NBA games postponed today p14 Players decide to resume Playoffs

[ImSlower]

Red, ten years in Queens here, we'd probably throw one back and chill, but the point of their boycott is to make guys like you, that think this is all a waste of time, to possibly re-think that opinion. Granted you and your views may be inexorable, but the players clearly feel very strongly about their opinion, if this boycott persists. The jerseys were a perfunctory response that no one on either side really cared about. But, hey, if they quit the season? Even this bubble thing - which I've enjoyed but don't consider any actual championship - is worth hundreds of millions of bucks. If the players quit, Silver and the suits will be under worldwide pressure to acknowledge the strike, and it might resonate far more than the jersey names and BLM branding.

Anyway, I think there *is* a point to this boycott, and you should accept that, even if you continue to disagree. Besides, it's not that big of a season in the long run anyway. The Bulls are still 2 years away from being the next major dynasty in the sport. We got this.

[FecesOfDeath]

Red, ten years in Queens here, we'd probably throw one back and chill, but the point of their boycott is to make guys like you, that think this is all a waste of time, to possibly re-think that opinion. Granted you and your views may be inexorable, but the players clearly feel very strongly about their opinion, if this boycott persists. The jerseys were a perfunctory response that no one on either side really cared about. But, hey, if they quit the season? Even this bubble thing - which I've enjoyed but don't consider any actual championship - is worth hundreds of millions of bucks. If the players quit, Silver and the suits will be under worldwide pressure to acknowledge the strike, and it might resonate far more than the jersey names and BLM branding.

Anyway, I think there *is* a point to this boycott, and you should accept that, even if you continue to disagree. Besides, it's not that big of a season in the long run anyway. The Bulls are still 2 years away from being the next major dynasty in the sport. We got this.

If they're willing to sacrifice those hundreds of million dollars in the name of black lives, then they should be willing to sacrifice those billions of dollars from China in the name of free speech in Hong Kong, sovereignty for Taiwan and Tibet, freedom of religion for the Uyghers and Christians, and freedom from bullying in those NBA-sanctioned basketball camps.

[HomoSapien]

Red, ten years in Queens here, we'd probably throw one back and chill, but the point of their boycott is to make guys like you, that think this is all a waste of time, to possibly re-think that opinion. Granted you and your views may be inexorable, but the players clearly feel very strongly about their opinion, if this boycott persists. The jerseys were a perfunctory response that no one on either side really cared about. But, hey, if they quit the season? Even this bubble thing - which I've enjoyed but don't consider any actual championship - is worth hundreds of millions of bucks. If the players quit, Silver and the suits will be under worldwide pressure to acknowledge the strike, and it might resonate far more than the jersey names and BLM branding.

Anyway, I think there *is* a point to this boycott, and you should accept that, even if you continue to disagree. Besides, it's not that big of a season in the long run anyway. The Bulls are still 2 years away from being the next major dynasty in the sport. We got this.

If they're willing to sacrifice those hundreds of million dollars in the name of black lives, then they should be willing to sacrifice those billions of dollars from China in the name of free speech in Hong Kong, sovereignty for Taiwan and Tibet, freedom of religion for the Uyghers and Christians, and freedom from bullying in those NBA-sanctioned basketball camps.

While it would be great to bring more attention to the Uyghur Muslim camps, this is not a realistic or fair expectation. Obviously these players are reacting this way because police brutality and systematic racism is plaguing this country and affecting specifically the majority of the league's players on a personal level. It's unfair and unrealistic to expect every single person to stand up for every single cause, especially one that is 7,000 miles away. Bringing up other issues is just an attempt at muddying the waters and lessening this specific issue.

[MrFortune3]

I am curious to see the outcome of this. It was a powerful message sent by the players to have boycotted the games.

As for the question of why the players are demanding the owners do more and why they think the owners can. The owners have the ear of some of the most powerful politicians and law makers in the country.

[wonderboy2]

No one is disputing that there are terrible cops out there.

You said earlier that people get caught up in statistics, but stats matter.

There are a million police interactions across the county. There are bound to be some bad interactions that get used to build narratives that are wildly out of step with the numbers.

I haven’t heard many reforms that would fix the problem of policing.

Demonizing the police while cutting funding and ridiculing anyone who joins the force isn’t going to attract more talent to the profession.

I’d like to see drug legalization, which would instantly cut down a significant portion of police interactions.

Non-violent drug offenders rotting in prison should come home.

Resources could then be diverted to better training, prevention, violent crimes, etc...

My problem is the narrative that it’s “open season” on black people and therefore society must be uprooted.

But here’s where the problem comes in. In the inner city it’s been open season on blacks for along time. And there are reason for it. One is because of the lack of consequences there are for police brutality. That’s why you see slot of the black players feel so strongly about it because if you grew up in poor neighborhoods or have family or friends that live in those neighborhoods they know that police can literally get away with murder. A lot of times in black communities the police might rough up a black kid and nonthing is done because that family don’t have the power, money or recourses to fight back and get help from lawyers or so forth. Believe it or not a lot of people who live in inner city communities are afraid as hell of the police. Because for the longest time they could beat you up if they wanted, they could pepper spray you if they wanted and you could not do a damn thing about it. Cameras has actually been crooked cops worst nightmare. I get the sence that majority of this board is from different countries or never had to work or live in the inner city, so it would be hard for people to understand. But just know life is different for people in certain neighborhoods in regards to the police. People think that the videos that they see of the police beating up or shooting a minority only happens once in a while. It’s a daily thing in some communities.

This is an oversimplification.

The police aren’t the biggest threat in these communities, which is why you can go into community meetings and see people begging for more police.

A recent Gallup poll showed that 81% of black people want the same level of policing or more.

Again, that doesn’t excuse bad cops, but anecdotes are being used to create grand narratives.

As for cameras, I like more transparency and accountability, which is why it’s a head-scratcher that the ACLU is trying to get rid of bodycams.

And as I mentioned before, the reforms being bandied about don’t really address anything you talked about.

You are right but they want better policing. This is going to be my last post on this matter because I’ve lived and worked in these communities and it’s hard to explain stuff to people who never lived in these environments so it’s really no point. But i know a family that saw someone getting jumped by another group of guys. They decided to call the police. When the police arrived to the scene they leaked which family told on them. That family had to move out that neighborhood because they were going to have trouble from that point on. So how can the community get better if you can’t trust the police to do what they are supposed to do. It’s not all on the police for some of those neighborhoods being bad. But the lack of trust in the police in the black community is a big reason why cases go unsolved and suspects are still on the street because of lack of trust in the police department. But this is my last post on this matter as I’m sure it’s hard for some people on here to empathize when they never been in certain environments. I’ve been fortunate to see the difference in how things are in certain communities and how some people are treated different by the police in certain communities.

[wonderboy2]

Now if it was a car full of White women do you think the police would’ve acted that way?

Women, probably not. Men, very possible.

There are sh*tty cops out there. You can find countless incidents of white guys getting shot by the cops in eerily similar circumstances to the high-profile cases that get publicized.

See this is again where I disagree with you. I’ve seen plenty of white dudes talk so much **** to cops and they they do absolutely nonthing. I’ve seen black and Mexican guys get **** up by police for doing doing way less.

[R3AL1TY]

To each his own. I understand the boycott, but to me this is another symbolic gesture that won't solve anything. I've never seen people not showing up to work cause laws or even people to change for issues not related to their jobs. To me, putting pressure on local mayors to improve policies for the police would get things done. In addition, citizens need to act accordingly with cops to avoid making situations go far left so often.

[dougthonus]

Cops abuse power because they have power. Enough do it that its systemic.

Systemic problems are like bacterial growth. You only need a significant minority first. Say 10 to 15 percent. Not a majority...but significant enough that without an antibiotic the entire system will seize up.

That's how systemic issues in policing are.

It may be semantic, but I think its important.

There is a big difference between saying there is systemic abuse of power within the police, and we need to resolve that issue and forming and believing that all cops are bad or making statements that include all cops.

If we use your hypothetical number of 10-15 percent, then you have just treated unfairly 85-90% of the police, and your reasons for doing so are just different formats of the same reasons discrimination exists in other areas. You have allowed the negative actions by a few to taint and form your opinion on the all.

I agree systemic abuse of power exists, is important, and should be fixed.

[dougthonus]

I have no idea but I just cant see it holding up if Lebron and Kawhi actually leave. That's the two most popular teams in the Bubble. If it did, the rest will probably drop out as well.

I agree this is true. No one would believe the championship is valid if the two top teams drop out.

[Mirotek]

I blame all of this on social media..how it puts every thing under a microscope and how it makes everyone think that they have a "voice".

[dougthonus]

If they're willing to sacrifice those hundreds of million dollars in the name of black lives, then they should be willing to sacrifice those billions of dollars from China in the name of free speech in Hong Kong, sovereignty for Taiwan and Tibet, freedom of religion for the Uyghers and Christians, and freedom from bullying in those NBA-sanctioned basketball camps.

I'm not sure why it is complicated to understand why black people whom have been personally been abused by police would care strongly and deeply about how black people are treated in this country and not care at all about what is going on in China.

Saying you care about one thing so you have to care about everything is a fallacy and applying this argument ultimately means no one can care about anything, because no one can care about all things.

[dougthonus]

I've never seen people not showing up to work cause laws or even people to change for issues not related to their jobs.

You have seen people not showing up for work create change though. People very rarely take that level of personal risk if they aren't trying to benefit themselves, but we have all seen work stoppages impact society.

To me, putting pressure on local mayors to improve policies for the police would get things done.

These boycotts have done exactly this.

[MalagaBulls]

Read on Twitter

NFLPA to follow suit?

Enviado desde mi SM-A520F mediante Tapatalk

[dougthonus]

I blame all of this on social media..how it puts every little thing under a microscope and how it makes everyone think that they have a "voice".

Shooting someone in the back seven times or kneeling on someone's throat until they die or doing a no-knock raid and straight up murdering some innocent people aren't typically things I would describe as "every little thing". These are events that should cause outrage with everyone.

[wonderboy2]

I blame all of this on social media..how it puts every little thing under a microscope and how it makes everyone think that they have a "voice".

Well honestly this is the one instance when social media is good. It sheds light on what is going on. If it wasnt for social media and all of these cameras everywhere now there would still be police getting away with beating up and shooting minorities whenever they want. Planting stuff on minorities whenever they want. Again not all police are like that but it happens more than you think in the African American community. It’s just been accepted as a way of life In the African American community until now. And honestly those guys do and should have a voice. And here’s another problem taking a human life is not alittle thing. That life can be someones father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife or so forth. That’s why the players are taking a stand because to some people it’s a small thing because they have the pleasure of not having to deal with these problems. But to the average young minority living in these areas, the fear of being killed or harassed by the police is real.

[Mirotek]

I blame all of this on social media..how it puts every little thing under a microscope and how it makes everyone think that they have a "voice".

Shooting someone in the back seven times or kneeling on someone's throat until they die or doing a no-knock raid and straight up murdering some innocent people aren't typically things I would describe as "every little thing". These are events that should cause outrage with everyone.

These are things that could happen to you, and if you don't feel they could happen to you, then that shows how imbalanced and racist we are.

Lol okay. I'll edit that and make it "every thing" and take out the little for you.

[dougthonus]

Well honestly this is the one instance when social media is good. It sheds light on what is going on. If it wasnt for social media and all of these cameras everywhere now there would still be police getting away with beating up and shooting minorities whenever they want.

I was watching Jalen and Jacoby the other day, and I forget which story was in the news at that time (it wasn't this one), but Jalen Rose said the biggest impact on the black community and biggest bringer of change was the cell phone. Prior to the cell phone, police could just write whatever they want in reports and that was officially what happened. Now people just start taping any police interaction and the truth will then be out there. Seeing these tapes allows people who didn't understand the magnitude or believed these reports or thought it was exaggerated because it didn't match their experience to feel horrified by the reality.

[dougthonus]

Lol okay. I'll edit that and make it "every thing" and take out the little for you.

But it isn't "every thing" people are outraged by.

It is people being shot and killed that people are outraged by. Those are proper things to be outraged by.

[musiqsoulchild]

Red, ten years in Queens here, we'd probably throw one back and chill, but the point of their boycott is to make guys like you, that think this is all a waste of time, to possibly re-think that opinion. Granted you and your views may be inexorable, but the players clearly feel very strongly about their opinion, if this boycott persists. The jerseys were a perfunctory response that no one on either side really cared about. But, hey, if they quit the season? Even this bubble thing - which I've enjoyed but don't consider any actual championship - is worth hundreds of millions of bucks. If the players quit, Silver and the suits will be under worldwide pressure to acknowledge the strike, and it might resonate far more than the jersey names and BLM branding.

Anyway, I think there *is* a point to this boycott, and you should accept that, even if you continue to disagree. Besides, it's not that big of a season in the long run anyway. The Bulls are still 2 years away from being the next major dynasty in the sport. We got this.

If they're willing to sacrifice those hundreds of million dollars in the name of black lives, then they should be willing to sacrifice those billions of dollars from China in the name of free speech in Hong Kong, sovereignty for Taiwan and Tibet, freedom of religion for the Uyghers and Christians, and freedom from bullying in those NBA-sanctioned basketball camps.

Why?

What's the connection between the Black experience in USA and Han occupation of Uyghers and Tibet?

This is the right battle. The one that black people have been facing in this country for 400 years.

You cant help someone else without first taking care of yourself.

[the ultimates]

In reading this thread and others like it people keep bringing the same tired excuses for decades upon decades of police brutality committed upon black people. "Not every cop is bad", this is true but if the good cops don't hold the bad ones accountable are they still good cops? Strangely enough, it reminds of a scene from Batman Begins. Jim Gordon sees his partner shakedown the falafel guy for money. His partner gets back in the car and offers him a cut. Gordon says no, his partner tells him the other guys are a little leery of him because he doesn't take the "taste". Gordon says he's not taking the money but he's no rat. So he won't commit a crime himself but won't stop his fellow brethren from doing so. Is Gordon still a good cop?

Some have said it's the war on drugs and welfare. Ending the needless war on marijuana and better economic opportunities in the black community certainly would not hurt. That ignores the fact that police brutality has happened for decades well before the crack epidemic. Well before high black unemployment rates. How many stories do we have to hear about black professionals being pulled over by police under dubious circumstances? How many stories do we have to hear about dodgy interactions with police when a black person is in an affluent neighborhood?

Then people will say it's a systemic issue. Ok, its system-wide culture, responsibility, and accountability issue. Can we defund the police and allocate some of that money to social service and welfare programs? No. Alright, can we police unions be on the hook monetarily like cities are? No. The response usually when money is involved is to give them more money for training. You aren't going to train bigotry and racism out of someone. Just think about that for a minute you give someone authorization but you have to train the racists and big tendencies out of them. Those two don't mix. If unions think they need better candidates and training ask for it, fight for it. FIGHT JUST AS HARD FOR THAT AS YOU WOULD AGAINST DEFUNDING.

Too many stories from the years, decades, and generations of black people being abused at the hands of police. It doesn't matter their income level, education, how they speak. It doesn't matter if they are in a poor neighborhood or a rich one.

This is what people who don't like the protest don't understand. NBA players are willing to give up tons of money so that they themselves or someone who looks like them might have their chances lessened of running into one of these "bad apples".