OT: Brooklyn Nets suspend Kyrie Irving for at least 5 games
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34942326/nets-suspend-kyrie-irving-…
"We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity -- but failed -- to clarify," the Nets said in a statement.
"Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets."
Better late than never to punish antisemitism
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:08 PM ^
Taking a quick survey around the internet Ive found what seems like an unusual amount of support for Kyrie. This guy has been digging a hole for himself with ignorant and uneducated comments for years. But don't worry, he claims to study the Oxford dictionary so he knows it all.
Im legitimately curious what Kyrie supporters reactions would be if Joe Harris shared a KKK propaganda video then stood by it.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:13 PM ^
Same set of folks who still support kanye!
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:17 PM ^
hateful, bigoted morons
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:20 PM ^
I think the correct term is....
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:52 PM ^
I rewatched this recently and it was just WAY ahead of its time, re: race in this country. Genius.
November 4th, 2022 at 7:18 AM ^
Absolutely genius. And in regards to this clip, I've always loved this scene for what they both do in it. Gene Wilder's quiet, understated delivery is brilliant. And I'll never know how Cleavon Little held that deadpan expression all through it - right up until the payoff line, when he loses it, which allows the audience to lose it too.
A perfect example of how laughter is a great defense against stupidity.
November 4th, 2022 at 8:55 AM ^
Wilder apparently ad-libbed the final line, which makes the whole scene even better.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:11 PM ^
Mans done. One year left on his deal and what franchise would be stupid enough to invite this cancer.
Fuck these unserious people making hateful serious statements that will incite others. Fuck anyone who takes their peoples own suffering and makes false equivalencies and lies to diminish others who have suffered. This just makes me angry, sad and exhausted all at once.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:12 PM ^
So he makes a $500K donation, sits five games, and then what? Everybody pretends he's learned some lesson?
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:16 PM ^
I don't know that this goes away that easily. The wording around the donation made me assume that it was mostly the Nets.
Mans going to run himself over with a car he's driving
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:17 PM ^
It's being reported as "at least" five games. We'll see what happens after five games.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:17 PM ^
I mean, that's probably the goal for the Nets and Irving at least. The Nets barely responded to his posts until there was a massive uproar and the NBA basically stepped in. And at this point Irving being an idiot with some really insane ideas shouldn't be a shock to anyone so it's basically baked into him on any team at this point. The players union and the NBA isn't going to push for anything more severe so I'd be shocked if anything happens unless he goes off again and at some point the Nets just shut him down or trade him.
November 4th, 2022 at 11:38 AM ^
Well, he's caved finally, so now we'll never know what would have happened. Now he'll clearly be back after the suspension.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:40 PM ^
Speaking of that donation... ADL has announced they're declining it.
November 4th, 2022 at 9:15 AM ^
Not sure I'd turn down the $500k. You can do some good with that and it's $500k less Kyrie has to do stupid/hateful stuff.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:14 PM ^
Should have happened some time ago when he couldn't be bothered to apologize. Also, people continuing to frame Irving as some thoughtful contrarian and truth-speaker instead of a dipshit who believes the world is flat, some New World Order/Illuminati conspiracy theories peddled by Alex Fucking Jones, his anti-vaccine stance that seems mostly based, again, on conspiracy theories, and then this antisemitic movie support.
He's a pretty good PG with a great handle and not much else behind that. I think that's the sad part - he's not really thoughtful but instead merely reactionary and then petulant, which is why he fails to apologize or recognize when he's wrong and instead doubles on the fact any pushback he's receiving is because every else is at fault.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:20 PM ^
Thank you.
It amazes me that despite the fact that everyone knows total shitheads who believe absolutely ludicrous things by virtue of being shitheads, famous people who think and act the exact same way must be philosophers.
I guess holding batshit ideas is yet another "classy if rich, trashy if poor" thing.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:22 PM ^
Free speech allows all of us to speak our minds.
And it allows people to face the ridicule and consequences of stupidity or hate.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:35 PM ^
Good. Eff him. Dude is a a ginormous talent and somehow greater moron/jackass/dimwit/imbecile/douchebag.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:37 PM ^
I found his interviews stupidly humorous.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:54 PM ^
Race is a constant problem on the internet and tv. Then you step out of your house and encounter 4 different races as you go through your day and have zero problems with the variety of life. Social media and constant coverage is making us a sick society.
November 4th, 2022 at 12:31 AM ^
Exactly this. Social media amplifying horrible idea and belief echo chambers and other forms of media following suit is destroying our society. Social media also contributes to increased isolation and less exposure to alternative ideas. We are now seeing it increasingly w every facet of life including sports.
November 4th, 2022 at 10:26 AM ^
I don't disagree with you on this -- media and social media have an agenda which is to make money however they can -- but there is absolutely real world racism and hatred. Sometimes it's almost imperceptible. Stereotypes can be perpetuated in small, insidious ways. Other times, it's obvious like when someone walks into a black church or a synagogue and shoots everyone. When I go to NYC, it gives me hope. There is a density of people who are vastly different from each other and yet, they have to get along in order for the city to work.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:19 PM ^
Dude has some mental disorder where he is incapable of genuinely feeling contrition.
the suspension is fine, but if I’m the nets why am I keeping this asshole on the team? What benefit has it brought me? He’s clearly not going to change.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:30 PM ^
He's a petulant narcissist.
He's convinced he's a Muhammed Ali or Jackie Robison figure, yet he's never actually sacrificed anything or suffered for his beliefs and identity like those two giants.
He is also incredibly misinformed and makes a stance to proactively dehumanize another group and refuse to apologize, but then claims he himself is the one being dehumanized because of the history of black Americans.
He's been given a pass to be an incredibly selfish, under-informed faux intellectual because of his great basketball talent, until now, but the days of no consequences are seemingly running out.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:43 PM ^
I would really like Kyrie Irving to fall off the face of the earth. We humans need exactly zero people who are all of (a) famous, (b) hold their own intelligence/position in very high regard, and (c) are actually fucking morons.
November 4th, 2022 at 12:30 AM ^
Since he believes the world is flat, there may be a chance you get your wish.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:49 PM ^
People insisting on their right to hate, to deny reality. . . counter to logic, in denial of history, established fact, morality--not going away. But when we have a chance to counter them, to say nope, not happening in our house, on our dime, in this arena, we'd better fucking exercise it.
November 4th, 2022 at 1:46 AM ^
Honestly think the implementation of this is stupid. Dude is a certified piece of shit at this point. What is "at least five games" and "currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets." supposed to mean? Do the Nets thing he's going to stop being antisemetic just because he's being suspended? We're talking about the same guy who was cool with not being allowed to play because he didn't want to get vaccinated. Just cut him lose and get it over with.
November 4th, 2022 at 2:02 AM ^
Am surprised Al "Freddy's Fashion Mart" Sharpton hasn't spoken up for Irving.
When you've lost Al Sharpton......
November 4th, 2022 at 5:57 AM ^
oh, go to hell.
November 4th, 2022 at 5:32 PM ^
So, you're *pro* pogrom. Got it.
November 4th, 2022 at 12:28 PM ^
You're a bit of a schmuck, so. . . avatar checks out.
November 4th, 2022 at 2:54 AM ^
This is the kind of shit that happens when you build a society on hatred
November 4th, 2022 at 6:38 AM ^
What a fucking idiot...
November 4th, 2022 at 10:35 AM ^
So, your position is that he told too much truth? Just clarifying.
November 4th, 2022 at 7:51 AM ^
Dude needs to go.
November 4th, 2022 at 7:56 AM ^
If you were doing HR for the Nets, you’d have taken care of this long ago (assuming you’re actually Toby Flenderson).
November 4th, 2022 at 9:21 AM ^
Donovan Edwards......
November 4th, 2022 at 9:50 AM ^
Justin feagin..
November 4th, 2022 at 10:00 AM ^
...is 19 years old.
November 4th, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^
That's not a pass in my book. All it does is give him more time to get history straight and understand that what he's espousing is no different than white supremacists hating on black people. It's all bad.
November 4th, 2022 at 11:36 AM ^
Donovan Edwards retweet was wrong. He's also a 19 year old college athlete that doesn't have 20mm followers on twitter, hasn't been continuously involved in controversy and misinformation, and doesn't claim himself some intellectual historian ala Kyrie. He also showed contrition immediately.
In other words, Edwards will have every opportunity to now be educated on this topic from others than Kanye West, whereas Kyrie long ago chose a path to be the "educator"/faux intellectual preaching to folks and then playing the victim.
If Edwards or other college students continue to choose a path of ignorance and misinformation (often per social media sources) after being educated on the dangers and slippery slope there, then it's on them. Kyrie has long passed the rubicon.
November 4th, 2022 at 11:30 AM ^
I was wondering when someone would mention his name.
His apology was late and a little lacking. I am hopeful he actually learned something good, as he claims he did.
Kyrie has now finally, too, issued an apology, of sorts. Not just a statement of responsibility like yesterday. So, he'll be back after his 5 game suspension.
But, Edwards getting out the apology (lame or not) within a day instead of within a week is the biggest difference, I guess.
November 4th, 2022 at 10:07 AM ^
Why do people give a rats ass what Kyrie says. If Kyrie couldnt shoot a ball we would never know of him.
November 4th, 2022 at 11:46 AM ^
Well its because he can shoot a ball that people give a rat's ass what he says.
I don't disagree with your larger point, but that's just the way it is. Why do people care about LeBron has to say on certain subjects? Because he can shoot a ball and that gives him a platform where people will listen to him.
November 4th, 2022 at 10:10 AM ^
Kyrie is described as “controversial”. Let me translate: not that bright.
November 4th, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
He's a good basketball player, but at what point do you just have to decide he's not worth the headache that he brings off the court? Everything from his Earth is flat nonsense, to the vaccine refusal, and now this? And given that the city he plays in is home to a very large population of Jewish people, and very likely many Nets fans are Jewish, this could be disastrous for them.
Guess the only other question that I have is what do you think a five game suspension is really going to do or change? At this point, Irving has shown his hand multiple times. This is not an isolated incident or him just making a dumb mistake. What is he going to do or change over the course of the next five games that will make you think that by the time he comes back he will better reflect the values of your organization?
If you don't think anything will change, then this really isn't accomplishing anything other than just a PR move that you hope will allow this incident to blow over in time for the next news cycle.
November 4th, 2022 at 12:08 PM ^
Duke grads are fuckin’ weird.