Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supported the Hong Kong protesters.
If you're a freedom-loving American, you should boycott the NBA.
There's simply no reason to support the NBA after its pathetic decision to side with China's oppressive totalitarian regime over pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
For those who missed it, this all started when Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets, exercised his free speech rights when he sent out a tweet supporting the Hong Kong protesters.
China reacted as oppressive regimes do, and the Chinese Basketball Association responded by cutting ties to the Rockets, one of the most popular teams in the Communist country because Chinese superstar Yao Ming played for the team.
The response was infuriating.
The owner of the Rockets, Tilman Fertitta, distanced himself from the remarks, assuring China that Morey "does not speak for the Houston Rockets."
The NBA released a statement in English recognizing Morey's statement has "deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable."
There's simply no reason to support the NBA after its pathetic decision to side with China's oppressive totalitarian regime over pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
For those who missed it, this all started when Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets, exercised his free speech rights when he sent out a tweet supporting the Hong Kong protesters.
China reacted as oppressive regimes do, and the Chinese Basketball Association responded by cutting ties to the Rockets, one of the most popular teams in the Communist country because Chinese superstar Yao Ming played for the team.
The response was infuriating.
The owner of the Rockets, Tilman Fertitta, distanced himself from the remarks, assuring China that Morey "does not speak for the Houston Rockets."
The NBA released a statement in English recognizing Morey's statement has "deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable."
What's worse, the league released a Chinese language statement saying the NBA was “extremely disappointed in the inappropriate comment.”
Morey, meanwhile, had to be humiliated in a series of apologetic tweets equivalent to a Maoist struggle session, in which he said he did not mean to offend, and that he "was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives."
The incredible part of all of this is that it isn't as if Morey went on an extended rant attacking China, he tweeted out, "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong."
To the NBA, suddenly "Fight for Freedom" is an "inappropriate comment" that warrants an apology.
Of course, what this is really about is that China is a big part of the NBA's international growth strategy, and so the league's executives are reticent to let a single tweet endanger its much larger business interests.
It also is not as if the NBA has a blanket policy of not allowing players and personnel to comment on any political matters.
In fact, the NBA has prided itself of having an open policy on political activism.
Morey, meanwhile, had to be humiliated in a series of apologetic tweets equivalent to a Maoist struggle session, in which he said he did not mean to offend, and that he "was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives."
The incredible part of all of this is that it isn't as if Morey went on an extended rant attacking China, he tweeted out, "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong."
To the NBA, suddenly "Fight for Freedom" is an "inappropriate comment" that warrants an apology.
Of course, what this is really about is that China is a big part of the NBA's international growth strategy, and so the league's executives are reticent to let a single tweet endanger its much larger business interests.
It also is not as if the NBA has a blanket policy of not allowing players and personnel to comment on any political matters.
In fact, the NBA has prided itself of having an open policy on political activism.
Commissioner Adam Silver has said he sees his job as protecting players' free speech.
When President Trump said he wouldn't invite the 2018 NBA champion to the White House, Silver boasted of the long tradition of activism in the NBA.
"I'm proud of the fact that in this league our players, our coaches, our owners, feel comfortable expressing their political points of view," he said.
Of course, it's easy for the NBA to be all sanctimonious about speech when it means a star player calling an unpopular American president a "bum."
Of course, it's easy for the NBA to be all sanctimonious about speech when it means a star player calling an unpopular American president a "bum."
But when it comes to a general manager having the temerity to tweet "Fight for Freedom," suddenly Silver cowers and a U.S. sports league has to impose totalitarian China's censorship rules on one of its executives.
Since, clearly the NBA only values money, above all else, if you care about freedom and are incensed by this decision, then there is only one way to send a message to them — by denying them any of yours.
Since, clearly the NBA only values money, above all else, if you care about freedom and are incensed by this decision, then there is only one way to send a message to them — by denying them any of yours.
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