Ric Bucher: Beard Harden Wants Out Because Tilman Fertitta's Support For Donald Trump

[jpengland]

I'd be more glad if NBA owner's had a choice who they supported politically and weren't intimidated into having to believe one thing or another. It's dumb. Ballmer donated more than all 29 other owners COMBINED by A LOT to the Democratic party and BLM it was recently reported. I don't think that's necessarily a good or bad thing. It's his right completely. I just don't like people being targeted for political views. If players are going to start demanding trades because an NBA owner supports a candidate, the slippery slope is going to spiral.

But doesn't this happen the world over? I know I certainly work for my employer to a certain degree based on their community support and philosophic beliefs.

I'm not saying I'd be demanding trades, but if I'm a Free Agent, I'm placing a certain weight on the culture and philosophy of the club. It wouldn't boil down to is person x or y a republican or a democrat, but would be part of a larger picture.

I think this isn't particularly similar man. Culture and philosophy of a team is NOT the same as someone sharing all of our political views, or even being part of the same political party. We aren't talking about a Republican going for a Democrat activist job here. We are talking about an NBA owner where your job is basically to write checks and support the team in operations. It would be like you interviewing for a job and not taking the job because you find out the owner of the company is a Republican. It's dumb and childish.

If they run an openly Republican culture that you hate, that's one thing but in a league of 90% black players, that isn't happening or we'd hear about it a lot more. Donald Sterling was a unique situation, and he's banned.

Id suggest it's the same ballpark when the owner is taking the money I am earning him on the court and pumping it directly into a party whose leader is supporting the Proud Boys etc etc etc etc.

[Dupp]

A bunch of owners probably support trump right?


Regardless Trump is a racist and a bigot so can’t blame players for not liking him.

[Buckeye-NBAFan]

This is why I'm glad that Jeanie Buss is a lifelong Democrat who donated the max to Biden and Hillary

I do think it low-key played a role in LeBron wanting to come here. At the very least he definitely wasn't coming here to play for her Trump supporting brother

I'd be more glad if NBA owner's had a choice who they supported politically and weren't intimidated into having to believe one thing or another. It's dumb. Ballmer donated more than all 29 other owners COMBINED by A LOT to the Democratic party and BLM it was recently reported. I don't think that's necessarily a good or bad thing. It's his right completely. I just don't like people being targeted for political views. If players are going to start demanding trades because an NBA owner supports a candidate, the slippery slope is going to spiral.

It's not a slippery slope to not want to play for an owner who supports an openly racist politician actively attempting to subvert American Democracy.

I don't see anyone complaining if their owner donates to Mitt Romney.

[Ckay]

[OkcSinceSGA]

This is coming from Ric Bucher who knows almost nothing, but IF true.. Harden is a bigger **** than I even imagined. This recent trend of just cutting people off in life because of who they support politically is pathetic. What ever happened to just respecting that people may have different cultures, beliefs and political views than you? Not like Fertitta is running into the locker room chanting "Build the wall!" or anything FFS.

And what if Tilman is doing something like that? What if he is making dog whistle racist statements like Trump does? This isn't normal politics. The President has made it a point to possibly single out black athletes depending on your view. If Tilman is taking the same approach to black athletes that Trump has it is 100% fair for Harden to not want to be a part of that.

Yet this hasn't come up until now? He's been supporting Trump 4 years. As for athletes, every athlete Trump has gone after has started it. Curry+LeBron have been targeting Trump since the day he took office for example. Same with people like Kerr, Pop, Doc. Trump is hyper reactive and has the maturity of a 5 year old. If you bash him, he's obviously going to retaliate. It has nothing to do with him singling out black athletes lol.

[Pelon chingon]

More than 70M people voted for trump just sayin.

[Pointgod]

Everything Trump touches dies. Democracy and the Rockets were just the start.

[Optms]

This is why I'm glad that Jeanie Buss is a lifelong Democrat who donated the max to Biden and Hillary

I do think it low-key played a role in LeBron wanting to come here. At the very least he definitely wasn't coming here to play for her Trump supporting brother

I'd be more glad if NBA owner's had a choice who they supported politically and weren't intimidated into having to believe one thing or another. It's dumb. Ballmer donated more than all 29 other owners COMBINED by A LOT to the Democratic party and BLM it was recently reported. I don't think that's necessarily a good or bad thing. It's his right completely. I just don't like people being targeted for political views. If players are going to start demanding trades because an NBA owner supports a candidate, the slippery slope is going to spiral.

It's not a slippery slope to not want to play for an owner who supports an openly racist politician actively attempting to subvert American Democracy.

Biden or Trump? The same can apply to both.

[Ckay]

Watch on YouTube

[OkcSinceSGA]

This is why I'm glad that Jeanie Buss is a lifelong Democrat who donated the max to Biden and Hillary

I do think it low-key played a role in LeBron wanting to come here. At the very least he definitely wasn't coming here to play for her Trump supporting brother

I'd be more glad if NBA owner's had a choice who they supported politically and weren't intimidated into having to believe one thing or another. It's dumb. Ballmer donated more than all 29 other owners COMBINED by A LOT to the Democratic party and BLM it was recently reported. I don't think that's necessarily a good or bad thing. It's his right completely. I just don't like people being targeted for political views. If players are going to start demanding trades because an NBA owner supports a candidate, the slippery slope is going to spiral.

It's not a slippery slope to not want to play for an owner who supports an openly racist politician actively attempting to subvert American Democracy.

I don't see anyone complaining if their owner donates to Mitt Romney.

It sounds like an excuse for me. It's never stopped NBA players from taking millions prior. Sounds more like Harden needs a scapegoat for quitting on a franchise and not having the balls to take responsibility.

[celtics543]

Understandable but disappointing that when Morey stuck up for Hong Kong none of the players said anything to support him. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere right?

[WHITE_HOT_HEAT]

Usually I back Harden because of all the undue criticism .. but if this is true deserves all the **** people are going to throw at him. I'm going to pile on in-fact. America is truly r*******. No hope whatsoever. All we the international community can do is watch it burn.

OTOH... It's Ric Bucher... A total POS reporter if I've seen one.. so.....

[TheHardenChoke]

I can guarantee if it was the other way round and he was leaving due to the owner liking Biden, you'd all be crying.

Absolutely guarantee it

[WestbrookGOATed]

racism is not politics

Exactly, hopefully no one brings up Joe Biden.

[Dupp]

More than 70M people voted for trump just sayin.

What a wild country.

[Jordan Syndrome]

It seems like not too long ago it was actually possible to disagree with others over things like Politics, and still remain civil or even friendly. Now it just seems like there is so much hate (on both sides) that you can't even say what side you support without making enemies for life.

It gets easier to talk about things like politics when both sides can agree that extremes are bad. When you have someone of great power not condemning racism or white supremacy it opens a can of worms of what is or isn't tolerated in a society. A society needs to tread carefully on what they deem as extreme because currently in the United States you have abolishing student debt and taxing the rich as an "extreme left ideal" (Which isn't extreme compared to many First world countries but it is in the United States) and on the other side you have talks of starting a civil war over presidential election (Which, if we looked at a democracy of any other First world country and the country not accepting the results we would fairly state that country has major underlying issues if the losing party doesn't fairly accept the results).

This is the same country with leadership which managed to turn a world wide pandemic into a political charade. The country has systematic issues which have yet to be resolved since slavery and those close minded, hateful thoughts and feelings have been let out of the cage in the past 4 years. The people in this country have a choice if they wish to educate themselves and others on issues at the root of the systems or stand pat and stay the course our country was steered in over the past 4 years.

[Dupp]

racism is not politics

Exactly, hopefully no one brings up Joe Biden.

Why’s Biden racist? Genuinely asking.

[Buckeye-NBAFan]

This is coming from Ric Bucher who knows almost nothing, but IF true.. Harden is a bigger **** than I even imagined. This recent trend of just cutting people off in life because of who they support politically is pathetic. What ever happened to just respecting that people may have different cultures, beliefs and political views than you? Not like Fertitta is running into the locker room chanting "Build the wall!" or anything FFS.

And what if Tilman is doing something like that? What if he is making dog whistle racist statements like Trump does? This isn't normal politics. The President has made it a point to possibly single out black athletes depending on your view. If Tilman is taking the same approach to black athletes that Trump has it is 100% fair for Harden to not want to be a part of that.

Yet this hasn't come up until now? He's been supporting Trump 4 years. As for athletes, every athlete Trump has gone after has started it. Curry+LeBron have been targeting Trump since the day he took office for example. Same with people like Kerr, Pop, Doc. Trump is hyper reactive and has the maturity of a 5 year old. If you bash him, he's obviously going to retaliate. It has nothing to do with him singling out black athletes lol.

It's quite ridiculous how American citizens' criticism of politicians and a politician's ad hominem responses are seen as equivalent

People in a Democracy should be able to criticize the policies and language used by the government without government officials calling them dumb

[Da ThRONe]

This seems like one of those things where everything is going to hell and instead of looking like a quiter you find some weak reason to blame your true feelings on. I would imagine most of these owners supported Trump with the very least a donation check.

The Rockets under-achieved and now the franchise is up the creek without a paddle. James just want off the ship and this is his way of legitimizing that decision.

[Ramed Nazored]

Good. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for generating a single penny of revenue for the supporter of a would-be autocrat.

Just earned so much more respect for Harden.