Sports morning newsletter. Tap here to get the best sports news in the inbox every morning.]“data-reactionid =” 16 “>[[[[This is an excerpt from the free Yahoo Sports morning newsletter. Tap here to get the best sports news in the inbox every morning.]
Hello people! Hey, who else is an Elvis fan?
Sixty-four years ago, on September 9, 1956, Elvis Presley first appeared on the “Ed Sullivan Show”. Although the young people of the time shouted for his performance, the King’s fashionable wanderers – who now seem decidedly picturesque – were considered so obscene as to be shown from life upwards only in future performances.
A few decades later, those screaming children grew up to become parents, horrified as my generation basked in Van Halen’s lewd lyrics (Sing it with me: “Go down … between my legs … loosen the back. .. “) and the perceived blasphemy of the Madonna writhing under a cross.
NBA’s return to the court after a four-month pandemic-induced layoff. The games themselves were as much of a rush as ever. LeBron James’ first points came on an emphatic drive-and-jam against the Clippers, and he closed them out in emphatic fashion too. Rudy Gobert — the same player whose positive test in March was the first domino in an eventual total shutdown of sports — scored both the first and final points in Utah’s last-second win over New Orleans." data-reactid="22">That generational division came to mind on Thursday evening as the NBA returned to court after a four-month layoff induced by the pandemic. The games themselves were faster than ever. LeBron James’ first points came in an emphatic drive-and-jam against the Clippers, and he closed them emphatically. Rudy Gobert – the same player whose positive test in March was the first domino in a total stoppage of sports – scored both the first and the last point in Utah’s last second win over New Orleans.
The new NBA. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
NBA has committed fully to the social justice movement, from painting BLACK LIVES MATTER on the court to allowing players to put slogans — EQUALITY, SAY THEIR NAMES, JUSTICE NOW and more — on the back of their jerseys. All four teams that played Thursday night knelt in unison during the national anthem, a sight that's still a bit of a surprise given how much heat Colin Kaepernick drew for doing the same thing less than four years ago." data-reactid="34">But everything around the field – even on it – was different, and not just because the “stands” were simply screens by Zoom fans. The NBA has been deeply involved in the social justice movement, from BLACK LIVES MATTER’s painting on the pitch to allowing players to put slogans – EQUALITY, SAY THEIR NAMES, JUSTICE NOW and more – on the back of their shirts. All four teams that played on Thursday evening knelt in unison during the national anthem, a show that is still a surprise, given the warmth that Colin Kaepernick designed for doing the same thing less than four years ago.
NBA is now firmly in the social justice advocacy business — was quite literally inescapable. This isn't the NBA of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan or even Kobe Bryant. This is a whole new NBA, one pushing boundaries far beyond previous generations' imaginations. " data-reactid="35">The general message – the NBA is now firmly in the defense of social justice – was literally inevitable. This is not the Magic Johnson NBA, Michael Jordan or even Kobe Bryant. This is a completely new NBA, which pushes the boundaries far beyond the imagination of previous generations.
NBA. A sizeable number of fans just want to watch sports and don’t want social justice messaging visible in every shot. These stick-to-sports fans may get slagged off as “privileged” or worse, but it’s not wrong to tune into a basketball game and want to just see, you know, a game of basketball. Many of the fans who are in favor of the NBA activist’s new position may not be so keen to support, say, their bartender who exposes the virtues of the Second Amendment, but it is the same philosophical principle. “Data -eagid =” 36 “> There is a danger here for the NBA. A considerable number of fans just want to watch sports and don’t want social justice messages to be visible in every hit. These stick-to fans -sports can be declared “privileged” or worse, but it’s not wrong to tune in to a basketball game and you just want to see, you know, a game of basketball. Many of the fans who are in favor of the NBA activist’s new position may not be so keen to support, say, their bartender who exposes the virtues of the Second Amendment, but it is the same philosophical principle.
NBA has a glaring China-shaped hole in its flank. How can the league reconcile fighting against human rights violations at home while doing business in a nation with a deeply troubling human rights record? The answer to that question will determine just how seriously many in America will take the NBA’s social justice stance." data-reactid="37">Also, when you reflect the spotlight on the inequality of others, you must expect your spotlight to return to yours. And the NBA has an obvious China-shaped glow in its side. How can the league reconcile the fight against human rights violations at home while doing business in a nation with a deeply worrying human rights record? The answer to this question will determine how seriously many in America will take the position of NBA social justice.
NBA’s players to this new reality? How much heat are they willing to take? That’s the key question, isn’t it?" data-reactid="38">There will be a pushback, both from longtime fans and from hot-take opportunist traders looking for an easy way to arouse indignation. How dedicated are NBA players to this new reality? How much heat are they willing to take? This is the key question, isn’t it?
