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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Cuban, Megyn Kelly Debate NBA's Relationships With BLM, China

Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban and Megyn Kelly recently talked about the NBA’s social justice efforts in addition to the league’s TV viewership issues, with Cuban noting politics and sports “have always gone together.” Kelly, though, argued that the intersection now is “on the court” with the NBA’s messaging for Black Lives Matter during the recently concluded playoffs in Orlando. She said, “There was never a huge logo with a divisive issue on the basketball court during the Finals. ... You wear a pink ribbon to support breast cancer, that’s one thing. Putting BLM in the middle of the court when it’s not supported by virtually any Republican in the country (is something different).” Cuban replied, “If we were supporting BlackLivesMatter.com, don’t you think we would have been smart enough to put the .com on the court along with Black Lives Matter? ... We’re supporting the movement. It’s really a distributive movement across the country to try and end racism, to bring awareness to social justice issues.” Kelly: “To pretend that BlackLivesMatter.com or otherwise is not about defunding the police is to be dishonest.” She added the players “who have spoken about this have made clear that they support that.” Cuban disputed that claim, saying, “Individual players can have their opinion and that’s fine. But me, as a governor in the NBA and having been in all those meetings, I can tell you that while we are interested in police reform … we have never talked about defunding the police, and they are extreme different ends.” Cuban said “BLM the hashtag -- the founders -- is completely different than BLM the movement.” Kelly: “People don’t understand this distinction you’re trying to make (and) that’s why they find this logo alienating.” 

NBA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA: Kelly also brought up the NBA’s relationship with China, saying NBA Commissioner Adam Silver came out “with his tail between his legs” following last year's tweet from Rockets GM Daryl Morey supporting Hong Kong. Cuban said he was speaking for himself, and not for the NBA, when he said he is against “all human rights violations, including China.” He then steered the discussion to the U.S. immigration policy and how we should allow more people fleeing human rights atrocities to enter the country. Kelly: "This is about you and the NBA and China. No, I’m explaining to my audience that what’s happening is you’re dodging, because you’re uncomfortable because the NBA will not condemn China." Cuban: “I just told you I’m against human rights violations anywhere.” He added he will have to “deal with the troll bots” if he explicitly condemns China. Cuban: "What’s more important to ask is what actions that I think are important to deal with these issues. You want proclamations, but when I try to talk about actions, you ignore them and say I’m evading the question.” Kelly: “Why would the NBA take $500 million+ from a country that is engaging in ethnic cleansing?” Cuban: “Basically, you’re saying that nobody should do business with China ever.” He added China is a “customer of ours.” Cuban: “Guess what, I’m okay doing business with China. I wish I could solve all the world’s problems -- and I’m sure you do, too -- but we can’t, and so we have to pick our battles” (“The Megyn Kelly Show,” 10/12).

TUCKER CARLSON CHIMES IN: Fox News' Tucker Carlson last night dived into the discussion, noting the NBA "more than any other sports league has completely embraced politics, people who dislike this country and the Chinese Communist party." Carlson: "The league even printed the words ‘Black Lives Matter’ on all of their courts. Like all corporate activism, it’s fraudulent. People know that. NBA owners will complain about police brutality, but they cannot bring themselves to condemn, say, the slavery underway right now in China.” After airing a clip of the Cuban-Kelly back-and-forth about condemning China, Carlson called Cuban a “moral coward." Outkick's Jason Whitlock said sports over the years have been an "ambassador for Americana." Whitlock: "We play the national anthem. It’s a patriotic event. This is a total 180 in terms of branding and the way the NBA has presented itself, and a lot of people are just disconcerted by it.” Whitlock said Cuban danced around the issue of condemning China because they are the “No. 1 market that the NBA is interested in." Whitlock: "America is not the NBA’s priority, China is.” He added, "They’ve turned a patriotic, cultural event into an anti-American protest in the NBA, and to some degree the NFL. We’ve got to put a stop to this.” Carlson: “As you’re describing it, they’re doing it for the benefit of China, our chief rival on the world stage. That seems really sinister to me.” Whitlock: “This whole thing -- ‘Hey, we can’t say anything about China but we’re going to blast America’ -- It’s hypocritical. It’s dangerous. It’s treasonous, and it needs to stop” (“Tucker Carlson Tonight,” Fox News, 10/13).

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