Orlando Magic Gave $50,000 to Never Back Down

[Def Swami]

A statement from the NBA Players' Association:

[img]

Read on Twitter

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This is an embarrassment. Anyone who tries to spin it any other way is simply willing to turn a blind eye due to their own political preferences.

And this is exactly why it was a dumb decision.

[Rainwater]

A statement from the NBA Players' Association:

[img]

Read on Twitter

/photo/1[/img]

This is an embarrassment. Anyone who tries to spin it any other way is simply willing to turn a blind eye due to their own political preferences.

I really don’t agree with any of this. Yes, the money shouldn’t have been paid under the magic name. But you have to keep this in context. The players association is pretty progressive, no similar comment was made during the massive support for BLM in 2020. Unless there is a push by the players association for players not to sign with the magic I still don’t believe there is any long term damage by this.

[Optimus_Steel]

The Devoid family has plenty of mechanisms to give legalized bribes to politicians, not sure why they needed to use the Magic to do this particular one.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using RealGM mobile app

[89Magicfan]

A statement from the NBA Players' Association:

[img]

Read on Twitter

/photo/1[/img]

This is an embarrassment. Anyone who tries to spin it any other way is simply willing to turn a blind eye due to their own political preferences.

**** em. **** the NBA. **** those officials who “donates” to their causes and their candidates but criticized and prevent others for doing so to theirs.

[PigsEatHam]

Or maybe Paolo and the rest of the team will use their own experience of literally playing for the franchise to make up their mind about the franchise.

And given how this happened several months ago, this sudden firestorm is silly. "I'm outraged over something I never even knew existed." If the NBPA really cared, they wouldn't have been oblivious to it all this time. They just have to jump on the train because that's how woke mobs operate. This did not require an official statement from anyone. Optics aside, it doesn't need to be said that the donation does not represent the views of staff or players. Legally, it never did. There's nothing "alarming" about it either. Unless you want to allow the other side to consider contributions from liberal elites like Hollywood to left wing things like Pride to be "alarming" too. It just is what it is. Rich people donate money to politics.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/orlando-magic-donates-50000-desantis-supporting-super-pac/story?id=101973287

From what I've read, such as in the article linked above, the donation was registered by the FEC on June 26 and the financial records were only filed this week. This is why there is a quote unquote sudden firestorm; the donation just became public knowledge and the journalists who comb through these records only just now were able to uncover it. So, it's less about a woke mob digging up old news to bash views they disagree with than professional reporters finding something newsworthy in the regular campaign disclosures that are required by law. And an organization like the Magic donating to a DeSantis PAC (who has been pretty stridently against the queer community) is newsworthy, especially when in public settings they try to present as inclusive and welcoming, such as having a Pride Night at a game versus the Wizards last year.

[davey_wavy]

Daily Wire Jersey Sponsor Imminent?

[davey_wavy]

I hope Paolo, Wendell and Franz are Conservatives lol. Everyone else can get offended and demand a trade

[drsd]

Considering Florida law, companies can donate an unlimited amount to the State's governor. The Orlando Magic will have business before the governor and this must have been the view at the time of the donation. I suspect every multinational in Florida always donates to whoever the governor's state Super PAC is.

Let's take another example, if someone dove deep to Texas paperwork, would it really be a surprise if the Dallas Mavs or San Antonio Spurs were found to have donated $50,000 to ProjectRedTX (the Super PAC of Greg Abbott).

The issue could be framed as, "Why is it OK to Florida voters that companies can donate unlimited sums to the governor?"

[MAGICian619]

The NBA hates Republicans but lovesssssss China.

The fact that this thread is even a story shows you half of this country has gone completely off the rails and has zero tolerance for anyone not agreeing with them. Sad.

Money from China who has people in concentration camps = hell yah
Money to Democrats = hell yah
Money to DeSantis (one of the most popular governors in the country btw) = ALARMING

[tooler]

From what I've read, such as in the article linked above, the donation was registered by the FEC on June 26 and the financial records were only filed this week. This is why there is a quote unquote sudden firestorm; the donation just became public knowledge and the journalists who comb through these records only just now were able to uncover it. So, it's less about a woke mob digging up old news to bash views they disagree with than professional reporters finding something newsworthy in the regular campaign disclosures that are required by law. And an organization like the Magic donating to a DeSantis PAC (who has been pretty stridently against the queer community) is newsworthy, especially when in public settings they try to present as inclusive and welcoming, such as having a Pride Night at a game versus the Wizards last year.

It's only newsworthy because culture war outrage generates engagement.

If only those journalists were paying attention to actual power centers instead...

Maybe it's by design.

[Rainwater]

I just feel like people are not really upset that ownership is using the magic brand to support a politician or group, or the affect this would have on the team. I just think people are more upset that ownership sided with a politician that didn’t side with their political views (which would make it a political matter). If they were really upset, they would have been equally outraged in 2020 when the NBA/players sided with BLM and people predicted doom and gloom, which never materialized, for the league for doing so. When people are bringing up political points such as the Disney fight and other issues, is this really about basketball or a ploy to discuss their political views under the guise of basketball?

[RookieStar]

Or maybe Paolo and the rest of the team will use their own experience of literally playing for the franchise to make up their mind about the franchise.

And given how this happened several months ago, this sudden firestorm is silly. "I'm outraged over something I never even knew existed." If the NBPA really cared, they wouldn't have been oblivious to it all this time. They just have to jump on the train because that's how woke mobs operate. This did not require an official statement from anyone. Optics aside, it doesn't need to be said that the donation does not represent the views of staff or players. Legally, it never did. There's nothing "alarming" about it either. Unless you want to allow the other side to consider contributions from liberal elites like Hollywood to left wing things like Pride to be "alarming" too. It just is what it is. Rich people donate money to politics.

THIS. That kind of shtick is pretty tiring already. And it's not just limited to those in the U.S.

[jezzerinho]

Idiots. Magic gonna Magic.

[SOUL]

You guys know damn well if the team was full of conservatives and the ownership publicly donated to a Democratic official that made a controversial statement equally as important to the right (idk, about trans rights perhaps? whatever is equal to a slavery comment?) it would be a **** of "Why are they doing that publicly?"

I would be making the same exact statement as I'm making now if the shoe was on the other foot. There's just no reason to do it all. Do it privately like you and every team has been been doing for so many years, as long as the players are being treated well.

It's a dumb thing to put the team name on it. Thinking it won't affect anything at all is also naive, considering something as small as Tim Duncan's wife not being allowed on a plane was a breaking point for signing here. People are being politically prideful and naive. A very small amount of people are attacking their actual right to donate in the first place, it's using the team name attached to it. It doesn't suddenly mean everybody on the team approves of it, but why even have to make that distinction in the first place? Already see dumb comments on Paolo's page along with all of the angry Italians.

In fact, I hope they do continue to do it since some people think there is no issue at all and we'll definitely see what happens.

It's also a bit rich considering the same sort of posters lost their minds with BLM (which originally was about officers w/ unknown political affiliation but it devolved into anti/pro police stuff/talks about protests/riots) or kneeling for the anthem or not (which was more of a silent form of protest, and technically could be apolitical depending on your reasoning... and absolutely harmless compared to January 6th.)

[drsd]

Considering Florida law, companies can donate an unlimited amount to the State's governor. The Orlando Magic will have business before the governor and this must have been the view at the time of the donation. I suspect every multinational in Florida always donates to whoever the governor's state Super PAC is.

Let's take another example, if someone dove deep to Texas paperwork, would it really be a surprise if the Dallas Mavs or San Antonio Spurs were found to have donated $50,000 to ProjectRedTX (the Super PAC of Greg Abbott).

The issue could be framed as, "Why is it OK to Florida voters that companies can donate unlimited sums to the governor?"

Well, beyond this now being national news, the Magic's views is that this indeed was a business transaction.

A Magic spokesperson clarified that the check was dated and delivered on May 19. DeSantis announced his intention to run for president on May 24.

"To clarify, this gift was given before Governor DeSantis entered the presidential race," the Magic spokesperson said in a statement. "It was given as a Florida business in support of a Florida governor for the continued prosperity of Central Florida."

[Rick Rolled]

First Kai Sotto and now this.

Thoughts and prayers are with the Orlando Magic social media team members.

[SOUL]

First Kai Sotto and now this.

Thoughts and prayers are with the Orlando Magic social media team members.

Don't forget Paolo's Italian Betrayal

[FFBlitzace]

SOUL, honestly in that scenario, I would just shrug my shoulders and get over it. The vast majority of media I consume (basketball, video games, tv, movies) is part of industries that would attempt to appease the left, not the right. If I got upset over it I would have nothing left. I just accept that part of it for what it is and enjoy the product regardless.

[DiplomaticMagic]

Okay Shaq, get a group and buy the team.

[SOUL]

SOUL, honestly in that scenario, I would just shrug my shoulders and get over it. The vast majority of media I consume (basketball, video games, tv, movies) is part of industries that would attempt to appease the left, not the right. If I got upset over it I would have nothing left. I just accept that part of it for what it is and enjoy the product regardless.

Right, but you shouldn't have to as a fan. You're entering murky waters once a team is attached to it.. even if there's very little difference in actuality if an owner puts his name or not. It's just the image of it all. And it also matters who it is, like I also mentioned earlier - if it was to some no name Democrat or Repub who have pretty tame opinions or statements of important issues in their respective parties and have never been controversial, it doesn't make the rounds as much.

And I am someone who defended Isaac's right to not want to follow everyone else's views and do his own thing while people were wishing him injury/being hypocritical about beliefs. I supported people who wanted to silently protest/kneel, just like I support anybody who wants to do the opposite when they feel pressured to give in.