The NBA has publicly apologized to Communist China after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted out support for Hong Kong protesters, but the league has no issue with their employees regularly criticizing President Trump.
Morey’s tweet prompted multiple Chinese businesses and organizations — including the sportswear brand Li-Ning, SPD Bank and the Chinese Basketball Association — to condemn the team and suspend their work with the franchise. The Chinese consulate in Houston also scolded the Rockets, saying: “We have lodged representations and expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Houston Rockets… Anybody with conscience would support the efforts made by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard Hong Kong’s social stability.” (via Fox News)
While NBA players, coaches and staff should be allowed to voice their opinions, it is worth noting that praising pro-Democracy, pro-America demonstrators fighting back against an authoritarian regime is deemed “regrettable” by the league, while calling the sitting president a “bum,” a “clown” and “soulless coward” is acceptable behavior.
The NBA released the following statement in response to the tweet:
We are extremely disappointed by the inappropriate remarks made by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who has undoubtedly seriously hurt the feelings of our Chinese fans. Morey has now clarified that his comments do not represent the position of the Rockets or the NBA. Under the values of the NBA, people can examine topics they find deeply interesting and share their own opinions on matters. We have great respect for China’s history and culture, and hope that sports and the NBA, can be used as positive energy for unity, and continue to be help build a bridge for international cultural exchanges and bring people together.
Houston Rockets team owner Tilman Fertitta said, “We’re here to play basketball and not to offend anybody.”
“We apologize. You know, we love China, we love playing there. For both of us individually, we go there once or twice a year,” Rockets star James Harden told the press.
He continued, “They show us the most important love. We appreciate them as a fan base. We love everything there about them and we appreciate the support that they give us individually and as an organization.”
Even Morey succumbed to the communist government, saying, “I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China.”
1/ I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives.
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) October 7, 2019
1/ I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives.
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) October 7, 2019
One might ask why the NBA, the Houston Rockets, Morey and several players immediately buckled to the Chinese, and the answer is simple: Money.
As Tucker carlson explained,
China, it is rarely noted (but it is true), is a racist ethnostate that bans dissent and murders its political opponents. You’d think every American would stand with Hong Kong without even thinking about it. But not the NBA.
The NBA is on China’s side. So Morey was forced to delete his tweet. He may, in fact, lose his job over this. The NBA issued a statement making it clear that under no circumstance do they support Hong Kong or human freedom.
The NBA is the most popular pro-sports league in China and the Houston Rockets are one of the most popular teams in the country after drafting China’s Yao Ming in 2002.
Ming is the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, who severed ties with the Rockets due to the tweet.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV and Tencent Holdings, who stream NBA games in China, have both suspended Rockets broadcasts in response to the pro-Hong Kong message.
Team sponsors such as sportswear brand Li Ning and the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank have also cut ties with the franchise.
The one positive to come out of this absurd kowtowing to a communist dictatorship is that Americans from both political aisles are speaking out.
Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz criticized the NBA for “shamefully retreating” in the pursuit of big money.
As a lifelong @HoustonRockets fan, I was proud to see @dmorey call out the Chinese Communist Party’s repressive treatment of protestors in Hong Kong.
Now, in pursuit of big $$, the @nba is shamefully retreating. https://t.co/7waMde5KrM
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 7, 2019
We’re better than this; human rights shouldn’t be for sale & the NBA shouldn’t be assisting Chinese communist censorship.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 7, 2019
Meanwhile, Texas Democrat and presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke said, “The only thing the NBA should be apologizing for is their blatant prioritization of profits over human rights.”
The only thing the NBA should be apologizing for is their blatant prioritization of profits over human rights. What an embarrassment. https://t.co/bbiwCBTwc1
— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) October 7, 2019
Many other prominent politicians and public figures representing multiple ideologies spoke out against the league for buckling:
NBA players have no problem speaking out on politics & social issues in America.
But they apologize to #China for a pro democracy tweet from an @NBA team executive.
Hypocrites https://t.co/Yoeyk7o8XO
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 7, 2019
In addition, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley has called on the NBA to cancel its high-profile preseason games in China amid growing controversy over a team official’s pro-Hong Kong statement. Hawley, a Republican, sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, accusing the league of “kowtowing to the demands of one of the world’s most brutal regimes in the pursuit of profit.”(Fox News)
Golden State’s Steve Kerr (always quick to criticize the US government) and San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich were vocal in their criticism of some American politicians, but not those in Beijing.
More at Infowars
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver revealed later that the Chinese government insisted the league fire Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey over the now-deleted October 4 tweet according to Time.
