The Master wrote:madskillz8 wrote:I feel like it is a PR for the US market as it always sells, and he likely knows little about what happened like 40 years ago as a 20 yo unless his agents or PR team tells him - even though I like he's being vocal and I think NBA shouldn't be posting such stuff for Malone.
But if Wemby really likes to be vocal about this kind of stuff, he should better start reading & talking about what France did in Algeria, just 25 years before Karl Malone did that, considering he will likely continue wearing their uniform proudly.
-- Sixty years ago, Algeria won its independence after a brutal war with France. There is plenty of documentation on the 1954-1962 Algerian War, but one topic remains extremely taboo: the systemic rape of Algerian women by French soldiers during the conflict
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20220429-rape-as-a-weapon-of-war-france-s-shameful-legacy-in-algeria-- A man born after his mother was gang-raped by French soldiers during the Algerian war was recognised as a war victim yesterday, in the first ruling of its kind...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/algeria/1363256/1959-Algeria-rape-baby-awarded-war-pension.html
It's not that deep though, story about Malone is well-known and it's not like there's a grey area of interpretation over there. He's just too big figure to be cancelled considering he was a vital part of the history of modern NBA in its golden era, that's why there's a widespread silence about someone who indeed should be under scrutiny to much bigger extent than he's ever been. Whether it is PR or not - Wemby is one of the few players that are in position to criticize the league, and regardless of his intentions - it's good that he's vocal about that.
And him not being Mother Teresa or being a potential hypocrite is also irrelevant, as much as European imperialism should be criticized, as you rightfully point out (I have no idea what are Wemby's thoughts on French colonialism though). He literally just reposted a reaction to activity of his employer.
Mostly agreed, and I know it is well-known within seasoned NBA fans. Especially in realgm where average age is 35+. I bet we can talk about early 2000s, for example about Jamal Tinsley, Flip Murray, or Wally Sczerbiak but I am just not sure whether half of 20 yo players or fans know a thing or two about Malone, let alone his rape case, even though he was a vital part of the history of modern NBA in its golden era as you said.
Malone last played in 2004, the year which Wemby was born, and by no means he's a popular/fancy basketball figure like Kobe, Shaq, Barkley for 20 yo s since he spent all his career in one the most irrevelant locations in the league. In 2010s & 20s, people talked about John Stockton, arguably the best PG has ever played, only when he came to visit his son's game, "oh look who's in the attendance", while recent wife-beaters like Jason Kidd is still well-appreciated for basketball skills and getting jobs, because hey let's ignore the off-court personal stuff. Same for Bridges. Kobe has a statue in the Staples Center.
I know Malone's case is something else but still - when 20 yo player from France bashes NBA for not cancelling out a rapist (rightfully, but imho inorganically), it is hard for me to ignore the hypocrisy and ignorance, or whatever you called it. Over years, NBA itself and some of their stars has provided enormous levels of hypocrisy, so I am not sure we need a new one.
