NBA players required to stand for anthem

Blu82 said:

RoadDawg55 said:

Gladstone said:

That is goddamn perfect lmao. I still watch the NBA (FTLOTG) but the messaging got annoying months ago. I don’t like being told I’m an inherently evil person because I’m white nor do I like being lectured on what a terrible country this is that has afforded them opportunities most would literally die for their families to have. While they praise China. Fuck outta here.

I haven’t watched more than a few min of a couple games, but feel similarly. They gotta get hit where it hurts. That happened with China so they cater to them. It can happen here if enough people don’t watch.

I’m not sold that people aren’t watching. The ratings are low but the bubble and Finals being held in October have something to do with that.

WTF???

Rating are low but it is not due to people not watching.
Can someone explain this, please?
My bad. Here I thought people watching is what made ratings.

I think his point is that ratings are down across the board for sports, with the slight exception of the NFL. It's a broader issue impacting all sports rather than one specifically related to wokeness (or lack thereof).

- Stanley Cup ratings were down 60%
- Tennis is down 55%
- Kentucky Derby was down 45%
- Baseball is down 50%

I wouldn't say that any of those sports are pushing the social justice messaging like the NBA, but their ratings have suffered to the same degree.

Sledog said:

Work isn't about politics. You have no right to spout your political BS publicly at work! Owners should shut all this shit down! They are there to play the game for our entertainment. Spout your BS on your own time!

You don't seem to grasp the concept of leverage. Suzie the payroll clerk needs to be careful using her company platform and time to blast controversial political memes. She's replaceable and her company doesn't need the headache. They'll have a new Suzie before the weekend.

A star basketball player has a lot more leeway to say whatever the fuck he wants. Sure, if the owner decides he crossed the line and is a net loss for the franchise due to his activism, then maybe he'll get cut. But in the case of the NBA that's yet to happen. Perhaps Race's theory of declining ratings will change that calculus and outspoken ballplayers will start getting cut if they don't shut up. The market may finally speak in the other direction. Or maybe not. Right now the players have fucking leverage and you're just here to whine about it.

Fire_Marshall_Bill said:

GreenRiverGatorz said:

Sledog said:

Work isn't about politics. You have no right to spout your political BS publicly at work! Owners should shut all this shit down! They are there to play the game for our entertainment. Spout your BS on your own time!

You don't seem to grasp the concept of leverage. Suzie the payroll clerk needs to be careful using her company platform and time to blast controversial political memes. She's replaceable and her company doesn't need the headache. They'll have a new Suzie before the weekend.

A star basketball player has a lot more leeway to say whatever the fuck he wants. Sure, if the owner decides he crossed the line and is a net loss for the franchise due to his activism, then maybe he'll get cut. But in the case of the NBA that's yet to happen. Perhaps Race's theory of declining ratings will change that calculus and outspoken ballplayers will start getting cut if they don't shut up. The market may finally speak in the other direction. Or maybe not. Right now the players have fucking leverage and you're just here to whine about it.

With ratings tanking, how much of that leverage is left?

1998 Finals had 30,000,000 people watching

I think one of these games had under 5. Even factoring Orlando, political debates, and other sports, it's a disaster.

I hope the NBA withers and goes the way of boxing if this is how they're going to act.

Like I said, perhaps Race's theory of ratings will change the owners' tolerance about the players' outspokenness.