Around the League 2019-20 - part IX

[OmNomNom]

Do you see how much attention what the NBA did yesterday got? They are using their platform and using it peacefully.

Not sure how anyone could be perturbed by that. There are certain things in the world that are way more important than sports.

i don't think @Swiss Prodigy means anything by it, it's more of projecting forward

like i wonder -- god forbid it happens, but if 5 cops get killed execution style or something, is that protest/game cancel worthy? or does it water down the cancellations caused by violence against BIPOCs? or what happens if one sports league decides to cancel their seasons until _________ is fixed. does everyone else follow suit?

it's good they're cancelling today, especially at the behest of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, but it's just interesting to project what-ifs

 

[NJDevs26]

I mean this is all pretty unprecedented 'now' so it's hard to get into hypotheticals at this point. Especially when we don't know if anything ultimately comes of this - probably not right away but eventually there'll hopefully be enough pressure put on that things will have to change a la the civil rights/anti-war demonstrations in the '60's.

I do think the fact so many people are paying attention to this shows how much symbolism a protest like this can have and proves it matters in some fashion. I also think non-minority fans and players shouldn't talk authoratitively about what athletes should and shouldn't protest since we don't have to live with the fear and profiling they do.

 

[guitarguyvic]

We have so many deep problems and our society is so broken...the fact that we have carried on with mindless entertainment up until recently as if everything is just fine is what is truly disturbing to me.

 

[Darkauron]

We have so many deep problems and our society is so broken...the fact that we have carried on with mindless entertainment up until recently as if everything is just fine is what is truly disturbing to me.

Yeah. More important things than hockey and such in the world.

And taking a break and making an actual stand and change, like they are doing now ex. NBA owners and players, is what is what change our country for the better.

 

[None Shall Pass]

sand really isnt that bad though

It's coarse, and it gets everywhere.

 

[OmNomNom]

i don't think mindless entertainment without constantly being stressed about current events is a bad thing though. granted, there's a lot of people who have to worry about this most hours of the day in their lives, but they, too, i'm sure love getting lost in a game of basketball or hockey without being reminded that the world is a mess

 

[guitarguyvic]

i don't think mindless entertainment without constantly being stressed about current events is a bad thing though. granted, there's a lot of people who have to worry about this most hours of the day in their lives, but they, too, i'm sure love getting lost in a game of basketball or hockey without being reminded that the world is a mess

Eh of it actually changes life for the better I think they take that trade off.

 

[NJDevs26]

i don't think mindless entertainment without constantly being stressed about current events is a bad thing though. granted, there's a lot of people who have to worry about this most hours of the day in their lives, but they, too, i'm sure love getting lost in a game of basketball or hockey without being reminded that the world is a mess

And it should be said that players shouldn't feel compelled to stop doing what THEY want to do for a living and stop earning money entirely, just because there are more important things to worry about. It shouldn't fall entirely on them to be the agents of change. They should have the right to take a stand, but they should also have the right to do what they want to do without being profession-shamed.

 

[Cheddabombs]

I'm curious to know if this will now become the norm going forward? If so, it would have major ramifications for all Sports leagues.

And before someone tells me for the millionth time (with snark, naturally) that there's things more important than Sports, let me just say the following :

1.) I KNOW THAT. Get a grip.

2.) You have to also look beyond what happens next. I pray there won't be any more of these incidents but if there were, will there be more postponements? Or a Cancellation of the Season? Playoffs?

(now can anyone respond *without* snark to this? )

I'm not sure, it's difficult to predict what could happen given this is all such uncharted territory. But I will say, incidents like this aren't going to stop overnight or due to these protests - and that's not the entire point of them - it's what happens after these incidents and what are the ramifications that will be put in place to help prevent them moving forward? Because so far not nearly enough is being done.

i don't think mindless entertainment without constantly being stressed about current events is a bad thing though. granted, there's a lot of people who have to worry about this most hours of the day in their lives, but they, too, i'm sure love getting lost in a game of basketball or hockey without being reminded that the world is a mess

I kind of get that, but at the same maybe it's time to stop being distracted. To me, and I don't think you're saying this at all, but when I hear stuff like "I watch sports to be distracted or get away from politics" it's like people don't want to face the actual issues. Which is why these protests are happening and can be so impactful. It's that that these athletes are fed up with what's happening, much like the general public, and are using their platform. Not through just words but by saying we're going to boycott so everyone can focus on the issues at hand and hopefully start to make a change.

 

[OmNomNom]

I'm not sure, it's difficult to predict what could happen given this is all such uncharted territory. But I will say, incidents like this aren't going to stop overnight or due to these protests - and that's not the entire point of them - it's what happens after these incidents and what are the ramifications that will be put in place to help prevent them moving forward? Because so far not nearly enough is being done.



I kind of get that, but at the same maybe it's time to stop being distracted. To me, and I don't think you're saying this at all, but when I hear stuff like "I watch sports to be distracted or get away from politics" it's like people don't want to face the actual issues. Which is why these protests are happening and can be so impactful. It's that that these athletes are fed up with what's happening, much like the general public, and are using their platform. Not through just words but by saying we're going to boycott so everyone can focus on the issues at hand and hopefully start to make a change.

i feel ya, and actually PK had something good related to all this

we can cancel games all we want, but practical change through laws and our own interactions are where this all needs to lead to - like @NJDevs26 said, maybe it leads to a movement like the 60s. it can start by voting for your own local politicians, governors, senators, and of course the president, but make no mistake, that's not going to stop incidents and racism. so the real question going forward is - how do we change culture over time, and move away from painting generalizations on races/political affiliations/orientations/etc, and start treating people actually like humans?

 

[Pitaya]

We have so many deep problems and our society is so broken...the fact that we have carried on with mindless entertainment up until recently as if everything is just fine is what is truly disturbing to me.

if the players are willing and it can be made safe (which it has been) - sports do a lot more for communities than you know and Im not referencing outreach work... Watching sports is like having a craft or playing video games for a lot of people, the mental escape has tremendous benefits for the human mind.

Sports coming back was very good for society - I personally can name 4-5 people who have had lifted spirits with some sports to watch as opposed to prior once covid started

 

[guitarguyvic]

if the players are willing and it can be made safe (which it has been) - sports do a lot more for communities than you know and Im not referencing outreach work... Watching sports is like having a craft or playing video games for a lot of people, the mental escape has tremendous benefits for the human mind.

Sports coming back was very good for society - I personally can name 4-5 people who have had lifted spirits with some sports to watch as opposed to prior once covid started

Well sometimes sacrifices have to be made in order to make society as a whole better.
In fact I’d say the reason these problems haven’t been fixed is because too many privileged people (and I’m not talking about just the wealthy) haven’t had to sacrifice a single thing or be inconvenienced in any way that would force them to pay attention up until now.

Not having sports to help cope with our stress is just another in a long list of consequences for the powers that be not addressing major societal issues.

 

[OmNomNom]

Well sometimes sacrifices have to be made in order to make society as a whole better.
In fact I’d say the reason these problems haven’t been fixed is because too many privileged people (and I’m not talking about just the wealthy) haven’t had to sacrifice a single thing or be inconvenienced in any way that would force them to pay attention up until now.

Not having sports to help cope with our stress is just another in a long list of consequences for the powers that be not addressing major societal issues.

i doubt capitol hill nor society will change for the better if sports gets cancelled though, we were doing just fine pre-sports, during lockdown. playing devils advocate, but sports doesn't really count as an impactful sacrifice

any of these privileged people who have to be forced to pay attention bc their sports are being removed probably aren't the type to care for change, honestly

 

[glenwo2]

I'm not sure, it's difficult to predict what could happen given this is all such uncharted territory. But I will say, incidents like this aren't going to stop overnight or due to these protests - and that's not the entire point of them - it's what happens after these incidents and what are the ramifications that will be put in place to help prevent them moving forward? Because so far not nearly enough is being done.

Well said.

I pray that the necessary change arises from this but as you pointed out, Rome wasn't built in a day (if I may use the old adage).


May I just add that Zacha is lucky to have a father like you.

 

[glenwo2]

i feel ya, and actually PK had something good related to all this

we can cancel games all we want, but practical change through laws and our own interactions are where this all needs to lead to - like @NJDevs26 said, maybe it leads to a movement like the 60s. it can start by voting for your own local politicians, governors, senators, and of course the president, but make no mistake, that's not going to stop incidents and racism. so the real question going forward is - how do we change culture over time, and move away from painting generalizations on races/political affiliations/orientations/etc, and start treating people actually like humans?

Love the Cap and the message.