re: Aggy Board OT Discussion Thread

The Pistons got the better end of their trade with Orlando. They got Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace and the Magic got a Grant Hill that hardly was able to play.

Seeing Karl Malone get denied a ring by that Pistons squad was amazing . They single handedly ended the Shaq/Kobe era, which had the potential to dominate that entire decade (instead we got boring arse Spurs winning a title here and there and making the NBA unwatchable).

IMO, the 2004 Finals were the last great Finals series we had. The LeBron era hasn't seen anything remarkable to brag about.

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maybe you're right that the NBA would only support left of center stuff.

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Ya think? The way they handled the Hong Kong stuff tells you everything you need to know. Hell, Pop and Steve Kerr can rip on POTUS and on the right till the cows come home, and no one bats and eye. Meanwhile a Sacramento Kings announcer merely tweets "#AllLivesMatter" and immediately gets canned. I'll gladly eat crow if right wing stuff actually gets promoted in NBA circles, but I highly doubt anything of the sort will see the light of day. Again, if players/teams/coaches want to be vocal in whatever, that's their right. It's the double standard I find distasteful.

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that indicates a loss of (pop) culture war. How do you fight back against that shift? Can it be fought back against?

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Not without entities taking effective steps to level the playing field. The landscape right now, you'd be crazy to publicly tout anything non-leftist in the world of entertainment (with VERY few exceptions). Look at how Drew Brees got drug for innocuous comments not even hostile against those kneeling. Entertainment usually leans left, but it's exacerbated at this point by folks running scared to say ANYTHING that might cut against that grain. Ridiculous status quo right now.

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Not trying to pick a fight ... Just bringing up a point

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First, thanks for the question and the thoughtfulness in how you asked.

Tbird captured part of my concern: only left of center statements will be allowed. No "God is good," "End abortion," "Back the blue" ... statements. I could debate the merits of each view, left or right, but that wasn't my intent, nor is it my desire. I am just concered anytime one side's opinion is suppressed, dismissed, or villianized. That is not a way to bring unity.

However, I'm also concerned with the increasing use of sports as a forum, be it left or right. For many, sports are a respite from the real world and a place where people can lay aside their differences and be united by their love of the game, team or player. Most don't want entertainment to come with a dose of politics, opinions or agendas. We tune in to watch the athleticism, talent, and teamwork. Putting messages on jerseys ups the bombardment of whatever message is being conveyed and makes the message part of the game. The entertainment aspect of the sport is diminished and so is the respite it provided.

I was looking forward to the return of sports to provide a break from stress and strife and to bring a little peace and unity.

Thanks for receiving the comment well. I'm new to being active on the board here... Which all of you obviously know... So I wasn't sure how a) it would come across it and b) be responded to. So I genuinely appreciate the charitable approach.

I'm with you that it's not appropriate to villanize the language. That said, I do think conservatives, of which I would consider myself one, often employ the same double standard that is so frustrating. That's what I was attempting to push back against.

Unfortunately, there are so many shades of intent behind a phrase that it makes it hard to communicate via tag lines. I support the existence of police but I don't think things should stay unchanged with regard to policing policy. There is progress to be made. I believe "Black Lives Matter" but I don't subscribe to a Marxist framework for understanding and changing society. And I believe "Black Lives Matter" in the womb.

I know people want sports as escapism, and I do to. But when were not given the opportunity to escape sometimes it forces us to think more critically about what is happening in society. Or at least it has caused me to do that. So I actually appreciate what's happening as uncomfortable and discouraging as things may look bc I think it's brought about real change of thought and policy opinion in my own heart and mind.

I guess that's why I'm so supportive of Mond speaking his mind, regardless of where I stand on the Sully issue, bc I have seen effectual change within myself as a result of friends speaking (persistently) their opposing points of view in this season.

Also, the Hong Kong Darryl Morey thing was more about money than politics. If it was about politics I think the NBA would certainly skew towards the protesters in Hong Kong.

I typically don't like talking about politics. I'm ok talking about culture deficiencies. And I love talking about the Aggies, Mavs, and Cowboys. But, in my opinion, the absence of sports right now has been helpful for us as a country. It has certainly been helpful for me personally.

(I would quote y'all so I could respond to points individually... But I don't know how to do that... Or do emojis, the last time I tried to do a emoji on here it looked like I was writing in wingdings)

Thanks for the discussion.

Thanks Tbird, back at you! I appreciate your points as well, that as always, were stated with such eloquence! You've got a way with words.

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The magic of sports is how it can galvanize across so many societal/ideological lines that might otherwise not ever be breached.

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The bottom line is that you cannot “have a conversation” when any opinion that isn’t in lockstep with one side is life ending to express. One side doesn’t want a conversation, they want to talk at the other side and prevent any response.

Aggy Smooliey made the local show here in Washington.

Let it out.