“Even though the race issue isn’t discussed in polite company, it’s been the subject of hushed conversations at the Final Four and will be obvious to anyone in attendance or tuning in at home.”

Who’s been bringing it up? 

Sounds like Yahoo! columnist Jason King has a chip on his shoulder.

Monday night’s NCAA Championship Game pitted two teams with outstanding coaching that know how to execute on the hardwood.  Based on their play during March Madness they earned every right to be playing on the center stage.  I would think that any basketball fan could celebrate the success of Butler.  Not for its number of white players, but for its ability to emerge victorious against many college basketball giants.  And the Blue Devils?  While I might notice that they only have two key black contributors, I’m not focused on that.  Last night, they won the title with perhaps their most unheralded group ever.  They were simply a story of perseverance and mental toughness.

To hear that there was an “issue” is somewhat of a shocking occurence.  Was Monday night’s result something that closet racists were rooting for?  Did I vote for Barack Obama because he’s black?

Maybe, some outcomes are better when left unexamined.

But I will say this: to integrate (nice selection of wording there, eh?) the rarest of incidents – Indiana Pacers players Josh McRoberts, Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy actually playing well – is just a ludicrous thing to do.  It reeks of biased analysis – particularly when you consider that their best player by far is Danny Granger (who, eh hem, is not white).  And while Troy Murphy is normally one of the more consistent Pacers who complement Granger, McRoberts’ and Dunleavy’s production is routinely inconsistent.

Gordon Hayward's versatility was a key factor in Butler's Final Four run.

And, on top of that, King’s analysis should steer clear of the NBA in its entirety.  Why?

The National Basketball Association is a league of stars.  Its brand is built on star power, and its ability to advertise its excitement through outstanding and entertaining basketball play.

Case and point – just think about who you see on commercials and other advertisements.  LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard.  These players are major market draws.  And that is because of what you see on SportsCenter and league sponsored commercials.  You see James chasing down a poor, unsuspecting point guard and blocking his shot into the seats.  You see Kobe Bryant hitting a fade-away three pointer to win a game.  You see Dwight Howard showing no mercy on those incredibly sturdy break-away rims.

The NBA game is all about individualism – plain and simple.  The offenses are based on two- and three-man games, and an even higher percentage of plays are based on isolating a player with extreme quickness, ball-handling skill andathletic ability.  And it’s no coincidence that the most successful teams have the players with the best combinations of those attributes.  The Lakers have Kobe Bryant.  The Cavs have LeBron James.  The Magic have Dwight Howard and Vince Carter.  The Nuggets have Carmelo Anthony.  And the list goes on and on…

The bottom line is this – let’s enjoy the games for what they are.  And let’s enjoy each and every athlete for the special things that he brings – or doesn’t bring – to the table.