Wembanyama apparently not happy with the NBA wishing Karl Malone a Happy Bday

[The Master]

I'm not sure who blackballing him now would serve.

Sometimes in life it's just a matter of decency. We all know why NBA pretends that Malone didn't do anything wrong: yeah, it would be a bummer if the general public finds out that one of the most important faces of the crown in the jewel of the NBA (late 90s basketball) was a pedo. So what?

[NyKnicks1714]

Kind of big. I think he's the first big-name NBA player, active or retired, to actually express the obvious sentiment towards Malone. Everyone else pretends it didn't happen.

[Nate505]

Why wasn’t this talked about at all in the late 90s? Only time I ever heard about this was on realgm. Are we saying morals were different? I find that hard to believe. Someone was covering this up

My guess is most people didn't know about it then. I didn't, and I was back on the rec.sport.basketball.pro usenet forums when the Jazz were playing the Bulls in the Finals. It wasn't brought up then, and people hated Malone back then because he was a massively dirty player so I'm sure they would have any chance they could get.

Why wasn't it brought up? Probably because there were no legal consequences to his actions, or even an attempt at one. Gloria Bell's family didn't want to see him jailed, probably because they all lived in a small town which can create a number of issues (whether it unjustly creates a number of issues is beside the point):

They knew him since birth so it's possible they didn't want to see his career/life ruined, they could have feared being shunned/retribution of their small town neighbors if they got the guy who led their HS to three straight state titles imprisoned, and they might have thought the DA in Clairborne Parish wouldn't have done much to prosecute the case.

The reason Gloria Bell stated publicly that they didn't press charges was they figured he couldn't pay child support from prison, which made his later decision to fight against the $200 a month payment, uh, just really, really, really bad. Take away the morality of it, if he would have paid his child support and showed a ton of remorse, he would still be shunned today but it would be less than it is now.

[zimpy27]

It's a complex issue.

By today's standards Malone would've been kicked from the league but it happened over 40 years ago. There are likely many players they know that did similar thing around the early 80s. People hate when you try place things in the context of the time that they occurred. The really complex part though is that Karl and his son have a reportedly close relationship now. There was never any push to press charges at any point by the victim or their family. Bringing this up probably does more harm than good to the innocent people involved.

On the flip side,.social media is never going to forget this and from the PR perspective I wonder why the NBA just hasn't cut ties completely. It'd probably be better for everyone if they just don't mention him like this.

I'll be fairly forethcoming here.

I'm definitely not willing to put what Malone did in the "hey, it wasn't as big a deal at the time" category.

In a world full of morally complex issues, I don't think this is one of them.

I think I highlight the complex part being the positive relationship he has with his son and that family produced from the statutory rape.

I didn't say it wasn't a big deal at the time but it was certainly not the big deal it is today. I'm not even sure if it used to be prosecuted in the early 80s. But really I was saying it was more common then and probably a large proportion of athletes have been guilty of statutory rape.

Well why do you think the NBA let him play still? Why does he still get honours?

[bovice]

happy birthday, karl!

[madskillz8]

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

Do you think the French government tweets happy birthday to those soldiers involved in the grapes and celebrates them?

If this irrelevant analogy is all you can get from my post which actually underlines Wemby's hypocricy that made me suspect it is PR-team stuff, I don't know what to say. Wemby, by his own words, is a "proud" French who is vocal about canceling out famous rapists like Karl Malone, even though his country is famous for the biggest systematic rape case of the 20th century. Then, it is clear for me that either he's hyprocrite or ignorant.

Or as a third alternative, he might have a very active PR-team who wants us to believe he's the most intellectual 20 yo in the US, who randomly caught playing chess in some random park in New York with some random guys, randomly caught in Shaolin temple while becoming a monk, and then to put Malone, the rapist, in his place, within just few months.

That reminds me another PR-maniac yet very intellectual (!) ball player (even though he cant get past the first five pages of any book over 20 years)

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

[Black Jack]

It's a complex issue.

By today's standards Malone would've been kicked from the league but it happened over 40 years ago. There are likely many players they know that did similar thing around the early 80s. People hate when you try place things in the context of the time that they occurred. The really complex part though is that Karl and his son have a reportedly close relationship now. There was never any push to press charges at any point by the victim or their family. Bringing this up probably does more harm than good to the innocent people involved.

On the flip side,.social media is never going to forget this and from the PR perspective I wonder why the NBA just hasn't cut ties completely. It'd probably be better for everyone if they just don't mention him like this.

Was it normal in the 80s for adults to sleep with 12 years olds? Honestly seems like a stretch.

I don't know about 12 but 20 something dudes swinging by the local high school to pickup babes was so common it was in comedy movies

we used to bitch about it as youngsters

[zimpy27]

It's a complex issue.

By today's standards Malone would've been kicked from the league but it happened over 40 years ago. There are likely many players they know that did similar thing around the early 80s. People hate when you try place things in the context of the time that they occurred. The really complex part though is that Karl and his son have a reportedly close relationship now. There was never any push to press charges at any point by the victim or their family. Bringing this up probably does more harm than good to the innocent people involved.

On the flip side,.social media is never going to forget this and from the PR perspective I wonder why the NBA just hasn't cut ties completely. It'd probably be better for everyone if they just don't mention him like this.

Was it normal in the 80s for adults to sleep with 12 years olds? Honestly seems like a stretch.

I don't know about 12 but 20 something dudes swinging by the local high school to pickup babes was so common it was in comedy movies

we used to bitch about it as youngsters

Yeah I don't know how common it is. I just know a lot of cases of young mums with older partners. At the very least, statutory rape (under 16 and over 18) seems to be pretty common from that era. Even growing up in high school I recall many girls my age dating 18+ guys.

Society has changed a lot with what is deemed acceptable. We have a better understanding of when people are developed enough to properly understand consent. Tbh, 16 is probably too young still.

[Optms]

It's a complex issue.

By today's standards Malone would've been kicked from the league but it happened over 40 years ago. There are likely many players they know that did similar thing around the early 80s. People hate when you try place things in the context of the time that they occurred. The really complex part though is that Karl and his son have a reportedly close relationship now. There was never any push to press charges at any point by the victim or their family. Bringing this up probably does more harm than good to the innocent people involved.

On the flip side,.social media is never going to forget this and from the PR perspective I wonder why the NBA just hasn't cut ties completely. It'd probably be better for everyone if they just don't mention him like this.

I'll be fairly forethcoming here.

I'm definitely not willing to put what Malone did in the "hey, it wasn't as big a deal at the time" category.

In a world full of morally complex issues, I don't think this is one of them.

Yep, this is not back in the old days gray area and boys will be boys moment that was fine then but morally grandized now as not OK.


AT ANY POINT has it been ok to be a litteral pedophile that impregnates a 12 year old as an adult. And not one time occurance, but had ACTIVE sexual relationship with a 12 year old as an adult.


This is not a 16-17 that is excused as looks older they are that has a 18 old boyfriend or whatever.

It was a litteral pre teen 12 year old child.

I wasn't alive during this time but prove that it wasn't.

Here in exhibit A you have a fully grown man hooking up with a 13 year old and he serves no jail time? Yeah, that 100% does not happen post 2000. Again. Prove to me hooking up with 13 year olds was a big deal pre 1990 as it is today. Based on media I have consumed that predates 1990, society was a completely different place with vastly different social norms. Not even talking about pedophilia either.

Malone getting off leads me to also believe there was vastly more grown men hooking up with children during the time. I'm sure this type of thing was frowned upon heavily during those days with possible charges. Doing the same today means concrete charges and jail time. That's a big difference imo.

[KGtabake]

If Malone, his son and the son's mother are on good terms and they're having a relationship they want to keep away from the lights of publicity everyone else should stfu.
What matters is what his son and his mother feel.
Really tired with the social media crusades. Everybody became judges.

[Black Jack]

Was it normal in the 80s for adults to sleep with 12 years olds? Honestly seems like a stretch.

I don't know about 12 but 20 something dudes swinging by the local high school to pickup babes was so common it was in comedy movies

we used to bitch about it as youngsters

Yeah I don't know how common it is. I just know a lot of cases of young mums with older partners. At the very least, statutory rape (under 16 and over 18) seems to be pretty common from that era. Even growing up in high school I recall many girls my age dating 18+ guys.

Society has changed a lot with what is deemed acceptable. We have a better understanding of when people are developed enough to properly understand consent. Tbh, 16 is probably too young still.

Maybe go incognito mode to verify but there are several US states where the legal age of consent is 16 IIRC...or even younger

[Ruma85]

If Malone, his son and the son's mother are on good terms and they're having a relationship they want to keep away from the lights of publicity everyone else should stfu.
What matters is what his son and his mother feel.
Really tired with the social media crusades. Everybody became judges.

Very well said.

[Black Jack]

I'll be fairly forethcoming here.

I'm definitely not willing to put what Malone did in the "hey, it wasn't as big a deal at the time" category.

In a world full of morally complex issues, I don't think this is one of them.

Yep, this is not back in the old days gray area and boys will be boys moment that was fine then but morally grandized now as not OK.


AT ANY POINT has it been ok to be a litteral pedophile that impregnates a 12 year old as an adult. And not one time occurance, but had ACTIVE sexual relationship with a 12 year old as an adult.


This is not a 16-17 that is excused as looks older they are that has a 18 old boyfriend or whatever.

It was a litteral pre teen 12 year old child.

I wasn't alive during this time but prove that it wasn't.

Here in exhibit A you have a fully grown man hooking up with a 13 year old and he serves no jail time? Yeah, that 100% does not happen post 2000. Again. Prove to me hooking up with 13 year olds was a big deal pre 1990 as it is today. Based on media I have consumed that predates 1990, society was a completely different place with vastly different social norms. Not even talking about pedophilia either.

Malone getting off leads me to also believe there was vastly more grown men hooking up with children during the time. I'm sure this type of thing was frowned upon heavily during those days with possible charges. Doing the same today means concrete charges and jail time. That's a big difference imo.

It was a problem for the black community, lookup shotgun marriages. Basically I can speak for us, back in the day if a dude knocked up a young chick her family would force him to marry her and take care of her and the kid....or else.

If you go back to before the 1900s though I think marriage age of 14 was pretty common.

TO BE CLEAR I am not trying to justify it and 18 seems right to me, unless we're talking a 19/20 yr old and a 17 yr old or something. If a grown adult is hooking up with anyone under 18 I am fine with that being a crime!

[zimpy27]

Yep, this is not back in the old days gray area and boys will be boys moment that was fine then but morally grandized now as not OK.


AT ANY POINT has it been ok to be a litteral pedophile that impregnates a 12 year old as an adult. And not one time occurance, but had ACTIVE sexual relationship with a 12 year old as an adult.


This is not a 16-17 that is excused as looks older they are that has a 18 old boyfriend or whatever.

It was a litteral pre teen 12 year old child.

I wasn't alive during this time but prove that it wasn't.

Here in exhibit A you have a fully grown man hooking up with a 13 year old and he serves no jail time? Yeah, that 100% does not happen post 2000. Again. Prove to me hooking up with 13 year olds was a big deal pre 1990 as it is today. Based on media I have consumed that predates 1990, society was a completely different place with vastly different social norms. Not even talking about pedophilia either.

Malone getting off leads me to also believe there was vastly more grown men hooking up with children during the time. I'm sure this type of thing was frowned upon heavily during those days with possible charges. Doing the same today means concrete charges and jail time. That's a big difference imo.

It was a problem for the black community, lookup shotgun marriages. Basically I can speak for us, back in the day if a dude knocked up a young chick her family would force him to marry her and take care of her and the kid....or else.

If you go back to before the 1900s though I think marriage age of 14 was pretty common.

TO BE CLEAR I am not trying to justify it and 18 seems right to me, unless we're talking a 19/20 yr old and a 17 yr old or something. If a grown adult is hooking up with anyone under 18 I am fine with that being a crime!

You don't have to justify yourself at end IMO. I think we know it's not acceptable by today's standards and would likely be a crime that gets jail time.

But I agree that prior to 90s it was acceptable in some areas and not in others. Seems like we have different experiences based on people reactions here.

[Lalouie]

I'm curious what does Wemby gain from this?

why does something have to be GAINED. that implies motive. so therefore do you think there is motive behind wemby's act?

[Ruma85]

I'm curious what does Wemby gain from this?

why does something have to be GAINED. that implies motive. so therefore do you think there is motive behind wemby's act?

No I don't think so, I mean why waste his time with this.

[NZB2323]

It's a complex issue.

By today's standards Malone would've been kicked from the league but it happened over 40 years ago. There are likely many players they know that did similar thing around the early 80s. People hate when you try place things in the context of the time that they occurred. The really complex part though is that Karl and his son have a reportedly close relationship now. There was never any push to press charges at any point by the victim or their family. Bringing this up probably does more harm than good to the innocent people involved.

On the flip side,.social media is never going to forget this and from the PR perspective I wonder why the NBA just hasn't cut ties completely. It'd probably be better for everyone if they just don't mention him like this.

I'll be fairly forethcoming here.

I'm definitely not willing to put what Malone did in the "hey, it wasn't as big a deal at the time" category.

In a world full of morally complex issues, I don't think this is one of them.

Yep, this is not back in the old days gray area and boys will be boys moment that was fine then but morally grandized now as not OK.


AT ANY POINT has it been ok to be a litteral pedophile that impregnates a 12 year old as an adult. And not one time occurance, but had ACTIVE sexual relationship with a 12 year old as an adult.


This is not a 16-17 that is excused as looks older they are that has a 18 old boyfriend or whatever.



It was a litteral pre teen 12 year old child.

I’m not saying it’s okay, but that’s been the practice for most of human history.

[D.Brasco]

I'll be fairly forethcoming here.

I'm definitely not willing to put what Malone did in the "hey, it wasn't as big a deal at the time" category.

In a world full of morally complex issues, I don't think this is one of them.

Yep, this is not back in the old days gray area and boys will be boys moment that was fine then but morally grandized now as not OK.


AT ANY POINT has it been ok to be a litteral pedophile that impregnates a 12 year old as an adult. And not one time occurance, but had ACTIVE sexual relationship with a 12 year old as an adult.


This is not a 16-17 that is excused as looks older they are that has a 18 old boyfriend or whatever.



It was a litteral pre teen 12 year old child.

I’m not saying it’s okay, but that’s been the practice for most of human history.

A lot of people on the internet exaggerate how common it was for 12 year old girls in the past to get pregnant. I doubt it was nearly as common as some people insinuate.

If anything girls today tend to experience puberty somewhat earlier than in past years due to the hormones in foods now.

Either way, I think it's been established by numerous posts in this thread, that it was not normal or acceptable to engage in intercourse with young girls in the 1980s, when it happened.

[flranger]

I'm curious what does Wemby gain from this?

When he dies, on his deathbed, he will receive total consciousness. So he got that goin’ for him, which is nice

One of my favorite lines ever, it really should be used more often. Bravo...

[Lalouie]

I'm curious what does Wemby gain from this?

why does something have to be GAINED. that implies motive. so therefore do you think there is motive behind wemby's act?

No I don't think so, I mean why waste his time with this.

he's offended by the nba's direction?

i think you are asking the wrong question.
the right question is why is the nba doing this in the first place

its simpler to not even bring malone's birthday up. why did they even do this in tje first place