Idiot of the Year Number 3: Kyrie Irving
Do you know how to say “I’m sorry!” how easy? or that you are not opposed? Obviously, it’s a huge challenge for brooklyn network star Kyrie Irving. Anyone is allowed to make mistakes, but damn, you can’t be so careless in the public eye and suffer the consequences. Shortly after Kanye West’s anti-Semitism model was easily identified in October, Irving promoted a movie and book filled with lies and easily refuted claims about Jews. After it got noticed, Irving doubled, tripled and quadrupled in the belief that he had done nothing wrong, a mindset the former Duke star had not based on fact.
Set a clear timeline for those who don’t know. Irving posted the fake project on his social media on Friday, which was immediately condemned by Nets owner Joe Tsai. A lot of outside noise has called for the NBA to suspend Irving before he can speak publicly on the matter. NBA does not have policy or precedent for player suspension for provocative comments. In September, the league failed to suspend Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards for using anti-gay slurs during a video game live stream. The precedent for forming individual teams to punish its players for hate speech or discrimination, as was the case with former Miami Heat center Meyers Leonard, who used a profanity against against, also during a video game live stream. Why is Twitch a safe haven for that? First, Leonard was suspended indefinitely by his team, then banned by the NBA for a week before finally being transferred to Oklahoma City. He never played a game for the Thunder and was released.
Irving has many opportunities to apologize. At a post-match press conference on Saturday the next day, the post was deleted within 48 hours? No, and instead he attacked the reporter who questioned the protest film. After Irving was given another opportunity to speak out about the situation in a media session next Thursday, he said a lot without uttering the words “I’m sorry” or “I don’t have faith.” anti-Semitic news”. This comes after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who is Jewish, condemned his behavior, and the Anti-Defamation League said it would partner with the Nets and Irving to raise $1 million for organizations. charity helps fight anti-Semitism. The ADL, whose mission is to prevent persecution of Jews and treat all people equally, detected 2,717 anti-Semitic events in 2021, up 34% from 2020. On average more than 7 such events every day. Many NBA celebrities and media outlets have called for his suspension following Saturday’s incident. After unquestionable signs of no regrets on Thursday, Tsai was left with no other choice. And a long suspension was eased until Irving proved he had learned why his actions hurt Jews and others.
Irving did “apologise” the night he was suspended by the Nets, but the sincerity of that remained a question only emerged after his wages were taken away for weeks. If someone is forced to apologize, do they really apologize? I can’t say the evidence is as clear as he misspelled anti-Semitism in an attempt to damage control after his sentence was suspended. Not admitting a huge background you have because you have a reputation for being downright sloppy. Don’t believe me when it comes to Jews? Then explain to me about the major credible threat to New Jersey synagogues reported on the day of the commencement of Irving’s suspension by the Newark division of the FBI.
Irving’s laziness around getting the coronavirus vaccine didn’t get him in trouble, but it did make him look like an idiot. Combined with his social media posts that sent the anti-Semitic book and movie skyrocketing on Amazon’s bestseller list for weeks, and then denying you were involved, it’s stupid. stupid, when the invoice is publicly available information. Let’s hope no one in the NBA relapses and influence more hate against the Jews.