Posted on 27 July 2020
Forget pro sports as you once knew and loved them. Those days are, like the late Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell's famous home run call, "long gone!" Even baseball has gone social justice mad. WNBA players did a walk-off Saturday, but not of the game-winning variety; they disrespectfully walked out of the arena as the Star Spangled Banner began to play.
The NBA has approved slogans for its players, which, with only a few exceptions, they'll feature on the back of their jerseys in place of names. The playing courts there are throwing the words "Black Lives Matter" in your face.
With full sports media buy-in, here's a hint of what may be about to come with the return of the NBA:
...And now let's pick up the highlights of the NBA on TNT bubble ball broadcast of the game earlier tonight between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller on the call.
Social justice festivities at Disney World in Orlando opened with the dishonoring of America as all the players exited the arena with the start of the national anthem. Only the officials, ball boys, scoreboard operators, TNT camera operators and statisticians remained in the arena.
We're picking up first-half action now.
No Justice No Peace beats White Guilt off the dribble ... driving down the lane and ... ooh! A hard foul ... No Justice No Peace is sent flying into the bleachers ... 'my bad, my bad!' ... No Justice No Peace is up quickly and shoves White Guilt ... White Guilt tried to apologize but No Justice No Peace wasn't having any of it ... an ejection here and certainly a suspension ahead for White Guilt.
Here's a pass to Say Their Names in the corner. He shoots -- REJECTED! ... Hands Up Don't Shoot, leading shot blocker in bubble ball, has his fourth blocked shot of the game.
Boston took a lead in the second half until I Can't Breathe went to the bench for a breather. Justice Now in for Boston. He'll try to slow down L.A.'s Power To The People.
Lakers' inbounds pass to Equal Pay on the right side ... quick bank shot, it goes ... a money play by a money player.
In the game's final moments, Boston tries to rally. Black Lives Matter on a break-away, he gets by I Am A Man ... and slams it home with a thunder dunk! Every thunder dunk in bubble ball generates $1,000 for Black Lives Matter.
Three seconds remaining ... How Many More quickly up the court, lets it fly from three at the buzzer ... it goes! L.A. wins!
How Many More is TNT's Social Justice Star of the Game. He's donating his $10,000 award to organizations working to defund police departments.
The pretense of sports with a little social commentary is so over. It's going completely the other way now -- to social commentary with a little sports. The evidence for this is everywhere.
The NFL will permit players to display decals on the back of their helmets bearing names or initials of victims of systemic racism and police violence.
Huffington Post Sports reports, "The league has been in talks with individual players and their union since June about somehow honoring such victims. The initiative will be done league-wide, with each team deciding who it will honor and how to display the names or initials."
LeBron James is pushing an anti-Trump voter registration drive and donating money to overcome so-called "voter suppression" in Florida. He's hoping to turn the Sunshine State blue in the November election. Deadspin says, "LeBron James is helping create the America we all deserve."
The Redskins are temporarily identifying as the "Washington Football Team," and the Atlanta Braves are removing a “Chop On” sign near an entrance to Truist Park while deliberating on the future of the fans’ tomahawk chop chant.
The WNBA has dedicated its season to Breonna Taylor, a black woman killed by police. Her name appears below each of the league's players' names on their jerseys.
Though kneeling protests in baseball have lessened since opening day, they persist.
Aided and abetted by the media, there's no end in sight to social justice mania. Wanna get away from the merging of sports, politics and social justice? Forget about it. resistance is futile. Step back, put down the remote control and no one gets canceled.