I’m no pollyanna about what most major corporations will do for money. Not for people either. Recently a lady had a relative of mine sign marriage paperwork against his knowledge in an attempt to scam an elderly man of his money (the marriage was annulled, criminal prosecution to follow soon). It’s really pathetic, however, to watch the NBA, a league swimming in cash, to bow to the communist dictatorship in China.
For those not watching, China is moving against the sovereignty of Hong Kong, which has more rights than mainland China per an agreement with the British. China is attempting to extradite residents of Hong Kong for trials, aka do what China does best – stampede its own. China currently oppresses Muslims and Christians, restricting religious freedom and going so far as to imprison and restrict communication devices among the groups. They prevent any free speech and execute with reckless freedom. They are the world leaders in spying on their own citizens, recently creating a “social score” based on loyalty to Xi, their dictator and there are countless stories of the government’s corruption. For the US, they ruthlessly acquire the assets of companies that do business in China by making it a requirement for doing business in their country. It then retools that tech for their military, which is threatening expansion in several areas.
Hong Kong has been a hotbed of protest with the oppression and recently the GM of the Houston Rockets tweeted support for the people of Hong Kong. Suddenly, Rockets aplenty, from their star player to the owner, sent out support tweets every which way to Sunday. China’s response? Like a good little oligarchy, they banned the preseason broadcasts as the NBA scrambled for the money over standing up for one city (or even one tweet). This is really pathetic and it takes my personal interest in the NBA from 3% to zero. (South Park by contrast openly mocked the Chinese government and the companies that pander to their demands. They were also removed from the Chinese internet almost instantly). I realize this website will take a huge hit with my Chinese audience (currently zero, never mind) but be better NBA. You’re not as socially forward as you act when you censor your own in favor of $4 billion. Well, there goes my China comedy tour!