From Newsgroup: alt.sports.basketball.nba

Someone's sockpuppet wrote:

On Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 8:52:31 AM UTC-5, Ubiquitous wrote:

KISSIMMEE, Fla. rCo After kneeling during the national anthem on the
opening night of the NBArCOs bubble restart, LeBron James dedicated the
coordinated social justice demonstration to former NFL quarterback
Colin Kaepernick.

James, who led the Los Angeles Lakers past the Clippers, 103-101, at
the Arena at Disney World on Thursday, said Kaepernick rCLtaught me a
lotrCY about the protest issue. Kaepernick, once a star quarterback with
the San Francisco 49ers, has not played in the NFL since the season he
began protesting police brutality by taking a knee during the national
anthem in 2016.

rCLI hope we made Kaep proud,rCY James said. rCLI hope we continue to make >> Kaep proud every single day. I hope I make him proud on how I live my
life, not only out on the basketball floor but off the floor.rCY

The Lakers and Clippers donned rCLBlack Lives MatterrCY shirts and locked >> arms before their contest in a unified demonstration. Every player on
both teams participated, as did the coaches and referees. A similar
demonstration took place involving members of the Utah Jazz and New
Orleans Pelicans earlier Thursday.

The 35-year-old James, who has been outspoken on political issues
dating back to Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner, called for the
Louisville police officers who shot Breonna Taylor to be arrested last
week. After recently praising Rep. John Lewis (whose funeral was held
Thursday) for teaching him to rCLnever be afraid of conflict, good
conflict, positive conflict that can create change,rCY James said he
appreciated KaepernickrCOs willingness to take a polarizing stand and to
clearly state his motives, even when critics suggested kneeling was
disrespectful to the military or un-American.

rCLKaep was someone who stood up when times werenrCOt comfortable, when
people didnrCOt understand, when people refused to listen to what he was
saying,rCY James said. rCLIf you go back and listen to his postgame
interviews when he was talking about why he was kneeling, it had
absolutely nothing to do with the flag. It had absolutely nothing to do
about the soldiers, the men and women that keep our land free. He
explained that, and the ears were closed. People never listened. They
refused to listen. I did. A lot of my people in the Black community did
listen.rCY


NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that he would not enforce a
rCLlong-standing rule requiring standing during the playing of our
national anthemrCY because of rCLthese unique circumstances.rCY

Before the bubble openers, NBA players had not knelt during the
national anthem in the post-Kaepernick era. Back in 1996, Mahmoud
Abdul-Rauf was suspended for one game for failing to stand during the
anthem.

rCLWe thank [Kaepernick] for sacrificing everything he did to put us in a >> position today, even years later, to have that moment that we had
tonight,rCY James said.

Multiple players who participated in the demonstrations called them
rCLemotional,rCY and National Basketball Players Association Executive
Director Michele Roberts applauded the Nuggets and Pelicans. She later
said in a statement that she was "very proud"Y of the rCLsober, powerfully >> movingrCY and rCLheartfeltrCY demonstration.

Even so, the NBA community seemed to be bracing for the possibility of
political blow back. President Trump, a longtime critic of players who
kneel during the anthem, said earlier this month that rCLthe game is over >> for merCY when it happens because the action amounts to rCLa sign of great >> disrespect for our Country and our Flag.rCY

Pelicans guard JJ Redick defended the collective kneeling from
potential critics who might believe the players were politicizing the
anthem.

rCLThe majority of Americans want social justice, real equality and to
end police brutality,rCY Redick said. rCLThe polls back that up. Politics >> and sports coexist now. The league has recognized that.rCY

James, meanwhile, said he would offer no preemptive response to
potential critics.

rCLThererCOs always going to be people who donrCOt agree with what yourCOre >> doing,rCY he said. "No matter what you do in life, you're always going to >> have people try to pick apart whatever you do. If yourCOre passionate and >> true and authentic to whatever your cause is, then it doesnrCOt matter. I >> couldnrCOt care less about the naysayers. IrCOve been hearing it for too
long.rCY

Poor Ubi is having a tough day today so please excuse his flood posting. >His mom has made national news...#sad.

In other words, you have lost the debate.
Yeah, I see why you posted this via sockpuppet...

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