azrider wrote:

swishnicholson wrote:

azrider wrote:don't usually bend down first to get into my car, even drunk. not that i drive drunk tho.... you can kill someone swish. that car is a loaded weapon for a drunk driver.

Oh this has nothing to do with Jacob Blake. i just got caught up in "azrider's" story and wanted to see what happened.

ok

Gimpy wrote:It’s the Sopranos ending

@SIChrisMannix
Personal observation: Players are visibly shattered the last 48 hours. Many believed coming down to Orlando, using the platform would inspire change. See what happened in Wisconsin — it’s made many wonder if it was worth it.

PSUsarge wrote:I don't want to tell anyone how to feel, and I acknowledge that I can never fully understand, but if these guys think not playing basketball games would have somehow prevented this...

@SIChrisMannix
Personal observation: Players are visibly shattered the last 48 hours. Many believed coming down to Orlando, using the platform would inspire change. See what happened in Wisconsin — it’s made many wonder if it was worth it.

https://twitter.com/SIChrisMannix/statu ... 4895546368

Augustus wrote:Many players openly questioned whether it was appropriate to play given the circumstances as well as whether they should leave their families during these times. They were persuaded by the league that the games would give them a platform to make a difference. I totally understand why some would feel crushed.

Monkeyboy wrote:

Augustus wrote:Many players openly questioned whether it was appropriate to play given the circumstances as well as whether they should leave their families during these times. They were persuaded by the league that the games would give them a platform to make a difference. I totally understand why some would feel crushed.

The league really did that? It's kinda crazy. They'd have a better chance to make a difference by NOT playing and working for things in their communities.

Uncle Milty wrote:They thought a few basketball games would win a 150 year old battle?

"We knew coming here or not coming here was not going to stop anything, but I think ultimately playing or not playing puts pressure on somebody," Raptors guard Fred VanVleet said after Tuesday's practice inside the NBA's bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort.

"So, for example, this happened in Kenosha, Wisconsin, if I'm correct? Would it be nice if, in a perfect world, we all say we're not playing, and the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks -- that's going to trickle down. If he steps up to the plate and puts pressure on the district attorney's office, and state's attorney, and governors, and politicians there to make real change and get some justice.

"I know it's not that simple. But, at the end of the day, if we're gonna sit here and talk about making change, then at some point we're gonna have to put our nuts on the line and actually put something up to lose, rather than just money or visibility. I'm just over the media aspect of it. It's sensationalized, we talk about it every day, that's all we see, but it just feels like a big pacifier to me."

"At some point, like, we're the ones always with the microphones in our face," VanVleet said. "We're the ones always who have to make a stand. But, like, we're the oppressed ones, and the responsibility falls on us to make a change to stop being oppressed, you know what I'm saying? That's what it boils down to.

"Like, at what point do we not have to speak about it anymore? Are we gonna hold everybody accountable, or we're just gonna put the spotlight on Black people, or Black athletes, or entertainers and say, 'What are you doing? What are you contributing to your community? What are you putting on the line?

"And then us, too, we've gotta take responsibility as well. Like, what are we willing to give us? Do we actually give a f--- about what's going on, or is it just cool to wear 'Black Lives Matter' on the backdrop, or wear a T-shirt? Like, what does that really mean? Is it really doing anything?"

Phred wrote:It is a bad example because I am sure that lots of people would be willing to shoot AZ just because.

We really just need prayers. As I was riding through here, through the city, I noticed a lot of damage. That doesn’t reflect my son or my family. If Jacob knew what was going on as far as that goes, the violence and the destruction, he would be very unpleased.

So I’m really asking and encouraging everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your hearts. Citizens, police officers, firemen, clergy, politicians, do Jacob justice on this level and examine your hearts. We need healing. As I pray for my son’s healing, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, I also have been praying even before this for the healing of our country. God has placed each and every one of us in this country because he wanted us to be here.

Clearly, you can see right now that I have beautiful brown skin. But take a look at your hand, and whatever shade it is, it is beautiful as well. How dare we hate what we are. We are humans. God did not make one type of tree or flower or fish or horse or grass or rock. How dare you ask him to make one type of human that looks just like you.

I’m not talking to just caucasian people. I am talking to everyone: white, black, Japanese, Chinese, red, brown. No one is superior to the other. The only Supreme Being is God himself. Please, let’s begin to pray for healing for our nation. We are the United States. Have we been united? Do you understand what’s gonna happen when we fall? Because a house that is against each other cannot stand.

To all of the police officers, I’m praying for you and your families. To all of the citizens, my black and brown sisters and brothers, I’m praying for you. I believe that you are an intelligent being just like the rest of us. Everybody, let’s use our hearts, our love, and our intelligence to work together, to show the rest of the world how humans are supposed to treat each other. America is great when we behave greatly. Thank you.

PSUsarge wrote:

Monkeyboy wrote:

Augustus wrote:Many players openly questioned whether it was appropriate to play given the circumstances as well as whether they should leave their families during these times. They were persuaded by the league that the games would give them a platform to make a difference. I totally understand why some would feel crushed.

The league really did that? It's kinda crazy. They'd have a better chance to make a difference by NOT playing and working for things in their communities.

Totally get what you're saying, and don't necessarily disgaree, but these games are also probably the most-watched television program every afternoon and evening with an enormous BLACK LIVES MATTER across the entire court and the social justice messages on individual jerseys.

I'm not a fan of slacktivism or corporations just jumping on whatever CSR trend is hot at the moment, but there is also an enormous value to that type of exposure for any message.

Also, agree re: pro athlete egos.

mcare89 wrote:I think there's definitely a case to be made that boycotting games in the name of civil rights would have been a massive stand and might have been more impactful than the gestures that the league has made. I don't know if it would have had the desired effect because of how the reasons for doing it would have been entangled with the pandemic, but it would have been a historic moment in terms of race relations in this country.

mcare89 wrote:And I think it's silly to say it's "pro athlete egos." The reality of the situation is that many of the most influential Black people in this country are basketball players. They've become activists in their own right, and I think it's moreso that a lot of players had concerns that people would stop talking about the racial issues once games resumed and things went "back to normal," which I don't think they're wrong about. Sure enough, only a few weeks in, another incident that's more of the same, and now, they're effectively trapped in a bubble putting on a TV show. It's not ego, it's just a different kind of powerlessness.