I think their plan right now is to put pressure on the owners who have the clout to force these cities to clean up their police departments and give more funding to inner cities schools and such. You know, a fight for true equality using the owners clout. Won’t happen unless they all get on the same page. I expect a year long boycott or more if the owners sit on their thumbs here and fight the players on this.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
I think their plan right now is to put pressure on the owners who have the clout to force these cities to clean up their police departments and give more funding to inner cities schools and such. You know, a fight for true equality using the owners clout. Won’t happen unless they all get on the same page. I expect a year long boycott or more if the owners sit on their thumbs here and fight the players on this.
The owners won't fight against the players though. If they do, the league will fold. I'm hoping corporate America will also back this movement too, just like they backed the change of the Redskins name. Meaning, get people in a room, put some financial pressure (not rioting pressure) to start real change now and then get back to playing basketball.
Nothing will change unless people talk. Get NBA players, owners, community leaders, corporate sponsors, politicians, district attorneys and police leaders to start working towards reform. Changes don't have to be made by midnight tonight, but the process should start.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
Let's look at the reasons why people have been upset about protests in the past.
Violence and criminal activity associated with it. They will use the fact that a hundred or two hundred out of thousands at a protest become violent and commit criminal activity as a reason to label the thousands who don't as "all being the same". It's been somewhat effective at undermining the message in most cases to those who buy into such false claims. Yes, those committing such criminal acts should be prosecuted for their crimes. Yet trying to label them all as criminals when it's a fraction of them doing so is misleading and fabricated propaganda to undermine any attempt for change.
Kneeling during the anthem was twisted into attacking the anthem, the flag and being anti-American. Anyone who even tried to listen to the message knew that had nothing to do with it. But it's yet another excuse that was used to undermine and ignore the message.
Now, another protest is being waged by NBA players and some in other professional sports. There is no violence in how they are protesting. There is nothing that can be twisted in regards to patriotic symbols.
Still, the very same people who complained about every other type of protest are complaining about this one. People try and say it's political to dismiss it. Let me ask you this, if it's political, which party supports police brutality? Let me give you a hint. NEITHER ONE OF THEM DO!
This is about justice. Something everyone "claims" they are for.
Maybe those of you that make excuses to undermine every form of protest that those fighting injustice decide to engage in should make sure that actors, sports figures and anyone with an actual voice to try and invoke change get your permission and guidance on when, where and how to protest next time around. It sounds like that's what some of you expect.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
To me, they're trying. It's not perfect, but they're trying to use their voice the only way then know how. We see corporations, celebrities, sports leagues, friends and family members talking about change or posting images on social media, but 50-90% of that is just lip service. These guys stuck their necks out to force real change.
Again, this ain't perfect, but they're trying. And I'm happy something is happening.
I may be the most naive person on this board, but I have hope.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
Darn, there goes ImPerfect's scenario of the players starting their very own league. LOL
Kyrie was the one that first talked about the new league, but since he's also the guy that thinks the world is flat, I don't think much of anyone took it as a legit idea.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
LOL. I almost forgot about the earth is flat thing.
I was just busting Wobbler's chops. I said that I thought they would be back at least two times this morning. It's obvious that the owners have the power. It's much easier to find some new players [because many of the current players would never jump ship] than it would be to form a new league started by the players.
I really think you’re underestimating the professional sports player. They hold a lot of the cards. And if the owners don’t support their cause by putting pressure on their local politicians for change. I’m thinking this could still be a very long boycott. No more “shut up and dribble.”
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
I’m thinking this could still be a very long boycott.
You are always right on top of things. I'll give you that. LOL
He's right.
Many people are going to boycott the NBA for at least the rest of this year.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
"The summit demonstrated the power that black athletes possessed when unified against a specific cause. Beach, now 84, has seen the evolution of athletic protest in the 50 years since the summit."
Good read from 2017. Click the link.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
I don't think it will last long. I support anyone protesting police brutality within the confines of the law. I'll support the players efforts either way. But once the dust settles I think they'll come to the conclusion that over the long haul, playing will accomplish more than not playing.
I'll lay out my reasoning......
Why do they have the voice they have? Because they are star athletes and have been given an elevated status because of that. The longer they stay away from the game the less elevated their power becomes.
Exposure. Sure they are garnering tons of media attention in the immediate aftermath of stopping games. In the short term that has great impact. But how long will that last? If they are not at the auditoriums, now long will the media be searching them out for their comments? With the 24 hour news cycle we all live in, how long will it be until the "outta sight outta mind" process take over?
See, what playing the game does is quite beneficial. By consistently showcasing their talent it keeps their status elevated. They are televised so they can showcase their peaceful protest in the national spotlight every time they go on the court. The press is actually coming to them in post game press conferences where they can make their statements and grievances known.
Far be it from me to try and influence how anyone decides to protest their cause. But it seems to that after everything is considered, in the long haul using the platform that basketball has created for them to speak out, using that as a vehicle will bring about more attention to their cause and help further it. In the short term stopping play works. But I think it would be a faulty strategy for the long haul.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
LeBron would be marching with a megaphone in front of a crowd, and all the media channels will broadcast every word. Saying you've seen enough of Lebron to never see him again, ain't going to make him not famous all of a sudden.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
LeBron would be marching with a megaphone in front of a crowd, and all the media channels will broadcast every word. Saying you've seen enough of Lebron to never see him again, ain't going to make him not famous all of a sudden.
I'm not trying to make him not famous. I'm just speaking for me. I'm over him.
All good questions. I know it doesn’t affect me at all. I watch strictly for the game itself (strategy, gameplay, etc) ... all the other stuff is pointless.
Maybe it affects others more
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
I tried but I couldn't stay away. My kids were driving me crazy and I was bored out of mind. Been watching all day.
My conviction matched that of the boycott itself.
They did get the owners to give up quite a bit and caused quite a ruckus. I don’t know if the boycott (it was really a strike more than a boycott) was a success but it definitely moved the needle a bit.
I have 5 friends I’ve discussed it with that love it like U do ... 4 Of them no longer watch ... 1 could care less ... small sample of 4 old white dudes and a black dude but a sample none the less ...
I haven’t watched the nba for 40 years for a different reason ....
One thing I found interesting while reading this ... this Luka dude and one other u spoke of are among if not the best in the league ... and U and rish both said they don’t play a lick of D ...
This means game 7 correct? That series seems to be the most back and forth
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
Well, I decided to boycott the NBA playoffs. I love hoops and might change my mind, but I'm sick of their crap. I wonder how others feel?
If you want to stay away, then fine. And I'm not saying that in any accusatory way. It's your decision and I don't blame you. I've stayed away from most of the politics and the main stream media's way of covering Covid for weeks now. It's all so toxic and depressing, I'd rather listen to music. Heck, I haven't watched a single pitch of MLB in the past three years because the Indians just plain broke me (Two freaking game 7 extra inning losses in the WS?!?!?). Heck, I honestly found out today that the Indians are in first place because the sports site I use had "First place Indians trade Clevenger". I don't follow them anymore. It's NBA, NFL, college football and F1 racing. That's enough to keep me busy (or distracted).
If you want to quit the NBA (or just this seasons playoffs), then it's your boycott and I'm not going to judge you, just like I'm not judging the players of the NBA for boycotting in an attempt to make some level of change.
I don't remember if you were one of the people refusing to watch the NFL after the Kaepernick kneeling and/or when some of the Browns did it as well. I know there were a ton of people on this site blasting the players and saying they'd never watch the league again, but you know how that turned out. I'd guess 99% of anyone watching pre-Kaepernick is still watching today.
It's a distraction, it's still live sports and I'm able to find a bit of that old "normalcy comfort" on the couch with my eyes half on the TV and half on my family. Plus, you're missing out on a freaking game 7 tomorrow night against Murray and Mitchell. Those two have been unreal.
I respect your decision. I'm watching this over the news.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
I’m surprised the Bucks are down 0-2. The Heat have played well
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
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