Do the players actually care about BLM or is this Virtue Signalling?

**mjsuax13** · 08-26-20, 08:50 PM

I was just thinking the same thing. Do they actually care? I’m not sure of the answer.

**7deuceoff$uit** · 08-26-20, 08:53 PM

The statement by the Bucks' players seemed vague. Enough to where they can pick and choose when to play again without feeling guilty, or like they betrayed BLM.

**jjgold** · 08-26-20, 08:55 PM

Of Course they don’t care
They never did and never will killings in their blood

**xKMACKx** · 08-26-20, 08:59 PM

Most don't care. Just going along with the rest like sheep.

**Machba** · 08-26-20, 09:00 PM

If they cared they should be in chicago where black on black crime is at an all time high. SO NO THEY DO NOT CARE. IMO POLITICAL DRIVEN

**funnyb25** · 08-26-20, 09:02 PM

Originally posted by xKMACKx

Most don't care. Just going along with the rest like sheep.

This. Very few care. Might be able to count them who do on 1 hand. Just have to follow along to prevent looking bad as a black. It is all lame.

**Nitrogen** · 08-26-20, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by Unrivaled

I think it is the ladder for most of them and their image. Change my mind.

Basketball, more than any other sport, has players who are

- predominantly black
- a high % who grew up in conditions most of us would consider sub-standard
- many grew up near crime (yes, black on black crime)
- have witnessed the disproportionate arrests, harassment of people they know. This can be debated with the "more criminals attract more police" argument, but as a kid - I grew up with cops coming to school handing out "Don't Do Drugs" type shirts. Notsomuch for these guys. Things like the stop and frisk policies lower crime, but also lead to people getting "in the system" for offenses that others wouldn't even get a warning for. Over time - it leads to reactions like you see (mass protest, people running from cops even when innocent, distrust of law enforcement)

I think it's a reaction by people (the players) who feel a connection, without any idea of if it'll make things better. Kneeling is considered unacceptable by many. Speaking out in uniform after a game is unacceptable. Public protests get tainted by those who use it to commit violence.

These guys want to do something, and this is non violent.

I don't think it's virtue signaling.

And it's "latter".

**KnuckleHeadz** · 08-26-20, 09:06 PM

Dave Roberts said it was a joint effort and the white brothers are there for the black men

**dmm** · 08-26-20, 09:25 PM

Originally posted by Unrivaled

I think it is the ladder for most of them and their image. Change my mind.

Why would they need a ladder? They average 6 ft 7.

**stevenash** · 08-26-20, 09:37 PM

No, the majority of the players probably don't care.
Sure there may be a few that are sympathetic to the cause, but seriously do you think most of these spoiled players with their 10's of million dollar contract really give a shit about some bloke in Detroit on welfare struggling to make ends meet.

If they did give a shit we'd be hearing about the superstar players donating a million or two to the cause.
All I hear i crickets.

**Kermit** · 08-26-20, 09:39 PM

If the players actually cared, they would speak out on all of the black children that keep getting killed by violent gunfire whose shooters are never caught.

**asiagambler** · 08-26-20, 09:42 PM

Well they wanted Black Lives Matter painted on the court and social justice names on the back of their jerseys. So they kind of have to do something otherwise these are seen as empty gestures. They essentially forced their own hand

Hopefully the season isn't cancelled

**Nitrogen** · 08-26-20, 09:55 PM

Originally posted by stevenash

If they did give a shit we'd be hearing about the superstar players donating a million or two to the cause.
All I hear i crickets.

The "they make and have all this money" argument....as always.

Some players have already donated their salaries. Others have donated towards new foundations. The NBA has pledged 300 million over the next decade to various related causes.

Which organization should they donate to in order to affect change a legacy system that (in their view) targets and considers the lives of certain people less valuable than others?

**jjgold** · 08-26-20, 09:57 PM

Nothing will change until black behavior changes

**carolinakid** · 08-26-20, 09:59 PM

most of these pro sports guys would not even give the normal black person the time of day imo much less these blm thugs, someone change my thinking on this

**JIBBBY** · 08-26-20, 10:00 PM

Players now get an extra few days off paid and with rest.. Probably love this..

**mpaschal34** · 08-26-20, 10:01 PM

I agree that bad police should be held accountable.

However if you don’t hold your own race (black/white/other) accountable for their wrong doings, it’s hard to hold the police accountable. Needs to start within your own community first.

**Nitrogen** · 08-26-20, 10:10 PM

Originally posted by mpaschal34

However if you don’t hold your own race (black/white/other) accountable for their wrong doings, it’s hard to hold the police accountable.

What did you do after the Oklahoma City or Aurora or Sandy Hook or Spokane (bombing) or Las Vegas shooting tragedies? White wall street criminals absolutely fleeced the country the first and 2nd bailouts of Bush/Obama - causing millions of white people to lose their homes and jobs.

You make it sound like if one segment of society can't think like and act like a monolith and reign in violence within their race, that we can't expect to hold police accountable.

**Black Coffee** · 08-26-20, 10:14 PM

Originally posted by Nitrogen

Basketball, more than any other sport, has players who are

- predominantly black
- a high % who grew up in conditions most of us would consider sub-standard
- many grew up near crime (yes, black on black crime)
- have witnessed the disproportionate arrests, harassment of people they know. This can be debated with the "more criminals attract more police" argument, but as a kid - I grew up with cops coming to school handing out "Don't Do Drugs" type shirts. Notsomuch for these guys. Things like the stop and frisk policies lower crime, but also lead to people getting "in the system" for offenses that others wouldn't even get a warning for. Over time - it leads to reactions like you see (mass protest, people running from cops even when innocent, distrust of law enforcement)

I think it's a reaction by people (the players) who feel a connection, without any idea of if it'll make things better. Kneeling is considered unacceptable by many. Speaking out in uniform after a game is unacceptable. Public protests get tainted by those who use it to commit violence.

These guys want to do something, and this is non violent.

I don't think it's virtue signaling.

And it's "latter".

This is a smart statement as it examines multiple different angles.

Most importantly, the players are taking a non-violent approach.

The only thing I can add is that many of these athletes have kids. The NBA players are in a bubble separated from their families. In the bubble, things are fine. But outside that bubble, in the real world, nothing is changing. At some point, many of the players will worry about being with their kids/family more than being isolated and playing basketball for people's entertainment.

But, as we've learned...

If you kneel, certain people complain...
If you speak out, certain people complain...
If you decide not to play, certain people complain...

And not surprisingly, it's usually the same "type of people" complaining.

**Kermit** · 08-26-20, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by Black Coffee

This is a smart statement as it examines multiple different angles.

Most importantly, the players are taking a non-violent approach.

The only thing I can add is that many of these athletes have kids. The NBA players are in a bubble separated from their families. In the bubble, things are fine. But outside that bubble, in the real world, nothing is changing. At some point, many of the players will worry about being with their kids/family more than being isolated and playing basketball for people's entertainment.

But, as we've learned...

If you kneel, certain people complain...
If you speak out, certain people complain...
If you decide not to play, certain people complain...

And not surprisingly, it's usually the same "type of people" complaining.

Here is the real world outside of the bubble. This is why whites don't give a shit about their protesting. They don't give a flying fukk about each other.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">this is the wildest video i seen in a really long time....so much going on....this video got hidden plots...watch the background bro went FLYING <a href="https://t.co/DTScP7vHRz">pic.twitter.com/DTScP7vHRz</a></p>— KENNY BEAR (@phillycustoms) <a href="https://twitter.com/phillycustoms/status/1298347830223032328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" >August 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

**Nitrogen** · 08-26-20, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by Black Coffee

And not surprisingly, it's usually the same "type of people" complaining.

At SBR (and elsewhere) there is a direct correlation between how acceptable a form of protest is, and how much it annoys or inconveniences people.

**7deuceoff$uit** · 08-26-20, 10:47 PM

Originally posted by Kermit

Here is the real world outside of the bubble. This is why whites don't give a shit about their protesting. They don't give a flying fukk about each other.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">this is the wildest video i seen in a really long time....so much going on....this video got hidden plots...watch the background bro went FLYING <a rel="nofollow" href="https://t.co/DTScP7vHRz">pic.twitter.com/DTScP7vHRz</a></p>— KENNY BEAR (@phillycustoms) <a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/phillycustoms/status/1298347830223032328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" >August 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

At the end, the girl in the pink shorts has both her hammers hanging out.

**guitarjosh** · 08-26-20, 10:53 PM

I'm sure they care, maybe not about their own safety as much as their sons', brothers', fathers' uncles', cousins', friends', etc. The problem is the media pushes a narrative. They're trying to convince everyone that unarmed black men are gunned down all day every day by police when in reality it might happen 1 out of every million interactions.

**funnyb25** · 08-26-20, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by 7deuceoff$uit

At the end, the girl in the pink shorts has both her hammers hanging out.

Hahahahahahaha

**thomorino** · 08-26-20, 10:55 PM

It’s about convincing people America is racist and getting trump out of office, their weren’t any boycotts by professional athletes when Obama was president even though their were far more police shootings per year during his presidency.

**Coolcanuck79** · 08-26-20, 10:56 PM

It was comical watching the Bruins press conference (Bergeron and Chara) after the game and Chara tried to answer as best he could in broken English but you could tell neither of them gave two shits and had the NHL had no plans on boycotting any games.

**pimike** · 08-26-20, 11:02 PM

Originally posted by jjgold

Nothing will change until black behavior changes

Solid

**stevenash** · 08-27-20, 01:03 AM

Originally posted by Nitrogen

At SBR (and elsewhere) there is a direct correlation between how acceptable a form of protest is, and how much it annoys or inconveniences people.

a) No protest annoys me until said protest becomes riotous, or felonious.
Than I have a problem with a protest, when peaceful turns violent.

b) Don't lump me is s that "type of person"
Just because I don't hear about rich black athletes helping out the welfare cases.
I'm sure there are members of the African American community that do help out, it's just I don't hear or read about it.

I have trouble with hypocrites.
Colin Kaepernick for one I have trouble with.
Even though adopted he was raised by a very privileged family.
His injustice sound offs may be sincere but to many it doesn't ring true.

Just because I have trouble with a few don't lump me in as one of those "type of people."
And no, you didn't hit a nerve by the way.

Before you label anyone anything get to know one first.
I'm not "one of those people"
I'm a son of a military career Navy man where I was brought up to respect the person that respects you, not the color of the skin.
If however you can't respect yourself I can not respect you

A large majority of those violent protesters in Portland have little respect for themselves and property, how an I supposed to respect that?

**Kermit** · 08-27-20, 01:09 AM

Originally posted by Nitrogen

At SBR (and elsewhere) there is a direct correlation between how acceptable a form of protest is, and how much it annoys or inconveniences people.

If a protest moves out into the streets where other citizens are having their legal rights infringed upon, then it is no longer a protest.

**jjgold** · 08-27-20, 05:45 AM

Originally posted by thomorino

It’s about convincing people America is racist and getting trump out of office, their weren’t any boycotts by professional athletes when Obama was president even though their were far more police shootings per year during his presidency.

seems what this is all about, Trump gaining steam because of this

**pologq** · 08-27-20, 07:21 AM

i think some NBA players genuinely care but less than the amount they want you to believe. some do it for clout. some do it to look cool. some do it to get laid. most do it for a combo of all 3.

oh and some do it cause a superstar is doing it so they want to follow with him.

they have a genuine chance here to do it right and come out and say true feelings and make a stand if they wish.

**manny24** · 08-27-20, 07:39 AM

every awful irresponsible move they make pushes trump further to the top

**thetrinity** · 08-27-20, 08:20 AM

Probably 1 or 2 on each team cares (NBA) the rest just follow

**Unrivaled** · 08-27-20, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by Coolcanuck79

It was comical watching the Bruins press conference (Bergeron and Chara) after the game and Chara tried to answer as best he could in broken English but you could tell neither of them gave two shits and had the NHL had no plans on boycotting any games.

Yeah I watched this it was quite comical.