a picture of the incident up for all to see. And even I know law enforcement officials aren't always right and can get things wrong. Like the "Blood Killers" sign is the exact same sign as what most players use as their three-point sign. We know they aren't secretly showing their allegiance to the Crips.
And besides, sometimes guys just come up with weird hand signs to show amongst friends. But this is an interesting thing to think about.

Toms, who is African-American, goes on to question whether colleges are recruiting known gang members and also whether broadcasters like ESPN should let kids flash any signs at video cameras.

I'm not going to step into that sticky argument, but I will say this. Brooks, who I'm not accusing of being a gang-banger at all, grew up in Seattle. And despite what you may think, the police have definitely had many a run-in with the Crips there.

UPDATE: We couldn't find the YouTube video, but reader Eric did. It's at about the one minute mark. Draw your own conclusions.





-WCK

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

This also resembles the hand sign for the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity (I think).

Anonymous said...

The story is a bunch of poo. The University of Oregon has a sign that they make to show support for the team much like the University of Texas has the hook'em sign. This is all just pitiful.

Anonymous said...

Check Wikipedia for the "OK sign, which a person might use after winning a contest.

Or maybe you believe Wikipedia is controlled by the Crips.

zerzanfan said...

Ridiculous, and even if it wasn't, who cares? What, gang bangers aren't allowed to go to college, play ball, make some money and get out of the hood? We should take away *every* opportunity to get out of gangbanging? Maybe we should add 'going to college' to the list of prohibited activities in these gang injunctions in LA that prohibit guys from hanging out with their biological brothers or attending church.

Anonymous said...

you are an idiot. seriously.

Simon said...

I love how people just post you are an idiot under anonymous. Such a waste of time.

Anonymous said...

This is a steaming load. Aaron has made mistakes and learned from them, but he is not a gang banger. He is a quality person, a good father and a good husband. Borderline racism. Keep moving AB! Rip up the summer league!

Eric Wilkins said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcTMJyu5TDg

It is about the one minute mark. Form your own opinion.

Eric Wilkins said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I've gotta be honest, in the video it really looks like he's flashing a gang sign. That isn't an OK or 3-pt. sign.

Unknown said...

One more thing, the picture that you referenced for "blood killer" is wrong too. If anything, when a player makes a three and does the hand sign to signal it, it more resembles the blood sign (three fingers form the straight part of the b, the touching thumb and pointer form the the circle on the B). the fingers for the "k" in "blood killer" are are spread out vertically so the pointer is the b and the pinky is the downward part of the "k" and the ring is the 45 degrees upward facing leg of the "k". I have come to realize that most law enforcement and pretty much the whole general public who has not had first hand contact and knowledge of gangs is absolutely clueless, evidenced by the fact that they dont even know what the f*** "blood killer" looks like, duh.

Anonymous said...

Everybody's all-american, JJ Reddick clearly flashed the "shocker" symbol in several games after hitting threes.

Anonymous said...

Well, if the Rockets were to trade for Stephen Davis (who went so far as to have custom Pacers hats made that were red) we'd find out soon enough...

Anonymous said...

Anybody who has watched the YouTube video posted above and thinks that was some version of hook-em-horns just has their head up their ass.

Anonymous said...

Racism? There are white gangs, black gangs, latino gangs, japanese gangs, chinese gangs, Vietnamese gangs. This is about gangs not race. Gangs are bad for any race. Not something to be glorified in a public sporting event unless you are trying to make some cute point.

Anonymous said...

Aaron Brooks identifies his allegiance to The Crips.

Expect Brooks to get busted in a shoot 'em up drive-by in Houston any day now.

Anonymous said...

Hilarious. You base this on a column written by a "journalist" who refers to himself in the third person. By his nickname.

"The G-Man."

What's also funny is that out of all the times Brooks has been on regional and national TV, he's never flashed a "gang sign" before. I guess he must've just joined the Crips.

MichaelProcton said...

No, it absolutely does not resemble an "OK" sign, "Hook 'Em Horns", or a simple holding of 3 fingers to represent the 3-pointers made. I don't know gang symbols myself, but it didn't look like anything within the general cultural lexicon that I can explain.

Anonymous said...

you all must be white

Anonymous said...

hope you all figured out this ringer before x-mas , you know santa is watching , and such insignificant matters should really not occuppy you mind space

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