NBA sadly Exploits HBCU’s FOR the 2021 ALL-STAR GAME
One of the most successful agenda’s in the NBA is to keep its fans from thinking that it’s a business. Even Lebron James the biggest star of the league told reporters that the NBA had no business playing the all-star game this year. The NBA is using black issues to keep its fanbase engaged in the spell of sports entertainment. Here’s how the NBA exploits HBCU’s for the 2021 All-star game.
It’s about a year since the coronavirus has hit the U.S.. The NBA has had at least 20 of the 454 players test positive in March and April of this year alone. Last year during the bubble while the world was watching the U.S. riot the NBA saw it as an opportunity to engage with their fanbase. Black lives matter painted on the playing floor, players using keywords or their jerseys.
Let’s be clear, HBCU are underfunded largely in part of our society’s prioritization of entertainment over education.
Several teams even contemplated boycotting the season to focus on police injustice in their own cities. Furthermore, several players didn’t want to separate from their families and voiced displeasure of playing during the middle of a pandemic.
To make matters worse, Adam silver the NBA commissioner heavily considered a future all-star game in the city of Louisville where Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by police. Despite Lebron James and several other players advocated for her to receive justice during the pandemic, Silver saw an opportunity to make money.
Kansas city was another potential spot Silver considered for an all star game. However, Kansas city was dealing with their own police brutality issues as well and called for the chief of police to resign. Noticing a pattern here?
Recently, the NBA continued their MLK day of games which annually uses a martyr to justify playing games in the middle of civil unrest. Today the NBA finished their 2021 All-Star weekend which has to reinvent itself every year to disguise its mundane repetition. Perhaps Silver wants to use trending social justice issues to keep the NBA relevant to avoid unstimulating the sport is.
Forbes writer Terance Moore explains how the NBA collectively made 8.8 billion dollars and the average salary is 9.5 million last year alone. However, only 3.3 million was pledged to HBCUs. The NBA is first and foremost an entertainment business just like rap music. Just because rappers and athletes or the NBA portrays the image that they advocate for social injustice shouldn’t mislead you.
The problem with most grassroots organizations is putting profit before the needs of the people. The NBA is playing a dangerous game with its fans by faux activism. The NBA has never advocated for players to receive proper education even after making the league. The NBA’s sole interest is in athletic entertainment rather than genieneuly leveraging their players to help their communities. In 2009 the NY times reported that only 21% of NBA players have college degrees.
So how can the NBA advocate for HBCU’s when its players don’t even believe in the value of education?
In conclusion, the 2021 All-star weekend continues the faux activism of the league. As the NBA attempts to disguise the fact that it’s near its limit of entertainment, expect more faux activism. But please remember, there are no winners in sports.
Your thoughts on the NBA advocating for HBCU’s? Let us know in the comment section below.