birdman:


Bro calm down. Look at it this way: if they never played, there would be no leverage for players to skip games. The fact that they returned to work gives the opportunity to choose the terms of work.

This is a marathon battle. Emotions are not enough, they fade. After you cry, dry your eye and execute strategy. If u say your strategy is to not play at all, cool. What are your next steps?

For me, just staying home is useless. The fact that the players are active has amplified their voice. You cant block out lebrons comments on national tv right sfter a game. Just my thots...

Just to add im not against ending the season. Its up to the players on this one. But it is going to be painful either way

steady986:

I was actually on the side of them going to the bubble, so let's get that one clear. What I have a problem with is guys taking one stance and then supporting the exact opposite later.

As you said, what's the next move? Did they boycott this game with the view of boycotting the the entire playoffs? What was the aim of the boycott exactly? To me, the boycott should be to put pressure on the Wisconsin government to begin prosecution of the officer who shot Blake. Any other thing would be exaggerating the powers of the boycott. Getting the government to prosecute that officer alone would be a huge step in the fight against social injustice.

And if the players are thinking of boycotting the entire playoffs, especially in view of completing it on a later date, that would be foolhardy. The NBA shouldn't be the one to suffer in all of this. They worked so hard to get these guys in the bubble in the first place, and it would feel counterproductive to now cut it short. My advice is that they should take a few days off and continue the season. Let's be honest, just as people are working hard in support of social justice, there are also those who are working hard to truncate their efforts. Ending the season will not make a difference. They shouldn't be the once to lose in all of this.

mattfeuter:


Most times , I agree with you but I’m surprised at the highlighted.

Bruv, I don’t care if the NBA loses money or what not, an unarmed black man got shot 7 times and he’s now paralysed and fighting for his life.

Eff the nBA and eff basketball. . . I’m sure ( God forbid ) if it was a family member , you wouldn’t share this sentiment.

steady986:

Bro. NBA are not the police, they are not the senate, they are not the judiciary. And the NBA are certainly not the ones who shot Blake. Whether the players play or not, life will still go on. Their refusal to play won't end police brutality. So it's best they put emotions aside an look for a long lasting-solution.

mattfeuter:


Yes it won’t end it but it’ll hurt the powerful
Rich white billionaires pocket and also bring more awareness to police Brutality.

For example, 4 years ago when kap protested by kneeling, the NFL turned a blind eye, even trump called him an ( SOB) and he was ultimately blackballed from the league.

4 years later, after George Floyd was killed, the NFL MvP Patrick Mahomes (New face of the league ) led the way by protesting and guess what happened ? The league issued a statement, an apology to kap and even provided funding for the blm movement. It might be little but it is a step in the right direction.

Do you now see how these things work?

And talking about emotions, I’m not in the nba but my spirit hasn’t been well since I saw that footage. It is extremely disturbing and heartbreaking. Things affect people differently.

Never Underestimate the power of a protest/boycott.

steady986:

A temporary boycott will do all these things you've mentioned. But what does an abandonment of the season do? Virtually the same thing.

Also, It's one thing to boycott, but what will be the terms for a return. Are they going to return when police brutality and social injustice has ended for good? If so, they can as well call it quits for basketball for the next decade.

mattfeuter:


You still don’t get it. I doubt you will.

alexxiswrites:
I fully understand the reasons for the boycott. But during this times, and if the NBA season is finally called off, no player should be paid a dime. All proceeds from their would be salary be committed to worthy causes to further the interest of the minority communities.
While at it, I want the NBA stars to speak loudly against riots and looting too. Two wrongs do not make a right. You can't destroy democracy to build democracy.

steady986:

I was actually on the side of them going to the bubble, so let's get that one clear. What I have a problem with is guys taking one stance and then supporting the exact opposite later.

As you said, what's the next move? Did they boycott this game with the view of boycotting the the entire playoffs? What was the aim of the boycott exactly? To me, the boycott should be to put pressure on the Wisconsin government to begin prosecution of the officer who shot Blake. Any other thing would be exaggerating the powers of the boycott. Getting the government to prosecute that officer alone would be a huge step in the fight against social injustice.

And if the players are thinking of boycotting the entire playoffs, especially in view of completing it on a later date, that would be foolhardy. The NBA shouldn't be the one to suffer in all of this. They worked so hard to get these guys in the bubble in the first place, and it would feel counterproductive to now cut it short. My advice is that they should take a few days off and continue the season. Let's be honest, just as people are working hard in support of social justice, there are also those who are working hard to truncate their efforts. Ending the season will not make a difference. They shouldn't be the once to lose in all of this.

alexxiswrites:
I fully understand the reasons for the boycott. But during this times, and if the NBA season is finally called off, no player should be paid a dime. All proceeds from their would be salary be committed to worthy causes to further the interest of the minority communities.
While at it, I want the NBA stars to speak loudly against riots and looting too. Two wrongs do not make a right. You can't destroy democracy to build democracy.

mattfeuter:


Yes it won’t end it but it’ll hurt the powerful
Rich white billionaires pocket and also bring more awareness to police Brutality.

For example, 4 years ago when kap protested by kneeling, the NFL turned a blind eye, even trump called him an ( SOB) and he was ultimately blackballed from the league.

4 years later, after George Floyd was killed, the NFL MvP Patrick Mahomes (New face of the league ) led the way by protesting and guess what happened ? The league issued a statement, an apology to kap and even provided funding for the blm movement. It might be little but it is a step in the right direction.

Do you now see how these things work?

And talking about emotions, I’m not in the nba but my spirit hasn’t been well since I saw that footage. It is extremely disturbing and heartbreaking. Things affect people differently.

Never Underestimate the power of a protest/boycott.

Roland17:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/michael-jordan-reportedly-played-key-204813172.html

As always, the GOAT gets the job done.

I heard someone got upset (because the Bucks chose to boycott without talking to other players/teams), created a scene by walking out in the middle of the meeting and his fellow team mates joined him as he walked out!!! If I call am LeBum now, some of una go begin get HBP. @Birdman come an carry your MCM dey go abeg!

birdman:


It doesnt hurt billionaires the way you think. They will recover quicker than you will. For example in the middle of covid and recession Bezos has added about 2billion dollars in wealth. In 6 months!

The apology to Kap is part of the game, a way to look repentant while things stay the same. There is a place for boycotts. But without the businessmen, the lawyers, the clergy its a waste of time.

That is why the 70s were so succesful. On TV all they show you is MLK protesting. They dont show Thurgood Marshall, Fanon, Rustin, Andy Young. So we have grown up thinking our protest by itself does anything. It wont do jack

birdman:


Bro calm down. Look at it this way: if they never played, there would be no leverage for players to skip games. The fact that they returned to work gives the opportunity to choose the terms of work.

This is a marathon battle. Emotions are not enough, they fade. After you cry, dry your eye and execute strategy. If u say your strategy is to not play at all, cool. What are your next steps?

For me, just staying home is useless. The fact that the players are active has amplified their voice. You cant block out lebrons comments on national tv right sfter a game. Just my thots...

Just to add im not against ending the season. Its up to the players on this one. But it is going to be painful either way

alexxiswrites:
I fully understand the reasons for the boycott. But during this times, and if the NBA season is finally called off, no player should be paid a dime. All proceeds from their would be salary be committed to worthy causes to further the interest of the minority communities.
While at it, I want the NBA stars to speak loudly against riots and looting too. Two wrongs do not make a right. You can't destroy democracy to build democracy.

birdman:


Nope. The reason I dont like your idea, as noble as it is, is that you are determining other peoples salary for them. If you feel that strongly, you should donate some of your own salary first before you ask others to. You have no idea what their financial obligations are.

Im not a fan of saying Lebron do this, Jordan do that. Lead by example... If you cant, you shouldnt expect others to meet the same lofty expectation

Roland17:
The truth is, at the end of the day it benefits the players, the black community and the entire country to continue with the season for the following reasons. The bubble provides that platform for them to keep the focus on the message. If they leave the bubble, they will not have as much influence at they do together at the bubble.

Also, if the players leave the bubble, the tier 1 and 2 players will not have much to bother about financially but has anyone spared a thought for those players without guaranteed contracts? There are tons of them that will be grossly affected if the bubble is cancelled and that will hurt their pocket.

The bubble has less than a month left, if the games don't get disrupted again and as the playoffs progress, more players will be able to return to their communities as they are eliminated. More importantly, without the games, how will the players support their cause financially? I mean the bulk of them are donating their bubble earnings to support the fight.

At the end of the day, they can do more from the bubble than they will do if they leave the bubble. This is not an easy fix by any stretch of the imagination and while we want the players to contribute and support the fight for equality, they should not burden themselves primarily with responsibility of resolving it because that is impossible. The fight is going to be a long and hard one and no one is sure it will be achieved but persistence is our hope. We need to continue piling pressure on our politicians for changes in our laws especially with policing black communities.

Finally, burning or destroying businesses in black communites is stupid, misguided, counterintuitive and counterproductive because it crepples the economy in our communities. People have toiled their entire lives to build those businesses from scratch. Most have debt and loans hanging on these businesses, those guys are mostly middle class citizens and are the backbone of our country.

SIRcumalot:
they called it off..
i thought it would last for at least a week.

if they had some kind of group chat they would be roasting the bucks right now
they blindsided the whole league is my best guest.

Roland17:
I heard someone got upset (because the Bucks chose to boycott without talking to other players/teams),

mattfeuter:


Wouldn’t call it blind side per say,

The NBA loses $4.5M dollars per game cancelled, you think they really can keep up with that?

SIRcumalot:

Don't know about the money side.

Since the magic team came onto the court and the bucks didn't it isn't much of a leap to say the bucks took that decision without consulting the other teams.
Everybody had to save face. Except the Orlando magic

A40:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29752844/mike-pence-chief-calls-nba-protests-absurd-jared-kushner-says-reach-lebron-james?device=featurephone

Man this divide is really deep.

SIRcumalot:

Don't know about the money side.

Since the magic team came onto the court and the bucks didn't it isn't much of a leap to say the bucks took that decision without consulting the other teams.
Everybody had to save face. Except the Orlando magic

steady986:
Come on Pat, you can do better