In a letter sent Tuesday to Silver, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) expressed “concern” over the NBA’s dealings with a country governed by a Communist regime that has abused human rights, squashed pro-democracy protests and hidden details on the coronavirus outbreak. Sports Illustrated obtained a copy of the two-page letter.

Blackburn is giving Silver a July 21 deadline to respond to three questions she poses at the letter’s end regarding China Central Television’s ban on NBA games, the league’s relationship with Chinese state-owned enterprise Alibaba and the league’s training center in the controversial region of Xinjiang. The relationship between China and the United States is at a “pivotal moment,” she writes, and it could eventually lead to a new Cold War.

For singling out the NBA in the same way MANY of the Anti NBA guys on here are want to do regarding their relationship with China.
https://www.si.com/nba/2020/07/01/senat ... lationship

Nothing she said was false.

For singling out the NBA in the same way MANY of the Anti NBA guys on here are want to do regarding their relationship with China.
https://www.si.com/nba/2020/07/01/senat ... lationship

Why does the NBA need to clarify its relationship with China when other entities in this country do not?

The NBA holds itself to a higher standard.

The NBA is putting political groups and catch phrases on courts and jerseys. They are politicizing their sport. Even the UK is waking up as the labour party and broadcasters are pointing out the radical ideas of BLM.

No it doesn't. They criticize certain aspects of American society. That's about it. It rankles the "America the Perfect" crowd and now certain people are coming after them. I have watched the NBA my entire life and have never gotten the impression that they were any more moral or immoral than any other sports league.
They have been a tad more inclusive than other leagues but that doesn't mean they are any more moral.

How about this? We shouldn't take social commentary seriously by influential NBA players while they openly court Chinese dollars. Is that fair?

How about this? We shouldn't take social commentary seriously by influential NBA players while they openly court Chinese dollars. Is that fair?

LeBron is willing to go after Drew Brees and his poorly thought out comments but he isn't willing to call out the NBA for banning kneeling or China for anything and getting mad at another NBA person for saying something that cost him business meetings.

Donald Trump takes money from the Chinese Govt and did so well before he ran for President. Do you think that ever precluded guys such as JLN or Leotardo from voting for him? Do you think that they ever demanded that he divest from China?

As far as the players go they don't have an obligation to speak out against Chinese oppression just because they wear a black lives matter T Shirt.

It makes them hypocrites.

That's not the worst thing in the world to be, and it's understandable why they care more about people who look like they do, but the criticism is valid.

It makes them hypocrites.

That's not the worst thing in the world to be, and it's understandable why they care more about people who look like they do, but the criticism is valid.

They haven't denied that oppression exists in China. They simply haven't spoken out about it

Lebron didn't say Daryl Morey wasn't informed when Morey spoke up in support of Hong Kong protesters?

Lebron is one guy and who knows what he meant by "not informed"

He isn't the official spokesman of the NBA.

He has been the face of the NBA both domestically and internationally for a decade.

His words are seen as the words of both the NBA and the NBAPA.

:lol:

If we can't admit that Lebron James is the face of the NBA then there's no point in continuing our discussion.

So if you work for a company who has a relationship with someone who is "bad" and you doubt stand up and protest it, you don't have the right to speak out about any else? That's a strange take. When will anyone get the chance to sleep? There are always atrocities in the world that they'll need to speak out about.

Donald Trump takes money from the Chinese Govt and did so well before he ran for President. Do you think that ever precluded guys such as JLN or Leotardo from voting for him? Do you think that they ever demanded that he divest from China?

As far as the players go they don't have an obligation to speak out against Chinese oppression just because they wear a black lives matter T Shirt.

They criticize certain aspects of American society.

How about this? We shouldn't take social commentary seriously by influential NBA players while they openly court Chinese dollars. Is that fair?

LeBron is willing to go after Drew Brees and his poorly thought out comments but he isn't willing to call out the NBA for banning kneeling or China for anything and getting mad at another NBA person for saying something that cost him business meetings.

You answered your own question. They can criticize whoever they want and cozy up to whoever they want. But don't get butthurt when the hypocrisy is pointed out. It's easy to criticize the U.S. when you know there will be no repercussions. God bless America. Happy Independence Day!

You answered your own question. They can criticize whoever they want and cozy up to whoever they want. But don't get butthurt when the hypocrisy is pointed out. It's easy to criticize the U.S. when you know there will be no repercussions. God bless America. Happy Independence Day!