The NBA and China (1 Viewer)

[Sinn Fein]

I just wish entertainers would entertain.  All entertainers.  I dont think (I hope at least) people dont put much weight in their words.  They should be silent on all issues.  It only hurts them when they open their mouths.  Just play basketball and if asked say something like, "Look Im a (insert whatever entertainment you provide), my job is to entertain.  Of course i have opinions but I choose to keep them to myself".  "now go buy my shoes'.

 

[The General]

They could, but it probably isn't worth their while in terms of angering their populace. The NBA/basketball is huge in China. I saw an article stating that over 500 million Chinese citizens watched at least one NBA game last season.

Tencent, the massive Chinese media giant that also has the broadcast rights to the NBA in China, announced they were dropping all NBA preseason games from their service. One can debate whether the NBA's tiptoeing strategy is a primary or secondary cause, but that Tencent NBA blackout was quietly ended after only 6 days (and was never announced to include real games). No doubt there was lots of internal pressure to bring NBA basketball back to Chinese consumers.

Good info.

 

[The General]

If an entertainer wants to use their platform for issues, they should be entitled to. But they are also going to face the potential backlash from it. You want to piss off 40% of the country, go for it. 

But I never understood the stay in your lanes idea. I mean what makes Laura Ingraham or Sean Hannity any more qualified to comment on the things they do? They regularly spout off about stuff they don't know about or provide their opinion on things.

Unless you think entertainers, to use your word, like Hannity and Ingraham should also shut up and just try to sell us their shoes. Then I could probably get behind that. 

As ridiculous as they can be Hannity and Ingram are much better at this than LeBron. He can say whatever he wants but man that was a really bad statement. He’s essentially a billion dollar operation I can’t believe this was how he planned to address this. I think he just choked.

 

[sporthenry]

As ridiculous as they can be Hannity and Ingram are much better at this than LeBron. He can say whatever he wants but man that was a really bad statement. He’s essentially a billion dollar operation I can’t believe this was how he planned to address this. I think he just choked.

Fair and perhaps this isn't the greatest example. But when you want to talk about situations impacting minorities, arguably LeBron has better insight than the two of them. 

 

[AAABatteries]

I was disappointed in Kerr not being a bit more vocal but I see a distinction between his response or more lack of one than what LeBron did. Kerr never called out Morey or said he was wrong. He mostly just said it was a complicated issue and he continues to read up on it. I prefer people to speak up on issues they are informed on then just blindly condemn things. 

LeBron just sounds tone deaf. Attacking someone for being uninformed when you yourself is uninformed isn't smart.

I expect a little more from Kerr and Pop and that’s why I lumped them all together - they’ve been outspoken about politically charged things in the state and I wish they would have taken their platform to speak up against this too.

 

[The General]

Fair and perhaps this isn't the greatest example. But when you want to talk about situations impacting minorities, arguably LeBron has better insight than the two of them. 

For sure on that.

I don’t know Ingram that well but Hannity is a pro level troll. He’s been at it for years.

LeBron was in a pretty tough spot here obviously and I don’t expect him to be some sort amazing spokesperson. Not even sure what I’d think would sound good coming from him but I know the clip I heard was bad.

 

[HellToupee]

I strongly disagree with this. With great power comes great responsibility. - Stan Lee

Voltaire down?

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

https://i.redd.it/9ci4atmsdos31.png

 

[Shula-holic]

I don’t agree with this. I think that there is a difference, for many people, between perceived injustice in the USA and perceived injustice outside of the USA, and that plays a big part. 

Injustice is injustice.  If anything, they should be harsher on the Chinese government.  It's a joke IMO that they made a boycott out of a bathroom law and yet apologize to a country which literally runs concentration camps, not the figure of speech ones that people throw around inside the US.  I'm fine with them doing it for the money, but just be honest about it.  Don't act like you have moral superiority and abhor racism when you kowtow to a government who does what China does.  I can list some examples for you if you want, but let's be real.  We all know indisputable facts about the Chinese government that we can name that is on a different scope than any complaint about U.S. society.

 

[Mystery Achiever]

Enes Kanter probably also does not have sympathy for Lebron's bad week.

Enes Kanter‏Verified account @EnesKanter 16h16 hours ago
Wow dude!

Enes Kanter‏Verified account @EnesKanter 16h16 hours ago
SMH

Enes Kanter‏Verified account @EnesKanter 16h16 hours ago
-Haven’t seen or talked to my family 5 years
-Jailed my dad
-My siblings can’t find jobs
-Revoked my passport
-International arrest warrant
-My family can’t leave the country
-Got Death Threats everyday
-Got attacked, harassed
-Tried to kidnap me in Indonesia
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

 

[timschochet]

Injustice is injustice.  If anything, they should be harsher on the Chinese government.  It's a joke IMO that they made a boycott out of a bathroom law and yet apologize to a country which literally runs concentration camps, not the figure of speech ones that people throw around inside the US.  I'm fine with them doing it for the money, but just be honest about it.  Don't act like you have moral superiority and abhor racism when you kowtow to a government who does what China does.  I can list some examples for you if you want, but let's be real.  We all know indisputable facts about the Chinese government that we can name that is on a different scope than any complaint about U.S. society.

I don't disagree with any of this. My disagreement with you was when you wrote:

I admit I was wrong in my calculation of the NBA players and coaches who have spoke out politically before.  I thought guys like Pop, Kerr, Lebron, etc. were just left leaning ideologically and politically outspoken.  It's become obvious now that it's more about the money and that their stances toward the left, such as with the All Star Game in Charlotte were to play to what they perceived as a left leaning fan base.

I don't believe that the double standard regarding China, which certainly exists, means that they weren't genuine in their past comments. I think they absolutely were, and are.

 

[Shula-holic]

I don't disagree with any of this. My disagreement with you was when you wrote:

I admit I was wrong in my calculation of the NBA players and coaches who have spoke out politically before.  I thought guys like Pop, Kerr, Lebron, etc. were just left leaning ideologically and politically outspoken.  It's become obvious now that it's more about the money and that their stances toward the left, such as with the All Star Game in Charlotte were to play to what they perceived as a left leaning fan base.

I don't believe that the double standard regarding China, which certainly exists, means that they weren't genuine in their past comments. I think they absolutely were, and are.

Maybe they are.  I'm not sure given their statements on China that we will ever know.  Not that it really matters, I never paid much attention to Pop or Curt Schilling either one when it comes to politics.  Now if I wanted to run a pick and roll or throw a good slider it would be a different story.

 

[timschochet]

Maybe they are.  I'm not sure given their statements on China that we will ever know.  Not that it really matters, I never paid much attention to Pop or Curt Schilling either one when it comes to politics.  Now if I wanted to run a pick and roll or throw a good slider it would be a different story.

Popovich is a liberal.

Curt Schilling is a racist.

I don't think it's a very good idea to throw them together in the same sentence as if they are two sides of a coin.

 

[Shula-holic]

Popovich is a liberal.

Curt Schilling is a racist.

I don't think it's a very good idea to throw them together in the same sentence as if they are two sides of a coin.

Whatever Tim.  I'll move on.

 

[Tom Hagen]

I just wish entertainers would entertain.  All entertainers.  I dont think (I hope at least) people dont put much weight in their words.  They should be silent on all issues.  It only hurts them when they open their mouths.  Just play basketball and if asked say something like, "Look Im a (insert whatever entertainment you provide), my job is to entertain.  Of course i have opinions but I choose to keep them to myself".  "now go buy my shoes'.

The bolded is an unfair generalization.  For example, Simone Biles and Aly Raisman are doing fantastic work holding USA Gymnastics and the USOC accountable for the abuse they allowed to happen. 

 

[HellToupee]

Curt Schilling is a racist.

This is false

 

[John Bender]

Lebron is kind of a piece of doo-doo for that tweet. Possibly an idiot as well. 

 

[Max Power]

I can see this causing year long problems. I expect some fans to troll the players at games and think this will hurt any future social commentary made by the outspoken few.

It isn't all their fault. Players and coaches were put in a tough position they were not prepared to handle.  I don't think they have handled it as best they could have though.  The NBA has PR guys for stuff like this and they did a poor job.

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

And they are burning LeBron jerseys in Hong Kong

 

[timschochet]

This is false

No it’s not. 

 

[Max Power]

No it’s not. 

What has he done that makes you so certain?

 

[John Bender]

tim's favorite athletes: Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Ben Roethlishberger. I'm actually starting to wonder about this guy. 

 

[Yenrub]

In a sense this entire issue is a microcosm of our attitude toward China since 1973. We’ve basically turned a blind eye to their crimes so that we could make money. We told ourselves “open them up to capitalism, and freedom will inevitably follow.” Well, nearly 50 years and it hasn’t happened yet. Will it ever happen? 

You’re right we have turned a blind eye to China’s crimes, so why single out LeBron and the NBA?

 

[sporthenry]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27852687/inside-lebron-james-adam-silver-make-break-moments-china

An interesting read especially the part that they were educated about China sovereignty. 
I think the NBA brought this upon itself to some degree but every US company that does business essentially bites their tongue and ignores this as well. Heck, the NBA at least doesn’t give away its IP to China. 

 

[boots11234]

Well if he ever wanted to run for office this is going to be a problem. 

 

[boots11234]

The bolded is an unfair generalization.  For example, Simone Biles and Aly Raisman are doing fantastic work holding USA Gymnastics and the USOC accountable for the abuse they allowed to happen. 

I guess I don’t look it athletes for Their  political point of view. Nor do I care. 

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Woman yells at LeBron. He doesn't seem happy about it. NSFW audio

 

[Gustavo Fring]

Support for communism on the rise.  You truly hate to see it.  

 

[Max Power]

Woman yells at LeBron. He doesn't seem happy about it. NSFW audio

That security guard shouldn't assume genders in California. 

 

[Mystery Achiever]

Adam Silver said China asked the NBA to fire Worley.

"We were being asked to fire him, by the Chinese government, by the parties we dealt with in government and business. We said there's no chance that's happening. There's no chance we'll even discipline him," Silver said at the TIME 100 Health Summit on Thursday.

He added: "We wanted to make an absolutely clear statement that the values of the NBA, these American values—we are an American business—travel with us wherever we go. And one of those values is free expression. We wanted to make sure that everyone understood we were supporting free expression."

 

[timschochet]

The NBA had a private meeting about China and Kyrie Irving claims he was outspoken but won’t say what it was he said: 

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27876345/kyrie-irving-addresses-china-issues-closed-door-meeting-adam-silver

He probably wanted to know how far China was from the edge of the earth where people fall off. 

 

[[scooter]]

No it’s not. 

What has he done that makes you so certain?

Well, he implied that peaceful Muslims were equivalent to the "peaceful" Germans who eventually joined and/or supported the Nazis. Not technically racist, but certainly bigoted.

He also likes to play the "it's racist to accuse people of racism" card, which is something that white nationalists tend to do. But again, it's not technically racist.

 

[sporthenry]

For all the heat the NBA got and while Silvers initial response was a bit lacking, I actually give the league itself a ton of credit. It cost them billions and they won’t budge. For how important China is for a lot of our MNCs, I’m not sure Apple, Qualcomm, Dell or Boeing would be this willing to stand up to China. So for whatever you say about this league, I hope your criticism also extends to our bastions of capitalism. 

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

I wish we had a meme as good as Winnie the Pooh for Trump.  Absolutely hilarious . They ban Winnie the Pooh stuff over there.  This is like when dorks on the Chan's use pepe & emojis and social justice warriors deem them racist.