THEE OFFICIAL 2019-2020 NBA OFFSEASON THREAD: VICTORY LAP

[lawdog1]

^^^ MJ’s public image was very carefully crafted in an era where that was easier to control. I think he was trying to avoid controversy for purposes of building his brand. I bet he had agents and managers telling him that’s what he should do. So, he should just own that now.

Admit what his priories were back in the day, say he probably been more vocal on important social issues and that he‘a going to try and make up for it going forward. Putting out an obvious post-hoc rationalization that’s not really believable anyway is not the move.

 

[dacomeup]

link? story

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...-says-being-reopened-facility-weird-uplifting

 

[kingjay718]

Cleveland nailing the draft in ‘86 is incredible .

Dougherty
Price
Harper

All in the same draft...then drafted Kevin Johnson and flipped Em for Larry Nance the next year. That’s some elite team building of a core right there man.

Only Cleveland could hit pay dirt in a draft that was one of the worst. Wow.

 

[antidope]

He cared more about money than doing/saying the right thing. Wasn't the first time it's happened and it wont be the last time.

I really wish 45 stuck around its a very aesthetically pleasing number

 

[D StaXX]

You don't need to be a expert in politics to know that the Rodney King beating was some racist BS. Mike simply didn't wanna make white folks uncomfortable.

This what it comes down to and Mike weak as hell for that.
He thought making white people uncomfortable would **** up his bag.
I understand he's a ball player, but in that moment his voice was so large & held so much power.
Silence.

 

[HIM]

Mike is BS'n in certain parts of this doc. Like the stuff about him not speaking up about issues black people go through in america. You don't need to be a politician or an activist to make a statement, to point out the obvious. When Lebron, Melo, CP3 and Dwade went on the ESPY's and said what they said they didn't give some MLK speech or lead some march. They simply let it be known they are aware and where they stand, that's it.

Mike made it sound like it woulda took away from his preparation and all he did was eat, sleep and s*** basketball. Dawg you was hitting casinos the night before playoff games, stop. Then he was like "well maybe I'm not the guy for you to follow..." You shoulda said that 30 years ago Mike. That whole Be like Mike campagne and the way he was being marketed was to get people to follow him, to be bigger than basketball but now he's saying "Don't follow me if...." after he's a global icon and his shoes have been embedded in not just black culture but everywhere.

Mike the basketball player >>>> Mike the person

 

[niceshoes247]

Don’t be hypocrites
for years yall motto is
“secure the bag”
it’s exactly what he did

 

[lawdog1]

Not excusing him, but to be fair to Mike, it’s easier to look at his lack of activism harshly in 2020, but things have actually changed a lot over the last 30 years in terms of how much power and influence athletes and entertainers have. Athletes being very outspoken on political/social issues was still more the exception than the rule in the 90s. It’s different now.

 

[rolaholic]

This discussion is kind of why I don't argue when I hear someone say Kareem is their GOAT.

His resume in the game is almost second to none and his contributions/activism to justice and civil rights off the court at a time where his livelihood could be threatened for taking stands is monumental imo.

His legacy is the total package

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

Not excusing him, but to be fair to Mike, it’s easier to look at his lack of activism harshly in 2020, but things have actually changed a lot over the last 30 years in terms of how much power and influence athletes and entertainers have. Athletes being very outspoken on political/social issues was still more the exception than the rule in the 90s. It’s different now.

 

[Cashflow]

What does your activism currently look like?

 

[pums]

They were practically begging Jordan to say something. Others spoke up for greater issues during worst times. Jordan shouldnt get a pass for that.

 

[lawdog1]

This discussion is kind of why I don't argue when I hear someone say Kareem is their GOAT.

His resume in the game is almost second to none and his contributions/activism to justice and civil rights off the court at a time where his livelihood could be threatened for taking stands is monumental imo.

His legacy is the total package

And he’s always been a very forward thinking person with a broad range of interests. Always has done him even if the stuff he was into wasn’t popular. He written books on history, jazz and also some fictional works. A true renaissance man.

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

What does your activism currently look like?

I've been working with the youth in the inner city for the past 7+ years. Any other questions?

 

[leavemeglazzies]

Republicans buy sneakers too was a joke not meant to be taken seriously.

The story behind one of Michael Jordan’s most misunderstood quotes

Sam Smith tells the story behind the infamous Michael Jordan quote. They are some of the most famous quotes in American history. "A house divided against itself cannot stand." -Abraham Lincoln "Give me liberty or give me death." -Patrick Henry "I have a dream…" -Martin Luther King Jr.

www.nba.com

MJ supporters be like:

He didn't say it.
And if he did, he didn't mean it.
And if he did, you didn't understand it.
And if you did, it's not a big deal.
And if it is, others have said worse.

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

You can be a fan of MJ the hooper and still acknowledge he was morally bankrupt off the court without tryna make excuses or 'be fair' to him. Nobody's perfect.

 

[lawdog1]

Were any of MJ’s contemporaries in the NBA particularly outspoken? I don’t recall that, but it’s not something I would have focused on back then.

Living in LA when he was in his prime as a player, I don’t think Magic really was much of an activist until he basically had to become an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness. He’s gotten more active in other areas over time as he’s grown his business empire.

Maybe there were some NBA players who spoke up on certain things, but again, I don’t think that was nearly as common then as it is now.

 

[MVP]

And even athletes that are speaking up on social justice issues today do pick and choose when and where to do so and are thinking about their money too, see Bron with the whole China thing.

And I've said this before, not everyone is meant to be an activist, your heart should be into whatever cause you're championing because as a public figure you could actually harm the cause by being ignorant or uniformed on whatever it is you're doing.

 

[antidope]

Keyboard activism <<<<<<<<<

 

[MVP]

Were any of MJ’s contemporaries in the NBA particularly outspoken? I don’t recall that, but it’s not something I would have focused on back then.

Living in LA when he was in his prime as a player, I don’t think Magic really was much of an activist until he basically had to become an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness. He’s gotten more active in other areas over time as he’s grown his business empire.

Maybe there were some NBA players who spoke up on certain things, but again, I don’t think that was nearly as common then as it is now.

His teammate Craig Hodges and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf were pretty outspoken. Not really many of the big superstars tho.

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

Keyboard activism <<<<<<<<<

What does this mean?

 

[D StaXX]

As a black man, there's no excuse for Mike.
That **** is funny style. We're aren't asking him to be an activist.
Just speak up. Put out a statement or something.
You staying silent against a man that refers to a group of black people as Mudville.. like come on son.
Jesse Helms is Grand Wizard status fr and this man stayed silent.

 

[nick.]

 

[amitt5504]

I guess THIS is the topic for today....could’ve at least waited til tomorrow

 

[rolaholic]

His teammate Craig Hodges and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf were pretty outspoken. Not really many of the big superstars tho.

Both got seemingly blackballed for it too