Ted Cruz, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Demand NBA to Suspend China Activities Over Boycott

Washington (AFP) – A bipartisan set of US lawmakers urged the NBA on Wednesday to suspend all activities in China until Chinese firms and broadcasters end their boycott of the league and the Houston Rockets.

The open letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver came from eight US lawmakers as politically diverse as Ted Cruz of Texas and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York, both from states with multiple NBA teams.

“You have more power to take a stand than most of the Chinese government’s targets and should have the courage and integrity to use it,” the letter said.

“It’s not unreasonable to expect American companies to put our fundamental democratic rights ahead of profit.”

The letter comes in the wake of a since-deleted tweet from Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters.

That prompted the Chinese government to end sponsorships for the team and league and drop planned NBA telecasts in China, huge NBA logos and banner being stripped off buildings a sign of the anger.

‘Unprecedented’ agreement releases emergency oil reserves as gas prices spark concerns

House Oversight Committee demands depositions from Bondi and Lutnick in Epstein probe

The ‘Worst Mayor in America’ Is Attempting a Political Comeback — With a New Party

Kamala Harris Cancels Multiple Book Tour Stops Amid Controversy

Hillary Clinton caught on video stepping back after pushy former president nudges her at busy NYC intersection

Shipping disruptions spread beyond oil: Helium, sulfur, and semiconductors

3 brothers of Iraqi descent arrested in Oslo for allegedly ‘terror bombing’ of US Embassy

Republican Sen. John Cornyn Calls on GOP to Change Filibuster and Pass SAVE Act as He Prepares for Primary Runoff Against Ken Paxton

Minnesota human services officials skip fraud hearing as Walz promises reform

‘You can cry about it’: Tempers flare in Senate as DHS shutdown debate erupts, stalemate digs deeper

Conquered: NYC Firefighters Angry After Bosses, Muslim Firefighters Make Startling Change to 9/11 Memorial Area for Ramadan

Why Republican Steve Hilton increasing his lead in the California polls could be beneficial for Democrats

Wife of former Gov Terry McAuliffe jumps into crowded Dem congressional primary race

Hawley introduces bill to strip FDA approval from ‘inherently dangerous’ abortion pill

Gene Simmons tells celebrities ‘shut the f*** up’ about politics

After early NBA statements were seen as overly capitulating, Silver said, “I understand there are consequences from … his freedom of speech. We will have to live with those consequences. As a league, we’re not willing to compromise those values.”

The full cost might not be known for months, with the NBA having made lucrative deals to a nation of 1.4 billion that loves basketball. But the lawmakers demanded values win over profits.

“Equivocating when profits are at stake is a betrayal of fundamental American values,” the lawmakers wrote. “That you have more potential fans in China than in Hong Kong is no excuse for bending over backwards to express ‘sensitivity’ only to one side.”

Lawmakers urged Silver to take four steps to harden the NBA’s stance against China’s retaliatory moves, most notably shutting down NBA activities in China, where two pre-season exhibition games were slated to be played.

“The NBA should have anticipated the challenges of doing business in a country run by a repressive single party government, including by being prepared to stand in strong defense of the freedom of expression of its employees, players, and affiliates across the globe,” the lawmakers wrote.

They also pushed for an end to punishments to the Rockets, saying the NBA must be united against “future efforts by Chinese government-controlled entities to single out individual teams, players, or associates for boycotts or selective treatment.”