WATCH: Lebron James Defends Communist China Over Mean Tweets
After this, I never want to hear anyone compare LeBron James to Michael Jordan ever again. Ever. Again.
Athletes aren't expected to know all the minutiae of international politics. Even for some of us who follow politics for a living, it's as difficult as not choking in the NBA finals. But the Chinese and NBA drama of the past week should've at least been easy enough for athletes to understand. The hubbub all started when Houston Rockets coach Daryl Morey tweeted this:
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey's original tweet supporting Hong Kong's fight to defend its Freedom.… https://t.co/SR71pGCZ7i— Frank Lee (@Frank Lee)1570465719.0
Which thanks to outrage and cancel culture, he deleted and issued an apology:
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and the NBA just backed down over a tweet which said “Fight For Freedom. Stand… https://t.co/aWXnO1BiC5— JERRY DUNLEAVY (@JERRY DUNLEAVY)1570410648.0
For more on what's going on with China, Hong Kong, and the NBA see People of Hong Kong Plead for Trump’s Help Against China and NBA Cancels Press Conferences, says China Questions are “Unfair”. So you'd think a guy in the thick of it, like LeBron James, would pick up a few things and not respond like this:
“We all talk about this freedom of speech. Yes, we all do have freedom of speech, but at times there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you’re not thinking about others, and you’re only thinking about yourself. I don’t want to get into a… feud with Daryl Morey, but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand and he spoke.”
The clarifying tweets didn't help.
Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications… https://t.co/M32QwW0f0H— LeBron James (@LeBron James)1571106925.0
Reminder, this is about a coach who defended Hong Kong against Communist China.
My team and this league just went through a difficult week. I think people need to understand what a tweet or stat… https://t.co/M38zdFmwHl— LeBron James (@LeBron James)1571106972.0
Ah yes. The consequences and ramifications of a tweet... defending an oppressed people. Sometimes violently oppressed. Forced abortions, anyone? But the people who really had a difficult week was LeBron and other million-dollar sports players. Because they had to answer questions from reporters.
This is why so many Americans roll their eyes at celebrity wokeness. They act like they are so brave to speak out about social issues with almost zero consequences. The entire Media Entertainment Complex agrees with them. Where's the bravery?
Yet the general manager of a sports team sends a single tweet causing the league and the players to actually lose money. Now all of a sudden, LeBron is like "Laura Ingraham has a point. We should just shut up and dribble."
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