Oklahoma Lawmaker Threatens OKC Thunder With Tax Penalties If Players Kneel For the National Anthem

The NBA has made its anticipated return from its suspension in early March. Fans across the world can tune in to see their favorite players dunking, hitting threes, and.. kneeling for the anthem? 

Oh please.

The NBA has turned into the “woke circus” NBA hall of famer Charles Barkley predicted. Players across the league are wearing social justice slogans on their jerseys. The slogans vary to some extent, the NBA had to approve them.  (No jersey reads “choose life,” for example. And you better believe none support the Hong Kong protesters.) Most players chose “Black Lives Matter,” “Justice,” or “I Am a Man.” I don’t know who exactly is doubting the masculinity of a 6’8, 250 pound boulder of a human, but I respect the sentiment of gender norms.

Although I may not agree with players lined up kneeling for the anthem, I do agree they have the right to do so. 

Sean Roberts, a representative for Oklahoma threatened the local NBA team last Friday. He warned if the players kneel for the anthem, he would pull the team’s tax breaks. On Saturday, the Thunder players kneeled anyway.

“If the Oklahoma City Thunder leadership and players follow the current trend of the NBA by kneeling during the national anthem prior to Saturday’s game, perhaps we need to reexamine the significant tax benefits the State of Oklahoma granted the Oklahoma City Thunder organization when they came to Oklahoma,” Roberts said. “By kneeling during the playing of the national anthem, the NBA and its players are showing disrespect to the American flag and all it stands for. This anti-patriotic act makes clear the NBA’s support of the Black Lives Matter group and its goal of defunding our nation’s police, its ties to Marxism and its efforts to destroy nuclear families.”

Exercising free speech and freedom to protest is fundamental in our country, the flag stands for liberty, not oppression. 

Most importantly is it is none of the government’s business. And it shouldn’t be. 

Has this guy ever read the Constitution? Pretty sure our founding fathers weren’t big on government overreach. 

It’s really bad to even suggest such a thing.

The NBA rulebook prohibits kneeling during the anthem, but commissioner Adam Silver said he will not enforce the rule during these “unique circumstances.” 

These players are completely within their rights to make whatever political statements they desire. If you hate the violent protests that have plagued America, maybe lay off the peaceful ones.

Hat Tip: Yahoo Sports

Image credit: Wikimedia