Suns wearing "I can't breathe" T-shirts last night

[Iceman]

What are your thoughts about the Suns wearing these shirts last night?

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2014/12/16/phoenix-suns-players-wear-i-cant-breathe-t-shirts/20467915/

 

[Covert Rain]

Fine by me. I would rather them be wearing shirts that have something on them they believe in versus a Sprite logo and it's tagline.

 

[SirStefan32]

My thoughts are that they should focus on basketball and not on making political statements. "I can't win" should be the shirts they wear. They are on "company time" and there is no room for political statements during those times. If they want to go out and protest what they perceive as injustice, they are more than welcome to do so on their own time.

What's even worse is that this was very tacky and extremely unoriginal.

On a more personal levels, I hope that next time they need police assistance, there are no police officers to help them.

Suns should issue a clarification to the Phoenix PD, stating that players' views most definitely do not reflect the views of the organization, and that the organization is appreciate and supportive of Phoenix PD, or something like that. Having said that, it will never happen as Sarver is to the left of Al Sharpton and other lunatics.

EDIT:
To clarify, I don't give a crap about anyone's political views, but the sports are one thing I watch for relaxation. Last thing I want to see when I watch basketball is politics. Had they been wearing "Don't thread on me" shirts, my reaction would be the same.

EDIT 2:
I equate this with a family Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner where a snotty teenager talks about how Republicans are evil and want children to die, while grandpa goes on a rant about about Obama being a Kenyan Muslim Antichrist. Can't even sit through a 45 minute dinner without going into political fights.

 

[PDXChris]

My thoughts are that they should focus on basketball and not on making political statements. "I can't win" should be the shirts they wear. They are on "company time" and there is no room for political statements during those times. If they want to go out and protest what they perceive as injustice, they are more than welcome to do so on their own time.

What's even worse is that this was very tacky and extremely unoriginal.

On a more personal levels, I hope that next time they need police assistance, there are no police officers to help them.

Suns should issue a clarification to the Phoenix PD, stating that players' views most definitely do not reflect the views of the organization, and that the organization is appreciate and supportive of Phoenix PD, or something like that. Having said that, it will never happen as Sarver is to the left of Al Sharpton and other lunatics.

EDIT:
To clarify, I don't give a crap about anyone's political views, but the sports are one thing I watch for relaxation. Last thing I want to see when I watch basketball is politics. Had they been wearing "Don't thread on me" shirts, my reaction would be the same.

Just curious, but how do you feel about this?

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[SirStefan32]

I like my sports without politics. It's really THAT simple.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

My thoughts are that they should focus on basketball and not on making political statements. "I can't win" should be the shirts they wear. They are on "company time" and there is no room for political statements during those times. If they want to go out and protest what they perceive as injustice, they are more than welcome to do so on their own time.

What's even worse is that this was very tacky and extremely unoriginal.

On a more personal levels, I hope that next time they need police assistance, there are no police officers to help them.

Suns should issue a clarification to the Phoenix PD, stating that players' views most definitely do not reflect the views of the organization, and that the organization is appreciate and supportive of Phoenix PD, or something like that. Having said that, it will never happen as Sarver is to the left of Al Sharpton and other lunatics.

EDIT:
To clarify, I don't give a crap about anyone's political views, but the sports are one thing I watch for relaxation. Last thing I want to see when I watch basketball is politics. Had they been wearing "Don't thread on me" shirts, my reaction would be the same.

EDIT 2:
I equate this with a family Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner where a snotty teenager talks about how Republicans are evil and want children to die, while grandpa goes on a rant about about Obama being a Kenyan Muslim Antichrist. Can't even sit through a 45 minute dinner without going into political fights.

 

[devilalum]

You guys got it all wrong. This is obviously a statement about all the choking that's been going on lately on the court.

 

[Covert Rain]

My thoughts are that they should focus on basketball and not on making political statements.

That would be fine by me except professional sports decided a long time ago that sending "corporate" messages is OK. Those have nothing to do with basketball either.

 

[SirStefan32]

That would be fine by me except professional sports decided a long time ago that sending "corporate" messages is OK. Those have nothing to do with basketball either.

Well, of course. I hate to tell you this, but players belong to a private organization that's sponsored by many corporations. If you are looking for a "public"/ state-owned sports team, feel free to look at Russian, Chinese, or some Eastern European teams.

NBA players' paychecks are signed by corporations, as is mine, as is just about anybody's.

 

[SirStefan32]

You guys got it all wrong. This is obviously a statement about all the choking that's been going on lately on the court.

Heh!

EDIT:

You know... maybe they need to start doing "hands up" political statements on defense.

 

[Brian]

What are your thoughts about the Suns wearing these shirts last night?

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2014/12/16/phoenix-suns-players-wear-i-cant-breathe-t-shirts/20467915/

My thoughts? I think it's effin stupid.

 

[BC867]

Approximately 76-78% of NBA players are African-American.

Black players have greater "numbers" in the NBA than the Tea Party does in the Republican party.

From a neutral standpoint (rather than right or wrong, pro or con) it is not surprising that some players used a format easily at their disposal.

Now, let's play basketball. Although I don't think moving on from one night of a political demonstration is going to affect the lack of ability of the Suns to play functional NBA basketball.

More 3-point shots than 2-point shots. Bah, humbug. It's chicken basketball.

 

[sunsfan88]

I don't have a problem with it. Many teams and players have done it already.

Their just trying to raise awareness by doing it on a big stage.

 

[Covert Rain]

Well, of course. I hate to tell you this, but players belong to a private organization that's sponsored by many corporations. If you are looking for a "public"/ state-owned sports team, feel free to look at Russian, Chinese, or some Eastern European teams.

NBA players' paychecks are signed by corporations, as is mine, as is just about anybody's.

I hate to tell you this but I have no problem with a team that is privately owned showing off their logo which is how it used to be. I am personally not looking for any sports team to be "public". In another words, said private organization (i.e. Suns) have a Suns logo. Advertisement used to be reserved for signage and such. ******* out your team to sponsored logos is a more recent thing.

This has nothing to do with what a company can or can't do. The original question is do I mind having players where things like the above. The answer I gave is completely relevant. I would rather a player where something he believes in versus being forced to be a corporate sponsored stooge for advertising dollars because of some deal the owner signed.

That has nothing to do with the legality, the ability to do so or anything else for that matter. Nobody questioned a companies right to do so. You made a comment regarding they should focus on basketball.....OK.....being a walking billboard has nothing to do with basketball either which was the point.

 

[elindholm]

I don't have a problem with it. Professional athletes are entertainers and public figures. It is normal for celebrities to use their celebrity status in order to participate in public discourse on issues that shape society. (Those who would rather stay in the shadows usually find that privacy frustratingly elusive.) Oprah Winfrey and Clint Eastwood endorse opposing presidential candidates, and somehow the public finds a way to care about their political opinions. It is one of the trappings of celebrity.

No one gets paid $10 million or more a year to play basketball. They get paid that much to be public figures. So if that's the equation and they want to make a statement, fine; it's part of their role. Barkley famously said, "I am not a role model," but that was wishful thinking on his part. If the masses are paying good money to make you into a super-person in their eyes, you are a role model, like it or not. So take it on, and if wearing a T-shirt with a trite message of protest on it feels like the right thing to do, go ahead and do it.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I would say something here, but it would be political in nature, and I don't come to a basketball board to discuss politics. I don't get on any board to discuss politics, I get enough of that in my every day life.

One of my reasons for being a basketball fan is to escape all of that for a few minutes.

 

[SirStefan32]

I would say something here, but it would be political in nature, and I don't come to a basketball board to discuss politics. I don't get on any board to discuss politics, I get enough of that in my every day life.

One of my reasons for being a basketball fan is to escape all of that for a few minutes.

I suspect most politically informed basketball fans feel that way. When my Suns are playing well, I forget all about political crap for an couple of hours.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I would say something here, but it would be political in nature, and I don't come to a basketball board to discuss politics. I don't get on any board to discuss politics, I get enough of that in my every day life.

One of my reasons for being a basketball fan is to escape all of that for a few minutes.

Yeah that.

Steve

 

[JustWinBaby]

I would say something here, but it would be political in nature, and I don't come to a basketball board to discuss politics. I don't get on any board to discuss politics, I get enough of that in my every day life.

One of my reasons for being a basketball fan is to escape all of that for a few minutes.

Amen

 

[Covert Rain]

I don't have a problem with it. Professional athletes are entertainers and public figures. It is normal for celebrities to use their celebrity status in order to participate in public discourse on issues that shape society. (Those who would rather stay in the shadows usually find that privacy frustratingly elusive.) Oprah Winfrey and Clint Eastwood endorse opposing presidential candidates, and somehow the public finds a way to care about their political opinions. It is one of the trappings of celebrity.

No one gets paid $10 million or more a year to play basketball. They get paid that much to be public figures. So if that's the equation and they want to make a statement, fine; it's part of their role. Barkley famously said, "I am not a role model," but that was wishful thinking on his part. If the masses are paying good money to make you into a super-person in their eyes, you are a role model, like it or not. So take it on, and if wearing a T-shirt with a trite message of protest on it feels like the right thing to do, go ahead and do it.

Preach on preacher.

By the way I completely agree that entertainment in general is an escape. However, there is a reason I fast forward through commercials or change the channel on the radio. There is a reason when I am at games I am not glued to my seat during breaks to watch mascots compete in the TIDE sponsored "video tron" race.

They wore shirts for what? 5 minutes? I simply don't see how this impacts anybody anymore than the stupid advertisements shoved in fans faces. That ruins any escape as well. One is sponsoring a social view (not political one IMO) and the other the all mighty dollar. Neither has anything to do with the game.

The precedent has been established that in professional sports, nothing is just about the game anymore (see fantasy sports, betting, etc..). It is what it is IMO which is why I don't have a problem with it. Maybe I would feel different if this became a regular display by players and such. However, I remember many on this board being up in arms about corporate sponsorship (stadium names, shirt logos) and now it's almost generally accepted.

Maybe I am jaded but when it comes to professional sports, the big money, the publicity, the sound bites, the sponsorship and everything else that comes along with it....I am just numb now. It's the cost of "doing business" and providing entertainment.

 

[Bufalay]

My thoughts are that they should focus on basketball and not on making political statements. "I can't win" should be the shirts they wear. They are on "company time" and there is no room for political statements during those times. If they want to go out and protest what they perceive as injustice, they are more than welcome to do so on their own time.

What's even worse is that this was very tacky and extremely unoriginal.

On a more personal levels, I hope that next time they need police assistance, there are no police officers to help them.

Suns should issue a clarification to the Phoenix PD, stating that players' views most definitely do not reflect the views of the organization, and that the organization is appreciate and supportive of Phoenix PD, or something like that. Having said that, it will never happen as Sarver is to the left of Al Sharpton and other lunatics.

EDIT:
To clarify, I don't give a crap about anyone's political views, but the sports are one thing I watch for relaxation. Last thing I want to see when I watch basketball is politics. Had they been wearing "Don't thread on me" shirts, my reaction would be the same.

EDIT 2:
I equate this with a family Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner where a snotty teenager talks about how Republicans are evil and want children to die, while grandpa goes on a rant about about Obama being a Kenyan Muslim Antichrist. Can't even sit through a 45 minute dinner without going into political fights.

How do you feel about the National Anthem being sung before each game? Or what about the political statement made by the B2 Bomber flown over game 7 of the DBacks' World Series?

 

[JCSunsfan]

How do you feel about the National Anthem being sung before each game? Or what about the political statement made by the B2 Bomber flown over game 7 of the DBacks' World Series?

Generally patriotism and expressions of national pride are not considered partisan or issue oriented therefore not intrinsically political.

There is always someone who will try to make it that way though.

 

[SirStefan32]

Generally patriotism and expressions of national pride are not considered partisan or issue oriented therefore not intrinsically political.

There is always someone who will try to make it that way though.

Agreed.

 

[Phrazbit]

As a true 'Murican I wouldn't mind of they eased up on the National Anthem before every single game, and just saved it for the playoffs, the season opener, the All-Star game, ect. I feel like its getting watered down with how often its played. A rousing rendition of it is a beautiful thing but hearing it like 200 times a year in various sporting events, usually sung by people of dubious talent, it makes the Anthem feel more like a tying of ones shoes or brushing your teeth in the morning, rather than a patriotic moment.

 

[Chaplin]

As a true 'Murican I wouldn't mind of they eased up on the National Anthem before every single game, and just saved it for the playoffs, the season opener, the All-Star game, ect. I feel like its getting watered down with how often its played. A rousing rendition of it is a beautiful thing but hearing it like 200 times a year in various sporting events, usually sung by people of dubious talent, it makes the Anthem feel more like a tying of ones shoes or brushing your teeth in the morning, rather than a patriotic moment.

I hear what you are saying, but I disagree with it. It can be as patriotic as you make it. Nothing makes me angrier at a sporting even when someone doesn't respect it, either by not standing or removing a hat, when it is played. I'm a military brat, so I probably have a different viewpoint than a lot of other people.