What Spike should have said was that there weren't multi-million dollar contracts being offered to black basketball players until the white media recognized the potential for the entertainment value of the game once the Bird AND MAGIC rivalry came about.
He can imply all he wants, but the reality is, these black kids actually have a monetary goal that can set them and their families up for life thanks to that white media playing up the game.
It was the Bird and Magic phenomenon that the media latched on to. Sure, the fact that Bird was white enhanced that way beyond had it been two black guys competing. So what? The end result is we have the entertainment dollar supporting the NBA like never before.
While Lee can voice his resentment that this so-called white media ignored the NBA game prior to the arrival of Bird (and Magic), he might ask some of those ghetto kids now playing in the NBA and making millions through salary and endorsements whether that hurts them financially now.
Those who can't play, say.