A slam dunk: The NBA’s hypocrisy on China
Time for a history lesson:
1492: Columbus discovers America.
1776: Declaration of Independence signed.
1918: America wins the Great War, saving the world.
1945: America rescues world, again, by defeating one of history’s worst tyrants.
1991: Third time’s a charm. America saves world by winning the Cold War, securing human rights and religious freedoms for hundreds of millions, and inspiring billions to fight for liberty.
2000s: Political correctness sweeps a complacent nation, allowing falsehoods to demonize those who built America into the world’s beacon of light. “Columbus Day” is increasingly banned in favor of “Indigenous People’s Day” – a made-up holiday with no meaning whatsoever.
2019: PC morphs into the wave of intolerance, flipping American values upside down. The Betsy Ross flag is banned by Nike and a Major League Soccer team, yet the Chinese flag is flown at Philadelphia City Hall; fans are ejected from a 76ers game for signs supporting Hong Kongers, and the NBA kowtows to China at the expense of American freedoms. My, how soon we forget. It is no coincidence that China’s ascent comes at the expense of America’s decline. With its 1.4 billion people, the People’s Republic (PRC) is a growing superpower hellbent on challenging America’s hegemony at every turn. In addition to its military buildup, China gains influence by throwing money at countries and institutions it wants to control. And, not surprisingly, the National Basketball Association sits on that list, as the league’s nauseating kowtowing over the last several weeks demonstrated.
It all started when Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for embattled Hong Kongese. His seven words (“Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong”) set off an international firestorm that saw the NBA praise China; the PRC slam Morey; Morey retract his statement; American fans ejected for expressing an opinion; and Lebron James condemn Morey while seeminglysupportingChina’s regime.
This is so foul that laying out the facts is a slam dunk in exposing the NBA’s hypocrisy.
1) Naturally, Morey apologized: “I’ve had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives.” So typical. But why apologize? And why pretend like third-graders? What “other perspectives” are there? Does anyone – Chinese or American – really believe that Morey had a genuine about-face, and now truly believes that it’s all rainbows and unicorns in Hong Kong, and that the Chinese government isn’t repressing the people? Come on!
Apologies have become meaningless. They don’t offer remorse, but instead show that the person apologizing is controlled by a more-powerful entity. The message is clear: Those with the purse strings will publicly humiliateanyonebuckingtheestablishment. The result? People speaking the truth cave, selling out their principles and, sometimes, even their country.
Is there anyone with guts left, who doesn’t wimp out at the first sign of controversy? How do people not understand that courage is always rewarded by the American people? But instead of holding fast, the “offenders” almost always “walk back” their statements – yet get the worst of all worlds because their scripted apologies satisfy no one. It’s truly mind boggling.
2) The NBA is playing both sides. Commissioner Adam Silver seemed to back Morey, citing freedom of expression. Yet the NBA released a statement calling Morey’s comments “regrettable” because they “deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China.” Further, the NBA used a Chinese media company to make the same statement, but, according to reports, it translated very differently: “Extremely disappointed in Morey’s inappropriate statement. No doubt he’s severely hurt the feelings of (Chinese) fans.”
So which is it? Given that this is the same league that revoked a franchise from its owner by forcing Donald Sterling to sell his L.A. Clippers (and fining him millions while banning him for life) because of private – yes, private – conversations, it’s not a stretch to think the league is rolling over to China in pursuit of the Almighty Dollar – principles be damned.
3) China’s response was swift. Its consulate in Houston stated that it “was deeply shocked by the erroneous comments on Hong Kong made by Morey,” and urged the Rockets “to correct the error and take immediate concrete measures to eliminate the adverse impact … Anybody with conscience would support the efforts … to safeguardHongKong’ssocialstability.”
Gee, what a relief knowing how much China cares about “social stability” in Hong Kong. Of course, if the People’s Republic hadn’t reneged on its legal agreement guaranteeing Hong Kongers freedoms for 50 years, there wouldn’t be a ripple in that city’s “social stability.”
Additionally, China removed Rockets’ merchandise from stores, cut sponsorships, canceled events, suspended apparel relationships with the NBA, and will not televise the Rockets’ preseason games in China.
Hmmm. All that from seven words. If that doesn’t tell you what kind of country you’re dealing with, nothing will.
4) During a game between the 76ers and a Chinese team in Philadelphia, a fan and his wife were ejected because, according to the fan, they held signs reading “Free HongKong.”Ohsure,theofficial line is that the fans were disruptive. And if you believe that, I’ve got watches to sell you.
How incomprehensible that in the Cradle of Liberty, American citizens are penalized to curry favor with a repressive country’s leaders. But it isn’t surprising, given that Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney had the audacity to fly the Chinese flag at City Hall in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of China’s totalitarian government. My colleague Christine Flowers emailed the mayor, whose office responded: “… our flagraisings are not meant to support a specific government, political party, or movement.”
What the hell does that mean? Granted, Jim Kenney is America’s most obtuse mayor, but really? You’re flying China’s flag! What else could it mean other than showing support for its government? If you want to celebrate Chinese culture, fly a Chinese New Year flag. But waving the PRC standard is inexcusable. Kenney’s actions evoke an ancient Chinese proverb: “A bad beginning makes a bad ending.” Kenney has been a failure from Day One. Re-election or not, his legacy will be as the city’s worst mayor. And that’s saying something.
5) The worst response belongs to Lebron James. Playing the role of geo-political strategist extraordinaire, James condemned Morey, stating, “… at times, there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you’re not thinking about others, when you only think about yourself … I believe (Morey) wasn’t educated on the situation …. people could have been harmed, not only financially but physically, emotionally, spiritually … yes, we do have freedom of speech, (but there) can be a lot of negative that comes with it.” He added that “social media is not always the proper way to go about things as well.” This from the classless guy who called his president a “bum” on social media.
Sorry, Lebron, but since you’re no “King,” you can’t have it both ways. You can’t fight racial injustice and police brutality against blacks, but turn a blind eye toward Hong Kongers facing potential annihilation – and then criticize those who support the freedom fighters. Instead, maybe you should be asking Hong Kongers and mainland Chinese alike if they’ve ever been “harmed financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually” by their government. Ignorance is bliss, huh?
Could James’ disdain stem from concern that his sneaker line won’t sell as much now? What a shame. After all, a $500 million net worth just doesn’t go as far as it once did.
It might interest Lebron to learn that there were Americans who had fortunes greater than his, yet didn’t worry about offending oppressors. Instead, they risked it all for the right to be free, and many lost everything: fortunes, homes, families, freedom, and even their lives. They were America’s FoundingFathers,andasadirectresult of their courage, people like Lebron James got the opportunitytoliveapeacefullife of privilege and prosperity.
The Chinese have a saying: “Despise learning – and make everyone pay for your ignorance.” Lebron James and the NBA leadership should jettison their ignorance and realize that kowtowing to an oppressive regime is the best way to foul out with the American people. May the wings of liberty never lose a feather.