After a 4 month hiatus, the NBA season commenced on July 31. However, it was under a different set of circumstances. No longer were there screaming fans, celebrities in the front row, a plethora of camera operators, and media personalities. Nope. They are playing in two separate arenas. The 2020 NBA Bubble, also referred to as the Disney Bubble or Orlando Bubble, is the isolation zone at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando, that was created by the NBA to protect its players from the COVID-19 pandemic during the final eight games of the 2019–20 regular season. Teams who were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention (Golden state warriors, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and the Atlanta Hawks) were given the season off.
Players were not allowed to leave the confines of the bubble (although a few did and faced repercussions as well as quarantine) and the schedules took on a new twist. Since all games were Eastern Standard Time being in Florida, no longer did you have to wait until later in the evening to catch a game featuring a western conference team that played at home. For instance, if the Lakers played in Los Angeles the game typically would not start until 10:30 our time (7:30 theirs). We’re currently in the playoffs now after a 3-day boycott (I’ll get to that in a minute) with the Lakers and Clippers on a potential collision course for the Western Conference finals. In the east, it’s open with odds on favorite Milwaukee Bucks along with the Celtics, Heat, and Raptors nipping at their heels. Now that I’ve introduced or for some re-introduced you to the goings-on in the bubble. Let’s talk about life outside the bubble, shall we?
In my humble opinion, I know this is an unpopular opinion, but humble nonetheless. I'm against players boycotting because of the shooting in Milwaukee. Let me preface this by saying its EXTREMELY unfortunate and fcuked up on all levels especially since his children had to watch in horror. In addition, something HAS to be done. However, why the woken social consciousness? Are the raptors (or any other) players willing to give up the remaining of their deal for this year? On the other hand, they're cool sitting out but they're still being paid. What's the real narrative here.?? Was there any boycotting for Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, or any of the unfortunate people who senselessly lost their lives to excessive police insolence? To me, this is all a social-political get money agenda from the NBA. Yall wanna preach black lives matter why? Is it because 60% of your players are black? You wanna boycott because WHITE police shot a black man. Nevertheless, you are still more than willing to cash a check from the WHITE owner of your team??Where was all this boycotting when Donald Sterling made racist remarks vs. black people? The Clippers still played BUT with their jerseys inside out. Gimme a break. They could have simply taken off their jerseys and walk off the court. But Naw they aint about that.
Yall wanna send a message? It's simple: defer your earnings for the rest of the NBA season maybe even next then come and talk. Doc Rivers, former player and coach of the Clippers who is widely respected by his peers, had this to say. Now I do agree with many of his sentiments, but to say WE have been lynched, WE have been shot, We...We...WE. I'm sorry but how can you or relate to the plight of the current issues of the inner city black men that have been targeted, (some will even say hunted) by white police officers when you aren't in their shoes. You are making millions and millions of dollars a year as a head coach. You're living beyond white-collar cosmopolitan style in your cushy neck of the woods.
Or should I say beach? Oh, and by the way, you're married to a white woman who you had children with. Now am I saying you can't help who you fall in love with? No. Am I saying it's a sin to marry outside of your race? No. I am however saying making more money in a year than many of us will see in a lifetime, having a high-class living situation, and married to the woman whose race is that of our oppressors. (You did say we were lynched, shot, etc) So whom were you referring to? African Tribesman? Eskimos? Native Indians? I think not. I feel you have little wiggle room to make comments like those. Jaylen Brown, Celtics forward said it best (and I'm paraphrasing) if you're gonna boycott the bubble and stop playing because you miss your family, wife, girlfriend, and wanna go home that's not the message. Go out there in the trenches. I totally agree. At any rate, I'm hoping and praying that things will move in a positive direction and we stick to our guns with our beliefs. Because White Supremacy will simply wait this out and hope we get back to our reality shows, WAP videos, recording ourselves fighting each other and posting it for likes and views and whatever other nonsense we feel like delving into.
Peace and Blessings,