Sen. Josh Hawley, a Mo. Republican, suggested Monday that he would support a subpoena from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to investigate the league’s relationship with China.
Hawley expressed concern that the NBA is allowing players to wear pre-approved social justice cause messages on their jerseys for causes like Black Lives Matter, but does not allow messages related to China or in support of law enforcement. He called a Silver Senate Judiciary Committee subpoena “a great idea.”
“If the NBA is going to put these social justice statements on the back of the uniforms, which is what they’re doing now, why is there nothing there, like free Hong Kong or the Uighurs or anything that has to “Will you see the billions of dollars the NBA makes in China,” Hawley said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
Hawley also responded to ESPN for suspending reporter Adrian Wojnarowski after he responded to an email from Hawley’s press office with an expletive. Hawley said Wojnarowski’s suspension was a distraction and should be reinstated. “They don’t want to address the central issue, which is the NBA’s relationship with China. ESPN has a slice of that cake, “said the senator.
ESPN SUSPENDS NBA REPORTER ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI AFTER THE PROFANE EMAIL TO SEN. HAWLEY
Hawley had written a letter to Silver criticizing the league’s decision to limit the messages players can wear on their uniforms to “pre-approved social justice slogans” while “censoring support” for law enforcement and criticism of the Party. Chinese Communist.
Hawley wrote in the letter to Silver that “the free expression of the league seems to stop at the limit of the sensitivity of its corporate sponsors.”
Wojnarowski replied to Hawley in an email saying “F — you”. Wojnarowski apologized for the email he sent to Hawley, saying that his actions were unacceptable.
SEN. JOSH HAWLEY WRITES NBA COMMISSIONER ADAM SILVER ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE MESSAGES REPORTED IN JERSEYS
Hawley said the NBA generates more than $ 10 billion in revenue each year, and 10 to 20 percent of that is done in China. He called on the NBA to publicly disclose his financial dealings with China. “So this is great money for the NBA, and I think we deserve to know exactly what they are doing.” And we deserve to be explained why they will not face this authoritarian regime, “said Hawley.
Hawley pointed to Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who appeared to show his support for anti-government protesters in October in a tweet that has since been removed: “Fight for freedom. Support Hong Kong. “Shortly thereafter, China’s state television CCTV banned the broadcast of any NBA game.
Morey then tweeted: “I did not intend for my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. She was simply expressing a thought, based on an interpretation, of a complicated event. I’ve had many opportunities since that tweet to listen and consider other perspectives. “
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Hawley said of Morey: “It was censored. The league was tough on him.
