Lebron calls Celtics fans racist

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

I think it’s fair to critique a lot of things. Let’s just not pretend that Morey didn’t put the players safety at risk.

The NBA sent Lebron, his team, and the Nets to China as ambassadors of the game. Quite literally a job assignment.

Lebron: "I believe he was either misinformed or not really educated on the situation, and if he was, then so be it," James said. "I have no idea, but that is just my belief. Because when you say things or do things, if you are doing it and you know the people that can be affected by it and the families and individuals and everyone that can be affected by it, sometimes things can be changed as well. And also social media is not always the proper way to go about things as well, but that's just my belief."

He’s right. Morey was not making a smart decision with the timing of his post. He created a safety hazard for the Lakers and Nets. Maybe this was his nefarious plan? I don’t think so. I think he made a misinformed decision with his timing.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

What players were located in China at the time of the tweet?

And, if the situation was dangerous, why did the NBA continue to play NBA games there?

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2019-10-14/lakers-china-how-nba-defuse-tensions-amid-tumultuous-week

Lakers and Nets.

The NBA should have cancelled/suspended the trip for safety purposes.

Roy, did you see my post? Why is Lebron a hypocrite but we are not re: China?

The average American can’t decline to do business with China.  There simply aren’t viable options for most Americans.  Those Americans, however, don’t self-edit themselves on social media and call out others for being “misinformed”.

Lebron, of course, has the ability to wield influence.  In this area, he takes a “the Chinese buy shoes, too” approach.  I think it’s fair to criticize that.  Moreso, I think it’s fair to criticize his response to Morey.

I don’t buy this logic for a second. He’s Lebron James, not Reverend James or President James. We don’t get to criticize others for making the choices that we make on a daily basis. I mean, we can. It just makes us look like hypocrites, which is a tough look when calling Lebron a hypocrite.

[Goldstar88]

This country has become obsessed with race.
You are your race first and then whoever you are as a person second.
This obsession has just made things worse.

Yes, there is a certain percentage of people who are racist - who judge someone's character based on their race and that alone, when I believe we should be judged on our behavior and the values we hold as important.  There are plenty of people within each racial group who exhibit bad behavior and whose values are atrocious. There are plenty of people on all sides who are racist as well. The double standards that go unchallenged are also part of the problem. People who do speak up face all types of negative consequences.

Speak up for what, exactly? The shut up and dribble take?

No, the "you're fired" take for uttering the words, All Lives Matter.


And Gouk, no, I would not say since the beginning. We have never been so focused on race as the country is now - not even close.
This obsession has created more divisiveness, again from all sides.

I’m pretty sure All Lives Matter takes the cake for least thoughtful response in this thread. I believe that this post is a guaranteed Bingo win, though I’m curious to see how much further people will display white fragility. All Lives Matter may be the greatest example of gaslighting that we have.

I'm not in the States (I'm an Asian who's lived in Asia most my life, where these issues aren't as hotbutton), so hopefully what I'm saying doesn't amount to whataboutism or isn't nuanced or whatnot and I apologize in advance if it is.

But aren't you peeved that Lebron amounts "f--- you Lebron" to racism? Doesn't it cheapen the experiences of people who actually faced racism?

It's kind of like Kyrie trying to rile up people in the middle of the 2021 playoff series.

I guess black people should get the benefit of the doubt to some extent, as we'll never fully understand what they're facing or be able to walk in their shoes. But I feel like to some extent Lebron and Kyrie kind of took advantage of the situation.

“Boston is racist as hell, they had F-LBJ shirts and someone threw a a beer at me after one of the games.”

 

and of course that isn't what he said at all, which I assume was your point.

James made waves when he took aim at Boston fans — whom he called “racist as f–k” — in the latest episode of Uninterrupted’s “The Shop” on Friday. The four-time NBA Champion became part-owner of the Red Sox last year.

“There was like a ‘f–k LBJ’ T-shirt,” James said. “I believe they probably sold it at the f–kin’ team shop. … They sold it at the team shop. I’m like, ‘the Celtics had something to do with that s–t.’”

“Because they racist as f–k, that’s why,” the Lakers star said, smiling. “They will say anything. And it’s fine. I mean, f–k, it’s my life. I’ve been dealing with my whole life. I don’t mind it. Like, I hear it. Like, if I hear somebody close by, I’ll check them real quick. I’ll move on to the game. They’re going to say whatever the f–k they want to say. They might throw something on you. I mean, I got a beer thrown on me leaving the game. Like, it’s Boston.”


The only specific examples he gave were the T-shirts that said F-LBJ and the Beer thrown on him. Im not saying that there aren’t racist fans in Boston, but I do believe it’s the vast minority.

[Roy H.]

What players were located in China at the time of the tweet?

And, if the situation was dangerous, why did the NBA continue to play NBA games there?

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2019-10-14/lakers-china-how-nba-defuse-tensions-amid-tumultuous-week

Lakers and Nets.

The NBA should have cancelled/suspended the trip for safety purposes.

Roy, did you see my post? Why is Lebron a hypocrite but we are not re: China?

The average American can’t decline to do business with China.  There simply aren’t viable options for most Americans.  Those Americans, however, don’t self-edit themselves on social media and call out others for being “misinformed”.

Lebron, of course, has the ability to wield influence.  In this area, he takes a “the Chinese buy shoes, too” approach.  I think it’s fair to criticize that.  Moreso, I think it’s fair to criticize his response to Morey.

I don’t buy this logic for a second. He’s Lebron James, not Reverend James or President James. We don’t get to criticize others for making the choices that we make on a daily basis. I mean, we can. It just makes us look like hypocrites, which is a tough look when calling Lebron a hypocrite.

And I think your logic is flawed for failing to recognize that the extraordinarily rich and powerful have access to goods and services that the average American just doesn't.  How can the same person citing systematic racism argue that it's irrelevant to weigh the financial resources of a group when comparing situations?

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

What players were located in China at the time of the tweet?

And, if the situation was dangerous, why did the NBA continue to play NBA games there?

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2019-10-14/lakers-china-how-nba-defuse-tensions-amid-tumultuous-week

Lakers and Nets.

The NBA should have cancelled/suspended the trip for safety purposes.

Roy, did you see my post? Why is Lebron a hypocrite but we are not re: China?

The average American can’t decline to do business with China.  There simply aren’t viable options for most Americans.  Those Americans, however, don’t self-edit themselves on social media and call out others for being “misinformed”.

Lebron, of course, has the ability to wield influence.  In this area, he takes a “the Chinese buy shoes, too” approach.  I think it’s fair to criticize that.  Moreso, I think it’s fair to criticize his response to Morey.

I don’t buy this logic for a second. He’s Lebron James, not Reverend James or President James. We don’t get to criticize others for making the choices that we make on a daily basis. I mean, we can. It just makes us look like hypocrites, which is a tough look when calling Lebron a hypocrite.

And I think your logic is flawed for failing to recognize that the extraordinarily rich and powerful have access to goods and services that the average American just doesn't.  How can the same person citing systematic racism argue that it's irrelevant to weigh the financial resources of a group when comparing situations?

I don’t think it’s irrelevant. I just don’t see the big deal with Lebron calling out Morey for putting his team and their families at risk.

Regarding business dealings with China- this is a very complicated geopolitical topic that probably won’t get solved, let alone on a Celtics blog.

I don’t love the LIV golf tour because of Saudi blood money. That being said, I don’t know exactly where the gas in my car originated. I can look at economic data to come up with a decent guess, but I’m not sure. I have a polisci/Econ degree. I should hold Lebron to a higher standard because he has made a lot of money through basketball? I don’t buy that.

[Roy H.]

What players were located in China at the time of the tweet?

And, if the situation was dangerous, why did the NBA continue to play NBA games there?

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2019-10-14/lakers-china-how-nba-defuse-tensions-amid-tumultuous-week

Lakers and Nets.

The NBA should have cancelled/suspended the trip for safety purposes.

Roy, did you see my post? Why is Lebron a hypocrite but we are not re: China?

The average American can’t decline to do business with China.  There simply aren’t viable options for most Americans.  Those Americans, however, don’t self-edit themselves on social media and call out others for being “misinformed”.

Lebron, of course, has the ability to wield influence.  In this area, he takes a “the Chinese buy shoes, too” approach.  I think it’s fair to criticize that.  Moreso, I think it’s fair to criticize his response to Morey.

I don’t buy this logic for a second. He’s Lebron James, not Reverend James or President James. We don’t get to criticize others for making the choices that we make on a daily basis. I mean, we can. It just makes us look like hypocrites, which is a tough look when calling Lebron a hypocrite.

And I think your logic is flawed for failing to recognize that the extraordinarily rich and powerful have access to goods and services that the average American just doesn't.  How can the same person citing systematic racism argue that it's irrelevant to weigh the financial resources of a group when comparing situations?

I don’t think it’s irrelevant. I just don’t see the big deal with Lebron calling out Morey for putting his team and their families at risk.

Regarding business dealings with China- this is a very complicated geopolitical topic that probably won’t get solved, let alone on a Celtics blog.

I don’t love the LIV golf tour because of Saudi blood money. That being said, I don’t know exactly where the gas in my car originated. I can look at economic data to come up with a decent guess, but I’m not sure. I have a polisci/Econ degree. I should hold Lebron to a higher standard because he has made a lot of money through basketball? I don’t buy that.

The LIV example is a fine one.  If the average American ends up buying Saudi gas, or Iranian gas, or Venezuelan gas, that's because they don't have a practical choice.  If Phil Mickelson plays the LIV tour because it makes him extremely rich(er), he did have a practical choice.  The average American is supporting an evil regime out of compulsion.  Phil Mickelson is supporting it out of free will.

And, I don't believe that Lebron called out Morey due to safety.  That's ridiculous after-the-fact PR that Moranis and you have bought into.  I'm not even sure that Lebron was in China on October 4 (the day the tweet was made), but he certainly had the resources to leave if his family was at risk.  Lebron's tweet (10 days later) was about money, as was James Harden's, as was Morey's apology tweets, as was the Rockets' owner scolding Morey, etc., etc.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

What players were located in China at the time of the tweet?

And, if the situation was dangerous, why did the NBA continue to play NBA games there?

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2019-10-14/lakers-china-how-nba-defuse-tensions-amid-tumultuous-week

Lakers and Nets.

The NBA should have cancelled/suspended the trip for safety purposes.

Roy, did you see my post? Why is Lebron a hypocrite but we are not re: China?

The average American can’t decline to do business with China.  There simply aren’t viable options for most Americans.  Those Americans, however, don’t self-edit themselves on social media and call out others for being “misinformed”.

Lebron, of course, has the ability to wield influence.  In this area, he takes a “the Chinese buy shoes, too” approach.  I think it’s fair to criticize that.  Moreso, I think it’s fair to criticize his response to Morey.

I don’t buy this logic for a second. He’s Lebron James, not Reverend James or President James. We don’t get to criticize others for making the choices that we make on a daily basis. I mean, we can. It just makes us look like hypocrites, which is a tough look when calling Lebron a hypocrite.

And I think your logic is flawed for failing to recognize that the extraordinarily rich and powerful have access to goods and services that the average American just doesn't.  How can the same person citing systematic racism argue that it's irrelevant to weigh the financial resources of a group when comparing situations?

I don’t think it’s irrelevant. I just don’t see the big deal with Lebron calling out Morey for putting his team and their families at risk.

Regarding business dealings with China- this is a very complicated geopolitical topic that probably won’t get solved, let alone on a Celtics blog.

I don’t love the LIV golf tour because of Saudi blood money. That being said, I don’t know exactly where the gas in my car originated. I can look at economic data to come up with a decent guess, but I’m not sure. I have a polisci/Econ degree. I should hold Lebron to a higher standard because he has made a lot of money through basketball? I don’t buy that.

The LIV example is a fine one.  If the average American ends up buying Saudi gas, or Iranian gas, or Venezuelan gas, that's because they don't have a practical choice.  If Phil Mickelson plays the LIV tour because it makes him extremely rich(er), he did have a practical choice.  The average American is supporting an evil regime out of compulsion.  Phil Mickelson is supporting it out of free will.

I totally agree.

I don’t love the NBA trying to expand its business dealings in China. This started before Lebron, however. I don’t think he is unilaterally setting the international marketing agenda for Nike or the NBA. This is being done behind closed doors, and they are using Lebron as a tool to achieve their economic goals. Why go after the puppet instead of the puppeteer?

Also, can you see how Morey was right about his message, but wrong about the timing?

[Celtics4ever]

I would rather buy US oil actually, but Joe Biden is beholden to his green donors who profit off this green energy.  What good is it burning foreign oil?  It still has an environmental impact on the world and is in many cases a dirtier product.   This makes zero sense.  I guess it makes the so called elites feel safer and better while they fly in their private jets.

LeBron is a businessman, and China is a big market.  This affects a lot of things as people try to please China for the market.  All that pandering and they still did not release it, lol.   

LeBron is polarizing half like him and half don't

[Roy H.]

Also, can you see how Morey was right about his message, but wrong about the timing?

Wasn't his timing during the Hong Kong protests?  The timing seems fine, particularly when trying to get the world's attention.

I don't buy for a second that the players thought their safety was at risk.  As explained above, that's after-the-fact PR.  Can anybody name even one additional safety step that even one player took as a result of Morey's tweet?

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

Also, can you see how Morey was right about his message, but wrong about the timing?

Wasn't his timing during the Hong Kong protests?  The timing seems fine, particularly when trying to get the world's attention.

I don't buy for a second that the players thought their safety was at risk.  As explained above, that's after-the-fact PR.  Can anybody name even one additional safety step that even one player took as a result of Morey's tweet?

Moreys tweet was Friday October 4, 2019. They played their first game the following Thursday.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27812008/nba-game-china-played-some-restrictions?platform=amp

After Morey’s tweet, the Chinese government disallowed press conferences by either the Nets or Lakers.

“Starting Tuesday, no players, coaches, team or league executives conducted any on-the-record interviews. Several people with knowledge of the situation agreed to speak with The Times if their identities remained anonymous.”

I would say that a gag order on foreign soil is troubling.

Challenging situation, as leaving with both teams prematurely may have strained relations further. Players admitted later that they didn’t know if their flights were going to take off on time due to this situation.

This was not armed conflict. It was, however, a needlessly stressful time for many on the ground. I agree with Morey, but his timing was not well thought out.

[Kernewek]

Also, can you see how Morey was right about his message, but wrong about the timing?

Wasn't his timing during the Hong Kong protests?  The timing seems fine, particularly when trying to get the world's attention.

I don't buy for a second that the players thought their safety was at risk.  As explained above, that's after-the-fact PR.  Can anybody name even one additional safety step that even one player took as a result of Morey's tweet?

I'm inclined to agree with you here but it's worth pointing out that asserting something is not the same as explaining it.

[Moranis]

This country has become obsessed with race.
You are your race first and then whoever you are as a person second.
This obsession has just made things worse.

Yes, there is a certain percentage of people who are racist - who judge someone's character based on their race and that alone, when I believe we should be judged on our behavior and the values we hold as important.  There are plenty of people within each racial group who exhibit bad behavior and whose values are atrocious. There are plenty of people on all sides who are racist as well. The double standards that go unchallenged are also part of the problem. People who do speak up face all types of negative consequences.

Speak up for what, exactly? The shut up and dribble take?

No, the "you're fired" take for uttering the words, All Lives Matter.


And Gouk, no, I would not say since the beginning. We have never been so focused on race as the country is now - not even close.
This obsession has created more divisiveness, again from all sides.

I’m pretty sure All Lives Matter takes the cake for least thoughtful response in this thread. I believe that this post is a guaranteed Bingo win, though I’m curious to see how much further people will display white fragility. All Lives Matter may be the greatest example of gaslighting that we have.

I'm not in the States (I'm an Asian who's lived in Asia most my life, where these issues aren't as hotbutton), so hopefully what I'm saying doesn't amount to whataboutism or isn't nuanced or whatnot and I apologize in advance if it is.

But aren't you peeved that Lebron amounts "f--- you Lebron" to racism? Doesn't it cheapen the experiences of people who actually faced racism?

It's kind of like Kyrie trying to rile up people in the middle of the 2021 playoff series.

I guess black people should get the benefit of the doubt to some extent, as we'll never fully understand what they're facing or be able to walk in their shoes. But I feel like to some extent Lebron and Kyrie kind of took advantage of the situation.

“Boston is racist as hell, they had F-LBJ shirts and someone threw a a beer at me after one of the games.”

 

and of course that isn't what he said at all, which I assume was your point.

James made waves when he took aim at Boston fans — whom he called “racist as f–k” — in the latest episode of Uninterrupted’s “The Shop” on Friday. The four-time NBA Champion became part-owner of the Red Sox last year.

“There was like a ‘f–k LBJ’ T-shirt,” James said. “I believe they probably sold it at the f–kin’ team shop. … They sold it at the team shop. I’m like, ‘the Celtics had something to do with that s–t.’”

“Because they racist as f–k, that’s why,” the Lakers star said, smiling. “They will say anything. And it’s fine. I mean, f–k, it’s my life. I’ve been dealing with my whole life. I don’t mind it. Like, I hear it. Like, if I hear somebody close by, I’ll check them real quick. I’ll move on to the game. They’re going to say whatever the f–k they want to say. They might throw something on you. I mean, I got a beer thrown on me leaving the game. Like, it’s Boston.”




The only specific examples he gave were the T-shirts that said F-LBJ and the Beer thrown on him. Im not saying that there aren’t racist fans in Boston, but I do believe it’s the vast minority.

That isn't what you said was a direct quote though.  The context is a lot different.  He didn't say Boston fans were racist because they had the f*** Lebron shirts or threw a beer on him, he said they were racist because "They will say anything. And it’s fine. I mean, f–k, it’s my life. I’ve been dealing with my whole life. I don’t mind it. Like, I hear it. Like, if I hear somebody close by, I’ll check them real quick. I’ll move on to the game. They’re going to say whatever the f–k they want to say."

He then moved on to talk about getting beer thrown on him but he never actually attributed that to race.  He didn't actually provide examples, like Marcus Smart has, but he clearly was implying actual racially motivated statements being made.  It isn't like he is in court where he needs to back it up and the other people in the Shop didn't question it and moved the conversation on because they all know that racial comments are made at Boston sporting events all of the time.  It doesn't take a deep dive to dig into something that is a known fact.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

This country has become obsessed with race.
You are your race first and then whoever you are as a person second.
This obsession has just made things worse.

Yes, there is a certain percentage of people who are racist - who judge someone's character based on their race and that alone, when I believe we should be judged on our behavior and the values we hold as important.  There are plenty of people within each racial group who exhibit bad behavior and whose values are atrocious. There are plenty of people on all sides who are racist as well. The double standards that go unchallenged are also part of the problem. People who do speak up face all types of negative consequences.

Speak up for what, exactly? The shut up and dribble take?

No, the "you're fired" take for uttering the words, All Lives Matter.


And Gouk, no, I would not say since the beginning. We have never been so focused on race as the country is now - not even close.
This obsession has created more divisiveness, again from all sides.

I’m pretty sure All Lives Matter takes the cake for least thoughtful response in this thread. I believe that this post is a guaranteed Bingo win, though I’m curious to see how much further people will display white fragility. All Lives Matter may be the greatest example of gaslighting that we have.

I'm not in the States (I'm an Asian who's lived in Asia most my life, where these issues aren't as hotbutton), so hopefully what I'm saying doesn't amount to whataboutism or isn't nuanced or whatnot and I apologize in advance if it is.

But aren't you peeved that Lebron amounts "f--- you Lebron" to racism? Doesn't it cheapen the experiences of people who actually faced racism?

It's kind of like Kyrie trying to rile up people in the middle of the 2021 playoff series.

I guess black people should get the benefit of the doubt to some extent, as we'll never fully understand what they're facing or be able to walk in their shoes. But I feel like to some extent Lebron and Kyrie kind of took advantage of the situation.

“Boston is racist as hell, they had F-LBJ shirts and someone threw a a beer at me after one of the games.”

 

and of course that isn't what he said at all, which I assume was your point.

James made waves when he took aim at Boston fans — whom he called “racist as f–k” — in the latest episode of Uninterrupted’s “The Shop” on Friday. The four-time NBA Champion became part-owner of the Red Sox last year.

“There was like a ‘f–k LBJ’ T-shirt,” James said. “I believe they probably sold it at the f–kin’ team shop. … They sold it at the team shop. I’m like, ‘the Celtics had something to do with that s–t.’”

“Because they racist as f–k, that’s why,” the Lakers star said, smiling. “They will say anything. And it’s fine. I mean, f–k, it’s my life. I’ve been dealing with my whole life. I don’t mind it. Like, I hear it. Like, if I hear somebody close by, I’ll check them real quick. I’ll move on to the game. They’re going to say whatever the f–k they want to say. They might throw something on you. I mean, I got a beer thrown on me leaving the game. Like, it’s Boston.”




The only specific examples he gave were the T-shirts that said F-LBJ and the Beer thrown on him. Im not saying that there aren’t racist fans in Boston, but I do believe it’s the vast minority.

That isn't what you said was a direct quote though.  The context is a lot different.  He didn't say Boston fans were racist because they had the f*** Lebron shirts or threw a beer on him, he said they were racist because "They will say anything. And it’s fine. I mean, f–k, it’s my life. I’ve been dealing with my whole life. I don’t mind it. Like, I hear it. Like, if I hear somebody close by, I’ll check them real quick. I’ll move on to the game. They’re going to say whatever the f–k they want to say."

He then moved on to talk about getting beer thrown on him but he never actually attributed that to race.  He didn't actually provide examples, like Marcus Smart has, but he clearly was implying actual racially motivated statements being made.  It isn't like he is in court where he needs to back it up and the other people in the Shop didn't question it and moved the conversation on because they all know that racial comments are made at Boston sporting events all of the time.  It doesn't take a deep dive to dig into something that is a known fact.

I think some here think that if they can discredit Lebron, then it means that horrible things aren’t said at the Garden. Like you said, Lebron didn’t present his case like he was in a court room. It doesn’t mean that he’s wrong. Some black athletes (and myself) are stating emphatically that they’ve heard the N word at the Garden and Fenway. Some posters here seem to want evidence from recordings, otherwise it didn’t happen. If I produced recordings, they’d likely try to discredit the source. This strategy is called gaslighting.

Again, the vast majority of people are good. The fact that these people don’t get their a** kicked is troubling. Instead, I’ve heard laughter.

[Kernewek]

This country has become obsessed with race.
You are your race first and then whoever you are as a person second.
This obsession has just made things worse.

Yes, there is a certain percentage of people who are racist - who judge someone's character based on their race and that alone, when I believe we should be judged on our behavior and the values we hold as important.  There are plenty of people within each racial group who exhibit bad behavior and whose values are atrocious. There are plenty of people on all sides who are racist as well. The double standards that go unchallenged are also part of the problem. People who do speak up face all types of negative consequences.

Speak up for what, exactly? The shut up and dribble take?

No, the "you're fired" take for uttering the words, All Lives Matter.


And Gouk, no, I would not say since the beginning. We have never been so focused on race as the country is now - not even close.
This obsession has created more divisiveness, again from all sides.

I’m pretty sure All Lives Matter takes the cake for least thoughtful response in this thread. I believe that this post is a guaranteed Bingo win, though I’m curious to see how much further people will display white fragility. All Lives Matter may be the greatest example of gaslighting that we have.

I'm not in the States (I'm an Asian who's lived in Asia most my life, where these issues aren't as hotbutton), so hopefully what I'm saying doesn't amount to whataboutism or isn't nuanced or whatnot and I apologize in advance if it is.

But aren't you peeved that Lebron amounts "f--- you Lebron" to racism? Doesn't it cheapen the experiences of people who actually faced racism?

It's kind of like Kyrie trying to rile up people in the middle of the 2021 playoff series.

I guess black people should get the benefit of the doubt to some extent, as we'll never fully understand what they're facing or be able to walk in their shoes. But I feel like to some extent Lebron and Kyrie kind of took advantage of the situation.

“Boston is racist as hell, they had F-LBJ shirts and someone threw a a beer at me after one of the games.”

 

and of course that isn't what he said at all, which I assume was your point.

James made waves when he took aim at Boston fans — whom he called “racist as f–k” — in the latest episode of Uninterrupted’s “The Shop” on Friday. The four-time NBA Champion became part-owner of the Red Sox last year.

“There was like a ‘f–k LBJ’ T-shirt,” James said. “I believe they probably sold it at the f–kin’ team shop. … They sold it at the team shop. I’m like, ‘the Celtics had something to do with that s–t.’”

“Because they racist as f–k, that’s why,” the Lakers star said, smiling. “They will say anything. And it’s fine. I mean, f–k, it’s my life. I’ve been dealing with my whole life. I don’t mind it. Like, I hear it. Like, if I hear somebody close by, I’ll check them real quick. I’ll move on to the game. They’re going to say whatever the f–k they want to say. They might throw something on you. I mean, I got a beer thrown on me leaving the game. Like, it’s Boston.”


The only specific examples he gave were the T-shirts that said F-LBJ and the Beer thrown on him. Im not saying that there aren’t racist fans in Boston, but I do believe it’s the vast minority.

I think a few people have pointed it out but no one has given the video link yet, so here it is with a timestamp as well so we can see the conversation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjT-c6BOswY&t=1314s

Like a few of us on all sides of the discussion have pointed out, it's kind of a throwaway comment from LeBron, and I think we all take issue with that.

But, actually, the conversation that this sparks afterwards - that includes Marcus Rashford and Daniel Kaluuya talking about being black in sports and being black in the UK - which isn't precisely the same as being black in the US, but it's not terribly different, based on hearing what they have to say. I think it's pretty good listening, actually.

[Moranis]

What players were located in China at the time of the tweet?

And, if the situation was dangerous, why did the NBA continue to play NBA games there?

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2019-10-14/lakers-china-how-nba-defuse-tensions-amid-tumultuous-week

Lakers and Nets.

The NBA should have cancelled/suspended the trip for safety purposes.

Roy, did you see my post? Why is Lebron a hypocrite but we are not re: China?

The average American can’t decline to do business with China.  There simply aren’t viable options for most Americans.  Those Americans, however, don’t self-edit themselves on social media and call out others for being “misinformed”.

Lebron, of course, has the ability to wield influence.  In this area, he takes a “the Chinese buy shoes, too” approach.  I think it’s fair to criticize that.  Moreso, I think it’s fair to criticize his response to Morey.

I don’t buy this logic for a second. He’s Lebron James, not Reverend James or President James. We don’t get to criticize others for making the choices that we make on a daily basis. I mean, we can. It just makes us look like hypocrites, which is a tough look when calling Lebron a hypocrite.

And I think your logic is flawed for failing to recognize that the extraordinarily rich and powerful have access to goods and services that the average American just doesn't.  How can the same person citing systematic racism argue that it's irrelevant to weigh the financial resources of a group when comparing situations?

I don’t think it’s irrelevant. I just don’t see the big deal with Lebron calling out Morey for putting his team and their families at risk.

Regarding business dealings with China- this is a very complicated geopolitical topic that probably won’t get solved, let alone on a Celtics blog.

I don’t love the LIV golf tour because of Saudi blood money. That being said, I don’t know exactly where the gas in my car originated. I can look at economic data to come up with a decent guess, but I’m not sure. I have a polisci/Econ degree. I should hold Lebron to a higher standard because he has made a lot of money through basketball? I don’t buy that.

The LIV example is a fine one.  If the average American ends up buying Saudi gas, or Iranian gas, or Venezuelan gas, that's because they don't have a practical choice.  If Phil Mickelson plays the LIV tour because it makes him extremely rich(er), he did have a practical choice.  The average American is supporting an evil regime out of compulsion.  Phil Mickelson is supporting it out of free will.

And, I don't believe that Lebron called out Morey due to safety.  That's ridiculous after-the-fact PR that Moranis and you have bought into.  I'm not even sure that Lebron was in China on October 4 (the day the tweet was made), but he certainly had the resources to leave if his family was at risk.  Lebron's tweet (10 days later) was about money, as was James Harden's, as was Morey's apology tweets, as was the Rockets' owner scolding Morey, etc., etc.

then you have a problem with reading and comprehension because Lebron's tweets don't make sense without the context of him being in "harm's way".  All of the tweets when read together lead to only 1 conclusion, i.e. Lebron was worried because he was in China.  The statements make no sense without that context.

And Lebron was absolutely in China at the time of the tweet.  Here is a Washington Post article about that

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/07/nba-china-tweet-daryl-morey/

and here is one with a fairly detailed timeline of events and statements from all sorts of people including the Rockets owner, Nets owner (who of course was born in Taiwan), and Adam Silver (which all echo pretty much the same thing Lebron said - where is the outrage of Adam Silver, why just Lebron).

https://www.businessinsider.com/nba-china-feud-timeline-daryl-morey-tweet-hong-kong-protests-2019-10#the-nba-issued-another-statement-on-october-8-this-time-nba-commissioner-adam-silver-said-the-league-would-not-censor-players-or-team-owners-8

Here is Joe Tsai from that business insider article

“By now I hope you can begin to understand why the Daryl Morey tweet is so damaging to the relationship with our fans in China,'' Tsai wrote. “I don’t know Daryl personally. I am sure he’s a fine NBA general manager, and I will take at face value his subsequent apology that he was not as well informed as he should have been. But the hurt that this incident has caused will take a long time to repair.''

So exactly what Lebron said, yet Lebron is the only one being discussed.  Hmm, I wonder why that is.


Here is a big piece ESPN did on Tsai which talks a fair amount about that trip to China in 2019

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33723055/brooklyn-nets-owner-joe-tsai-face-nba-uneasy-china-relationship

Even before the controversy, the NBA had begun to consider contingencies in the event a player spoke out about human rights. Inside the Hong Kong office, the tense political climate was creating divisions, and NBA officials worried about safety. The league studied how other foreign companies had saved their businesses by issuing apologies for offending China.

"It was, 'These are some examples of what other companies have been doing,'" one NBA source familiar with the debate told ESPN. "I don't think it ever got to the point where it was, 'This is going to be our position.'"

Suddenly it was reality. To many NBA officials and league executives, the response was obvious: The league would have to fire Morey and issue a public apology.

Regardless, the NBA's stated principles were butting up against the realities of doing business in China. "I think the NBA was caught with its feet in two boats, and both were separating," Fenton said.

In Shanghai, Tsai worried the government would cancel the games, the source close to him said. He asked his Alibaba co-founder, Jack Ma, to contact city officials to let the exhibitions continue. Ma was successful. Meanwhile, LeBron James, whose new movie "Space Jam: A New Legacy," was in production, raged to players about Morey during a meeting in China at a Ritz-Carlton, according to a source familiar with the meeting. (After returning to the U.S., James said Morey was "misinformed" in his opinion about Hong Kong.)