The Milwaukee Bucks shocked the NBA today, with one of the strongest social justice statements in sports history.
And one of their owners — a Westporter — stands 100% behind them.
The players stayed in their locker room, boycotting Game 5 of their playoff series against the Orlando Magic. They also called for action by the Wisconsin legislature, in the wake of Sunday’s shooting of Jacob Blake in the back by Kenosha police.
The Bucks’ decision instantly transformed the playoffs. The Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to boycott their games. The WNBA followed by postponing contests.
The action spread to Major League Baseball, when the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds decided not to play.
Marc Lasry
Marc Lasry — a billionaire businessman, hedge fund manager (and Westport resident) — is one of the Bucks’ owners.
He and his fellow owners said tonight:
We fully support our players and the decision they made. Although we did not know beforehand, we would have wholeheartedly agreed with them.
The only way to bring out change is to shine a light on the racial injustices that are happening in front of us. Our players have done that and we will continue to stand alongside them and demand accountability and change.
The Bucks’ action — and their owners’ strong support of their players — will reverberate through the sports and political worlds for years to come.
YES!!!!!!!! Congratulations. It is finally happening!
This is nothing but bullshit Liberal politics. There’s a murder almost every day in Milwaukee against blacks and the Bucks and its players did nothing, but until now. It’s about Donald Trump not the man who was shot or others killed every day including children. Per
Pete Tree– Even criminals don’t deserve to be shot in the back by police officers seven times, in full view of their children. You can draw a direct line between innercity violence and the oppression and poverty that is the subject of these protests. I know it requires some of that academic thinkin’ that the Liberals are so famous for to put this together– But, if you remember, this started well before Donald Trump was in office.
Donald Trump is a temporary distraction and symbolic of a set of larger problems in the country. I bet even Trump supporters can agree that police shouldn’t be acting as judge and executioner.
Excellent response, Mark Lassoff. Dan, thanks for sharing these encouraging actions by athletes to highlight & protest outrageous violence.
Pete, You should have used the word “bullshi” like Bernie did. I checked and there were 98 homicides In Milwaukee in 2019. There are 113 this year so far. I think the point you’re missing is the ACCUMULATED effect, and the details. In this last one there were three policemen and the guy was shot SEVEN times in the back with his kids in the car watching. Doesn’t that deserve a little attention, Pete?
Does anyone really care if the NBA closed the season down? I doubt it. Give these players a map of the U.S. without the state names and my bet is 90% couldn’t place their index finger on Wisconsin.
@James– Now you’re just spouting foolishness. Perhaps your personal preferences aren’t shared by the nation at large?
Pro basketball is the second biggest sport in the country. So, yes, many of us care. College basketball’s final four is one of the most-watched televised sporting events. Pre Covid, I could be found at a Nets game several times per month.
I’m not sure what your point is about geography. I’m certain you’re not a racist, and, when you try to make this point about a mostly black league — which has a higher percentage of college graduates playing of any sport except football — it sounds like a racist dog whistle.
You wouldn’t want to be thought of as the type of person who makes racist remarks while hiding behind semantics, so, I thought I’d let you know!
Thank you for the thoughtful reply Mark. Looking at the NBA ratings, there’s been a 20% drop in playoff ratings from last season. For NBA’s relevant demographic(18-49), the drop is even more(28%). I’m much more a college BB fan than NBA.
For the geography statement it was not made with any race consideration or specific sport, I could even go as far as saying the majority of our country, school children/students would be challenged to identity WI. Well, except for all those Staples grads :-).
Sorry about the multiple monthly (punishments) Nets games you had to endure.