Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) sent a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver asking that now that they had approved putting social cause statements on jerseys would the NBA allow messages that were supportive of the troops or of law enforcement, or would they allow statements like “Free Hong Kong.”
If @NBA is going to put social cause statements on uniforms, why not “Support our Troops” or “Back the Blue”? Or given how much $$ @nba makes in #China, how about “Free Hong Kong”! Today I wrote to Adam Silver to ask for answers pic.twitter.com/PthYR4OxmE
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 10, 2020
His point was trying to call out the NBA for the failure to allow free speech, to only allow approved messages while crushing things that were for example critical of China. “No amount of profit can justify collaborating with a regime for which violent suppression and enslavement are routing tools of governance,” Hawley wrote.
One of the reasons he asked was that the NBA debased itself when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted a tweet last week that showed support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. The NBA made him apologize for his tweet and they apologised for Morey’s remarks, calling them “regrettable,” kowtowing to the Communists and their oppressive treatment of Hong Kong protesters. Then we saw as the controversy developed, how deep the influence of China was with the NBA and other institutions within the U.S. and how the influence could be used to silence free speech, even here, not just in Hong Kong. It lit the fire under many to call for a disconnect of that influence, which effort grew even more after China lied and tried to cover-up about the Wuhan coronavirus.
Silver said last month that hoped the NBA would find “mutual respect” with the Chinese government.
Hawley’s letter went to the NBA and was cc’ed to media including to ESPN.
This was how ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski responded to Hawley.
Don’t criticize #China or express support for law enforcement to @espn. It makes them real mad @Outkick pic.twitter.com/WJDxrotUBD
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 10, 2020
What an intelligent retort. But that just showed exactly the point that Hawley was making. Thought that they don’t like is to be dismissed and disallowed, and folks at ESPN is not only cool with it but seemingly supportive of it.
Wojnarowski later apologized.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 10, 2020
But Hawley, concentrating on what is important, said it really isn’t about him, but about the NBA doing what is right, was Wojnarowski going to do his job and ask those questions of the NBA.
Don’t make @wojespn apologize. He’s just saying what he really thinks. Call out the @NBA. You know, your job https://t.co/qLX5VsdO6R
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 10, 2020
Exactly.
I’d like to read the apology @wojespn sent to @HawleyMO but the basketball writer has blocked me. His feed, his right. Doesn’t like to be reminded of CCP’s recent record on virus, Uighurs or Hong Kong? Only a guess. pic.twitter.com/LV9bdqI8Xy
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) July 10, 2020
The reaction of the left, to come to Wojnarowski’s defense, just shows how true what Hawley was saying is.
List of some of the stupid, hey, guys are you all in to suck up to China?
I stand with Woj. I also stand with his “F-U two times” use of font and center-justify formatting. I stand with all of it. 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/g9cEaP0HOL
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) July 10, 2020
Woj is exercising his patriotic duty here
— Patrick Wyman (@Patrick_Wyman) July 10, 2020
Woj saying "fuck you" to Sen. Josh Hawley in an email is incredible and I hope he doesn't actually regret it. https://t.co/djT8nhY2bj
— Emma Vigeland (@EmmaVigeland) July 10, 2020
There are 130,000 people dead from a plague the government has failed to contain and case growth in Missouri is setting new records, just fyi. https://t.co/omgBL5GglT
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) July 10, 2020
Stunning how Chris Hayes doesn’t seem to remember care about where that virus came from or the lies from China surrounding it, which only prove Hawley right.
But Hawley seems to be at least getting some positive response.
My phone has been ringing off the hook with lobbyists from @espn, from @Disney, the works. Let’s make this simple. I’m inviting ESPN CEO Jimmy Pitaro to Washington. My office. Let’s sit down and discuss ESPN, #China, the @NBA. Look forward to his response
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 10, 2020
Not sure if he’ll have any success, but we all should be pushing for the disconnect as much as possible from being obligated to China for anything and holding them accountable for their lies.
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