NBA apologizes after China threatens pulling sponsorship $$

[Beauner]

If arguably the most extreme congressman/woman within their respective parties can find common ground over how bad the NBA has ****ed up, I don't even know what there is to debate about anymore

I thought the same thing. That's.... uhhh.... wow.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Nike all about expressing your freedom of speech and your rights until now.

Did anyone think that Nike, which runs its entire business on the back of human rights violations in Asia, was actually going to stand up against the Chinese government?

 

[Voight]

Did anyone think that Nike, which runs its entire business on the back of human rights violations in Asia, was actually going to stand up against the Chinese government?

No, but they had no issues making money telling people to believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. They forgot to mention "except when it involves money and when we are going to contradict ourselves"

Just funny one of the worst companies w_r_t human rights actively promoted a campaign about sacrificing something for your beliefs. What about the 12 year old kid who believes in getting paid a decent wage in their factories?

 

[tarheelhockey]

No, but they had no issues making money telling people to believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. The irony is there.

Oh, I see the irony for sure. It’s just that it was always there. Nike is a company that runs on borderline child slavery.

 

[David Dennison]

The NBA is doing this to themselves. They had a chance to let this start to fade away and decided to instead kick out fans who had a "Free Hong Kong" sign. While other companies are actively facing the same issues, this isn't about them. This is about a league that took a path, then abandoned said path when $$$ came into play, and are now silencing those protesting the very same human rights violations that the NBA once claimed to care about.

As far as I know, Blizzard never encouraged its employees to be as vocal about social issues. Therefore, while their actions are egregious, they aren't hypocritical like the actions by the NBA.



If arguably the most extreme congressman/woman within their respective parties can find common ground over how bad the NBA has ****ed up, I don't even know what there is to debate about anymore

NBA is certainly in the wrong and they are gonna pay the price over here and/or over there, but spare me the crocodile tears over hypocrisy. It was bad timing for the China exhibition games and poor PR prep, bur don't act like every other corporation who has been doing business with China for decades has put their head in the sand on this stuff.

Or looking at it from my angle, do you really want to be on the side of AOC and Cruz?

 

[sansabri]

Exactly. When you have a commissioner who encourages his people to speak out, coaches that criticize everything the current president does and players that seem to have an opinion on every little thing all of a sudden forget how to speak.... then its a little too much.

Curry acting like he's never heard of China or what goes on there. Kerr acting like he would never say anything bad without doing the research at first.

Ah yes, let's expect Black athletes to be enlightened on China now. Solidarity with Hong Kongese who want Mainland Chinese out!

 

[Centrum Hockey]

The NBA is doing this to themselves. They had a chance to let this start to fade away and decided to instead kick out fans who had a "Free Hong Kong" sign. While other companies are actively facing the same issues, this isn't about them. This is about a league that took a path, then abandoned said path when $$$ came into play, and are now silencing those protesting the very same human rights violations that the NBA once claimed to care about.

As far as I know, Blizzard never encouraged its employees to be as vocal about social issues. Therefore, while their actions are egregious, they aren't hypocritical like the actions by the NBA.



If arguably the most extreme congressman/woman within their respective parties can find common ground over how bad the NBA has ****ed up, I don't even know what there is to debate about anymore

Would a lack of revenue from china push the NBA to expand to 32 or look at team relocation. It was rumored that the NFL wanted back in the LA market when multiple controversies started to effect the league's public perception and they where afraid of the effect on their bottom line.

 

[David Dennison]

No, but they had no issues making money telling people to believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. They forgot to mention "except when it involves money and when we are going to contradict ourselves"

Just funny one of the worst companies w_r_t human rights actively promoted a campaign about sacrificing something for your beliefs. What about the 12 year old kid who believes in getting paid a decent wage in their factories?

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Game was played in Japan, but facts don't matter anymore.

It was official of Rockets (An employee of NBA team) who shut down questioning while at a press conference alongside NBA league officials

So by extension NBA/Rockets shut down journalist asking valid and reasonable question in a form of censorship

The same censorship that the league has gleefully told everyone they do not believe in while taking shots at NFL in recent years

Yet another bad look for NBA and picking a CNN reporter to do this to certainly makes it worse

And throwing fans out of NBA stadiums and taking signs when they tolerated previous political signs , etc thru various moments in recent years is yet another bad look for them

Also the apology did not address the reporters question

 

[Voight]

NBA is basically doing the CCP's bidding at this point.

Don't want our people talking about Hong Kong? No problem!

Don't want fans to support the movement/protest in Hong Kong? Also not a problem!

Those pesky journalists asking questions about Hong Kong/comments being made? We'll prevent that too!

 

[Voight]

I thought the same thing. That's.... uhhh.... wow.

I legitimately had to look twice and check if other reporters had Tweeted the statement JUST to make sure it wasn't a fake

 

[TeddyBare]

Does Klay Thompson still get his endorsement money from Anta?

 

[Voight]

Does Klay Thompson still get his endorsement money from Anta?

Yes, unless they cancel their deal with him. Thats not out of the realm of possibility if the CCP goes scorched earth with the NBA and demands all deals dropped.

Chinese companies cancelled their marketing deals & such with the NBA/its teams, player deals are still active but if the Chinese leadership wants to, they will force companies like Anta to drop their endorsers.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Does Klay Thompson still get his endorsement money from Anta?

SO does Gordon Hayward

 

[LadyStanley]

There are no winners in NBA-China dustup


Preseason game today. China prohibited any media interaction with players, coaches.


Geez

 

[HisIceness]

Goodell, Manfred, and Bettman must be loving this self destruction the NBA and Silver is self-inflicting.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Also the apology did not address the reporters question

From this point forward, expect the NBA to give non-answers whatever extent they possibly can. They’ll just wait for this to get out of the news cycle.

 

[Voight]

Goodell, Manfred, and Bettman must be loving this self destruction the NBA and Silver is self-inflicting.

Silver let the proverbial wolf into the hen house when he encouraged players and others to speak out about issues.

 

[LadyStanley]

China-NBA Stand Off

NBR last night.


Listening to NPR this morning. Unless you have a ticket, you won't be able to see the game in China. All activities surrounding games cancelled.


(Trump meeting with China negotiator re trade war. Don't know that that will have any impact on this tiff.)

 

[Dr Pepper]

Lol, NBA just bending right over for China, meanwhile their top stars - usually the most outspoken on non-sports issues out of any other pro athlete - have gone radio silent.

Don't want to interrupt that merchandise cash flow, eh? Can't rock the boat anymore!

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

 

[LadyStanley]

NBA cancels all media availability in China ahead of Lakers-Nets finale
The NBA will close its China trip with silence.


Yahoo Sports version.


Have to think this whole exercise has turned into a debacle for the NBA.

The story is becoming the lack of story (media access).

Players will be inundated upon exit from China.

Media writers hard pressed for any story except lack of access

 

[Filthy Dangles]

It was official of Rockets (An employee of NBA team) who shut down questioning while at a press conference alongside NBA league officials

So by extension NBA/Rockets shut down journalist asking valid and reasonable question in a form of censorship

The same censorship that the league has gleefully told everyone they do not believe in while taking shots at NFL in recent years

Yet another bad look for NBA and picking a CNN reporter to do this to certainly makes it worse

And throwing fans out of NBA stadiums and taking signs when they tolerated previous political signs , etc thru various moments in recent years is yet another bad look for them

Also the apology did not address the reporters question

Cringy overreaction comparing it to China's censorship. It was probably a PR person for the team protecting Hareden and Westbrook from saying something that could get them into hot water. That's literally their job, they shut down all types of questions from reporters.

Why on Earth should a player say a damn thing about this debacle with how much of a clusterf*** it's turned into, they're only gonna cause pain for themselves getting wrapped into this mess.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Also, how much can China really impact the NBA financially? And vice versa, China has to be making a shit ton off of them, no?

 

[Pure West]

Why on Earth should a player say a damn thing about this debacle with how much of a cluster**** it's turned into, they're only gonna cause pain for themselves getting wrapped into this mess.

Not to mention while they are within China's borders, any one of them could be arbitrarily detained for any reason. Even if they are dying to speak out on these issues, which I doubt they really want to, they will do it when they and the rest of the NBA players are back in North America.

]Also, how much can China really impact the NBA financially? And vice versa, China has to be making a **** ton off of them, no?

They can impact the NBA financially A LOT. So far, the Chinese government is batting 1.000 on their threats to any companies that dare challenge them, no one has had the guts to call their bluff and risk losing access to a major market. It will be interesting to see if this escalates and the NBA calls the PRC out on their threats, but I highly doubt it. Too much money on the line, and I doubt enough of the owners or players care enough to about human rights in China to make stand.