He has to answer because he is physically in China, making money off of that system.

These aren't complex policy questions they are being asked. If they don't want to give an answer on tariffs, fine, trade is a complex question for most people.

Simple questions about basic freedoms don't require any real depth of political knowledge to answer. These are basic questions any person can and should be able to answer.

Heck, a lot of the wear these guys are being paid to promote is being made by political prisoners so these questions have become fair game.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

It's pretty obvious he's has a axe to grind, being a hockey fan and all.

He's wrong. My first post on this topic was criticizing the NBA and they were wrong with how they initially handled their response. Criticizing guys like Steph and LeBron is missing the point.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I would like the NHL to not send players in 2022 and would hope the Global Series doesn't return to China if you want my opinion there.

I'm sure the NHL might actually speak out against China, although with ulterior motives there. The owners don't like sending players to Olympic games so what better way to get out of 2022 while not creating labor strife just before the CBA expires

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Pretty much this.

These guys speak out about issues that they are familiar with. I wouldn't expect them to speak out about shit happening in Turkey. However guys like Harden who apologize to China should get criticized.

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I'm gonna wait til he's out of the country before criticizing him. I like my organs too

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

_________________

They speak out on just about any issue under the sun and receive constant praise for it. When asked about the most basic of inalienable human rights, they are silent. This isn't being asked about abortion, trade, impeachable offenses, etc. These are basic questions that were unanimously answered by this country's founders nearly 250 years ago. We're talking about concepts that may have been revolutionary in the 18th century but should be a given in the 21st.

As they are making money off of China (and not just from the games played there) these are all relevant questions.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

If that's his reason for being silent, I'll understand. Let's see if he speaks a different tune when on US soil. I'd excuse his lack of answering the question right now, but for some reason I think this is more a matter of $$$ than personal safety

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Why would they risk every American living and working in China’s safety?

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They aren't risking anyone's safety by speaking out. They're only risking their endorsement deals.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

The worrisome part is neither of us no for sure.

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I don't think it's fair to expect any foreigner in China to say anything negative about China.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

well James Harden was in Japan when he apologized to China. Heck, he would've been given a parade in Tokyo had he condemned them. Sino-Japanese hostility is still very prevalent

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

There it is. You're just mad that they are speaking out about social issues at all, you're not mad that they ARENT speaking out against China's issues.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

No one would care, including China, and that's really at the core of your very passionate stance.

It's not difficult for Kerr, Curry, or anyone else who says they don't have an opinion because they don't know what's going on in China to Google "China Human Rights Violations." This is one of the first results: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/c ... -and-tibet

It's easy to tell everyone how socially conscious you are and to make sure everyone knows you're "for this" or "against that" when you know you won't be personally inconvenienced and there is little chance of negative consequences. When one of your business partners is guilty of massive human rights violations and you feign ignorance and suddenly have no opinion because it may have a negative impact on the wallets of you and your employer, don't expect people to continue to take you seriously as a person or a league legitimately concerned about social justice.

I will say that a good followup question in the next few days would be to ask why they haven't looked into the issue with China given how it is the dominant news story in the NBA at this time.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I'm mad they're not speaking out about the right to speak out , as MANY of these guys have taken advantage of that right to build their own cult followings. Now we see what its all about---->themselves.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Agreed, especially to Kerr who seemed to openly invite this type of follow up question.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

FF, you can search my post history here. I've never condemned any of the players in these leagues for speaking out or for kneeling. In fact, I supported such rights.

Now I have criticized Kaepernick for his idiotic pro-Castro/Cuba stance, but not for kneeling. In fact, I endorsed it in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=75&t=108602&p=2805170&hilit=kneeling#p2805170

FF, you should cut out the shit here and admit that these are basic questions anyone should answer. I'd be fine with NBA players who aren't in the China games ignoring the question, but that isn't the case with the ones I have referenced. They are in China and they each have endorsements that are heavily linked to China as well.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

I agree that they should not be apologizing.

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He won't answer the question. Can't risk a loss in Chinese revenue lowering the cap.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Add Google to the list

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Pop's not in China and you called him a coward even though he said he was happy that Adam Silver stood up for free expression. He certainly didn't capitulate to China.

I'd love for Steph and LeBron to speak out against China too, I just don't consider them cowards for not doing so. Not everyone is built like guys like Muhammad Ali.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

A great way to unite this country would be a bi-partisan effort to give a big F.U. to China. Not by taxing US citizens buying Chinese crap, but by something with real BITE!

_________________
Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

I do think an NBA player will speak out in the coming months, and I think it will be really interesting to see what happens afterwards. Maybe Kanter does it. He's got some balls.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Funny, these guys want to pretend they are Muhammad Ali and pretend they are taking big stances when they repeat an opinion that is held by the majority of the country, especially when it costs them nothing but earns them heaps of praise. They are suddenly silent when asked to make the most basic of stands in support of free speech because it might cost them some dough. You're smart enough to see what is going on. They want the accolades for being activists by taking easy positions yet suddenly play dumb when there is actually a price to pay for taking a position.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Ted Cruz and AOC signed a letter together asking the NBA to suspend operations in China. It's already happening. Can you find 2 people on Capitol Hill who are further apart politically?

This is truly a unifying issue for most.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

If Kanter were in China, I bet he would've already said something. I give him all the praise in the world for what he has said about Erdogan.

BTW, he doesn't have a shoe deal. Why? Because Nike needs to sell shoes in Turkey. He took a position and is proudly paying the price. God bless than man.

He deserves all of the praise that is given to fake activists like Steph and LeBron.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson