China cancels NBA stuff / Silver issues statement (pg1) /Ongoing discussion...

[PD28]

seems like the only way to end this is to fire Morey.

No. How about we let China continue to whine about freedom of speech?

[Mind_Odyssey]

This is nothing but communist propaganda. This is what the poor people in China hear every day.

Get em, anyone who disagrees with the views you got from mainstream US media headlines is a shill spreading commie propaganda. US media reporting on foreign countries is 100% objective and anyone who disagrees is an enemy of freedomocracy.

So much projection and hypocrisy in this thread. Kobe vs Lebron threads from 5 years ago have more critical thought and background research put into them.

Every human being on this planet has a bias. Even the “woke” YouTube sources you probably get your information from.

Every lie contains a little bit of truth in it. The key is finding those little truths to piece together a whole story.

[Hornet Mania]

Donald Sterling was banned from the NBA for a private conversation in his own home.

Ridiculous comparison.

Donald Sterling made statements that were clearly offensive and arguably proved he had a dehumanizing view of about 75% of the NBA's players. The NBA moved quickly in that instance because you simply cannot lose the support of nearly your entire labor force, and nearly all of the most marketable stars. An anti-racist labor strike would have done irreparable damage to the entire league, the NBA would simply not be able to exist without the support of its black players and fans. The Sterling situation, if it had been allowed to fester, could have become an existential threat the NBA's normal operations within the United States and Canada.

Conversely, the NBA can operate as-is at present with or without the CCP's support if that is what the league chose to do. Currently 90% of NBA revenue is coming outside of China. Bowing and scraping to China today is all about future growth tomorrow, not an existential threat to the present. The NBA could still grow without China and the NBA could still easily exist in its present form without China.

And beyond all that there is an importance difference in where this directive is coming from that makes those situation incomparable. The NBA is a private organization that can hire or fire based on its 'values'. Obviously being racist in a league where 75% of the work force is black is naturally at odds with those 'values'. The players, fans and owners spoke out about Sterling as individuals and the league moved to make a change to undo the damage. In this case an authoritarian government is issuing directives to a private organization that its employees either have to surrender their right to freedom of expression and essentially say only what the CCP will allow or that organization will lose its right to exist within China.

Chinese fans spoke out as individuals to what they perceived to be an arrogant white man trying to recolonialize Hong Kong.

Absolute nonsense. The CCP has control over what products and services Chinese citizens are allowed to legally purchase. 'Consumer choice', as flimsy and ineffective as it often is in the west, does not exist in any form within China. The Party decides what you can consume and that decision can change on a whim.

Furthermore the Chinese populace is inundated with propaganda that makes even the considerable PR powers of western governments envious. I don't blame any Chinese citizens for seeing the NBA as the big-bad just because one guy employed by the league gave his opinion as a private citizen, they are not receiving anything resembling a fair and balanced perspective in their news media.

And as for the west trying to 'recolonialize' (sic) Hong Kong......



The west wishes it had the power to set a million protestors loose on the streets of governments it opposes, in reality they have no such influence. The HK protests are obviously organic to anyone who isn't swallowing the CCP propaganda hook line and sinker or those who think the CIA has omnipotent power of persuasion that only tin foil can prevent.

[Shootit]

Oh well. F China.

Amazing how butthurt countires get over silly ****. Happens here, and everywhere else nowadays.

[HeartBreakKid]

Ridiculous comparison.

Donald Sterling made statements that were clearly offensive and arguably proved he had a dehumanizing view of about 75% of the NBA's players. The NBA moved quickly in that instance because you simply cannot lose the support of nearly your entire labor force, and nearly all of the most marketable stars. An anti-racist labor strike would have done irreparable damage to the entire league, the NBA would simply not be able to exist without the support of its black players and fans. The Sterling situation, if it had been allowed to fester, could have become an existential threat the NBA's normal operations within the United States and Canada.

Conversely, the NBA can operate as-is at present with or without the CCP's support if that is what the league chose to do. Currently 90% of NBA revenue is coming outside of China. Bowing and scraping to China today is all about future growth tomorrow, not an existential threat to the present. The NBA could still grow without China and the NBA could still easily exist in its present form without China.

And beyond all that there is an importance difference in where this directive is coming from that makes those situation incomparable. The NBA is a private organization that can hire or fire based on its 'values'. Obviously being racist in a league where 75% of the work force is black is naturally at odds with those 'values'. The players, fans and owners spoke out about Sterling as individuals and the league moved to make a change to undo the damage. In this case an authoritarian government is issuing directives to a private organization that its employees either have to surrender their right to freedom of expression and essentially say only what the CCP will allow or that organization will lose its right to exist within China.

Chinese fans spoke out as individuals to what they perceived to be an arrogant white man trying to recolonialize Hong Kong.

Absolute nonsense. The CCP has control over what products and services Chinese citizens are allowed to legally purchase. 'Consumer choice', as flimsy and ineffective as it often is in the west, does not exist in any form within China. The Party decides what you can consume and that decision can change on a whim.

Furthermore the Chinese populace is inundated with propaganda that makes even the considerable PR powers of western governments envious. I don't blame any Chinese citizens for seeing the NBA as the big-bad just because one guy employed by the league gave his opinion as a private citizen, they are not receiving anything resembling a fair and balanced perspective in their news media.

And as for the west trying to 'recolonialize' (sic) Hong Kong......



The west wishes it had the power to set a million protestors loose on the streets of governments it opposes, in reality they have no such influence. The HK protests are obviously organic to anyone who isn't swallowing the CCP propaganda hook line and sinker or those who think the CIA has omnipotent power of persuasion that only tin foil can prevent.

This - I had no idea that there are Americans that think this is some fake thing manufactured by Donald Trump.

Americans really are clueless about the world - either that or the two party divide is so bad in USA that everyone thinks every global topic is a subject of republican vs democrat.

[Andi Obst]

Wait, is China really censoring Winnie the Pooh because he resembles Xi according to...South Park? That can't be true, right?

[Durant Durant]

seems like the only way to end this is to fire Morey.

No. How about we let China continue to whine about freedom of speech?

what part of different form of ideology do you not get?

[Thundershock88]

I'm pretty much done with the NBA. Sad day when you can't support freedom for the measly citizens. Anyone who speaks against global communism loses their job. **** communism, and **** these global corporations. **** the ruling class.

[HeartBreakKid]

There's a nice comment about this on Jazzfans:

"Imagine USA in a similar situation and imagine how we would react.

Imagine we lost a war that was not a war where we were the ones attacked. They took NYC and kept it as their country. 150 years later its back and a part of the USA but a group of people there are protesting because they dont like certain USA policies and think they are bad (you can pick whatever policy you want depending on your political affiliation). Do you think USA citizens would be happy to have people from other countries that dont really know all the information to be cheering for the protesters? Does that mean the protesters are completely wrong? No, there is just a lot to this".

US Citizens have the freedom of the press, so the answer would be both - some Americans would care, some would not. That isn't similar to China at all.

People are not aware that the control of censorship is several tiers higher in China than any Western country. There is hardly any duality in China compared to the United States.

Anyway, this is a silly question because in USA they would at least consider a referendum. NYC would likely be able to govern itself as well (Hong Kong does not). So to answer the question - yes, some citizens absolutely would be happy. Like - what? That is America's history, it is filled with protest and duality.

The post that is quoted is shallow because it is saying to imagine a similar situation but is failing to point out how drastically different USA and China are in regards to domestic policy.

[NBAFan93]

Watching this Silver press conference - I think he did pretty well w/ an extremely uncomfortable situation and topic. Like wow. So looks like the league is standing by Morey and now China angry at the entire league and not just the Rockets. Think he said they are going to not broadcast Nets Lakers preseason game.

[GrandTheftRondo]

Honestly, I knew something like this would happen in time, just didn't think it would be so abrupt. It's like Morey poked a stick into a hornets nest without realizing the magnitude of the situation and it's implications.

This is what happens when you condone and encourage SJW type behaviour, everybody thinks that they're world changers all of the sudden and that they're opinions are so important. How about stick to what you're good at rather than be Mr. Influencer on controversial topics you have little real knowledge of.

I love that we are now at this idiotic stage where calling out countries that don’t believe in human rights, freedom of speech and engage in all sorts of abhorrent behaviour makes you a “social justice warrior”.

It makes you a decent human being for **** sake.

The Chinese government is abhorrent and deserves to be called out. The exact same as the USSR and Nazi Germany were.


If you’d rather bang on about SJWs and shutting your mouth then what a poor reflection that is on you.

[Jim Naismith]

Ridiculous comparison.

Donald Sterling made statements that were clearly offensive and arguably proved he had a dehumanizing view of about 75% of the NBA's players. The NBA moved quickly in that instance because you simply cannot lose the support of nearly your entire labor force, and nearly all of the most marketable stars. An anti-racist labor strike would have done irreparable damage to the entire league, the NBA would simply not be able to exist without the support of its black players and fans. The Sterling situation, if it had been allowed to fester, could have become an existential threat the NBA's normal operations within the United States and Canada.

Conversely, the NBA can operate as-is at present with or without the CCP's support if that is what the league chose to do. Currently 90% of NBA revenue is coming outside of China. Bowing and scraping to China today is all about future growth tomorrow, not an existential threat to the present. The NBA could still grow without China and the NBA could still easily exist in its present form without China.

And beyond all that there is an importance difference in where this directive is coming from that makes those situation incomparable. The NBA is a private organization that can hire or fire based on its 'values'. Obviously being racist in a league where 75% of the work force is black is naturally at odds with those 'values'. The players, fans and owners spoke out about Sterling as individuals and the league moved to make a change to undo the damage. In this case an authoritarian government is issuing directives to a private organization that its employees either have to surrender their right to freedom of expression and essentially say only what the CCP will allow or that organization will lose its right to exist within China.

Chinese fans spoke out as individuals to what they perceived to be an arrogant white man trying to recolonialize Hong Kong.

Absolute nonsense. The CCP has control over what products and services Chinese citizens are allowed to legally purchase. 'Consumer choice', as flimsy and ineffective as it often is in the west, does not exist in any form within China. The Party decides what you can consume and that decision can change on a whim.

Furthermore the Chinese populace is inundated with propaganda that makes even the considerable PR powers of western governments envious. I don't blame any Chinese citizens for seeing the NBA as the big-bad just because one guy employed by the league gave his opinion as a private citizen, they are not receiving anything resembling a fair and balanced perspective in their news media.

And as for the west trying to 'recolonialize' (sic) Hong Kong......



The west wishes it had the power to set a million protestors loose on the streets of governments it opposes, in reality they have no such influence. The HK protests are obviously organic to anyone who isn't swallowing the CCP propaganda hook line and sinker or those who think the CIA has omnipotent power of persuasion that only tin foil can prevent.

You're saying Chinese opinions can safely be disregarded because they're all brainwashed.

Sounds vaguely racist.

[DaddyCool19]

How would've Stern handled this situation? Bet he even knew where the chinese bodies are burried and would've pimp slapped the chinese

[13th Man]

Lol @ all of this. Hate to say it but I called these shenanigans from the getgo. I agree with Adam Silver's response for the most part except I find this ones sentence a little bit rich.

"It is inevitable that people around the world -- including from America and China -- will have different viewpoints over different issues. It is not the role of the NBA to adjudicate those differences."


You got that right, it is not your duty however the NBA does come off as hypocritical when they get involved with other social justice issues. This is selective activism, why support certain agendas but not others?

How about this novel idea? Keep all the political crap out of the NBA so that you won't come off as being selective, biased or hypocritical??

[TerryTate]

Whatever. NBA shouldn't bow down to China. Constant human rights issues, abusing protestors...

"Constant humans right issues" can be equally said about the US and half of it's "middle eastern" allies.
Globally, there is a lot of focus is in HK right now... but Saudi, UAE, Israel.... cmon. It's not like HK is a glorified ghetto, like the people of Palestine.

[heatwillbeback]

Tsai deserves pushback for his horrible open letter. That was pathetic and should offend all US fans.

Silver was better this morning with statement but the original reaction still stings. Not to mention Fertitta’s garbage and Morey being forced to apologize under duress.

[sikma42]

Its also not like the Isreali lobby is pushing through legislation that violates the First Amendment?! But the media doesnt cover that and its just sweept under the rug. Yup, you get all relevant news by tuning into MSNBC and CNN!!

Whatever. NBA shouldn't bow down to China. Constant human rights issues, abusing protestors...

"Constant humans right issues" can be equally said about the US and half of it's "middle eastern" allies.
Globally, there is a lot of focus is in HK right now... but Saudi, UAE, Israel.... cmon. It's not like HK is a glorified ghetto, like the people of Palestine.

Sent from my SM-N960U using RealGM mobile app

[Duffman100]

Whatever. NBA shouldn't bow down to China. Constant human rights issues, abusing protestors...

"Constant humans right issues" can be equally said about the US and half of it's "middle eastern" allies.
Globally, there is a lot of focus is in HK right now... but Saudi, UAE, Israel.... cmon. It's not like HK is a glorified ghetto, like the people of Palestine.

Every country does have human rights issues. But if you follow politics and the news, China is really really bad for it.

Journalists just... disappear... even from HK. Which is a lot about what this protest is about.

[The-Power]

There's a nice comment about this on Jazzfans:

"Imagine USA in a similar situation and imagine how we would react.

Imagine we lost a war that was not a war where we were the ones attacked. They took NYC and kept it as their country. 150 years later its back and a part of the USA but a group of people there are protesting because they dont like certain USA policies and think they are bad (you can pick whatever policy you want depending on your political affiliation). Do you think USA citizens would be happy to have people from other countries that dont really know all the information to be cheering for the protesters? Does that mean the protesters are completely wrong? No, there is just a lot to this".

Who expects Chinese people to be happy about that? This completely misses the point. If you don't like it as an individual, feel free to condemn it and make your consumer choices accordingly. Nothing wrong with that. But this isn't about individual choices and feelings. Also, to use the word ‘policy’ in this context is quite misleading.

[sikma42]

Isreal "forcing" US politicians to actually violate 1st Amendment rights is pretty horrific for this country.

Whatever. NBA shouldn't bow down to China. Constant human rights issues, abusing protestors...

"Constant humans right issues" can be equally said about the US and half of it's "middle eastern" allies.
Globally, there is a lot of focus is in HK right now... but Saudi, UAE, Israel.... cmon. It's not like HK is a glorified ghetto, like the people of Palestine.

Every country does have human rights issues. But if you follow politics and the news, China is really really bad for it.

Journalists just... disappear... even from HK. Which is a lot about what this protest is about.

Sent from my SM-N960U using RealGM mobile app