The 76ers' decision not to let singer Sevyn Streeter perform the National Anthem at their season opener Wednesday because she was wearing a shirt that read "We Matter" has been met with mixed reaction from the media. ESPN's Dan Le Batard said Streeter's shirt was "so benign," but he does "understand why it is that an organization would not want its National Anthem to have anything other than the National Anthem." Le Batard said NBA teams might feel they "have to accept protests" from players and partners, but "don’t have to accept it" from Anthem singers. ESPN’s Bomani Jones said the team's decision "also makes them weak." He added the NBA is "trying to push this notion of 'together'" as the theme this season, but "you can't get together until people start acting like everyone matters" ("Highly Questionable, ESPN, 10/27). Fox Sports' Jason Whitlock said, "The statement the Sixers put out after this was about, 'Hey look, we understand gestures but the NBA, we're about action right now.' I love this message. It's a real message. It's about business and it's about results rather than just letting people troll for Twitter followers while they do their National Anthem routine." Fox' Colin Cowherd said, "The NFL actually did it right. Realizing how they're perceived, they allowed a little more protesting. They're seen as a little heavy-handed. The NBA, seen as friendly to the African-American community, can come out and say, 'We're going to be restrictive'" (“Speak for Yourself,” FS1, 10/27).
RETHINK IT: ESPN’s Jemele Hill said after reading 76ers’ statement, "In other words, please only engage in social change as long as it makes everyone feel comfortable." ESPN’s Michael Smith said the NBA does not "want protests, they want politically-correct PSAs packaged properly where in the process you push your product." Hill: "The Philadelphia 76ers exposed themselves with that statement" (“His & Hers,” ESPN2, 10/27). ESPN's Rachel Nichols said the implication of the 76ers' decision is "that wearing a shirt that promotes discussion and thought among millions is somehow not 'meaningful action.'" She added, "It's important to note this was not the NBA preventing Streeter from singing. It was one individual team and it is that team's right to make that decision ... But man, it was a terrible decision and they will be judged for it" ("The Jump," ESPN2, 10/27).
