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NBA Playoffs Put on Hold As Players Protest "Social Injustice"

 The return of the NBA season might be in serious jeopardy after the sport unanimously decided to postpone all of it's playoff games scheduled for Wednesday night in protest of the police involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. 

The sports world has been turned upside down already this year by COVID-19, but ever since the death of George Floyd in Minnesota in June, racial tensions across the country have been ratcheted up and professional sports jumped right into the frying pan with both feet in, and have not looked back. 

The NBA has led the charge. From the slogan of "Black Lives Matter" plastered across courts in Orlando, to players kneeling in solidarity during the playing of the National Anthem, to having social justice slogans stitched to the backs of their jerseys -- it has been a surreal situation to say the least. Wednesday's events only added to it.

The night's events started when the Milwaukee Bucks opted not to play their Game 5 match-up with the Orlando Magic, a decision that was met with unanimous support throughout the NBA as well as praise from members of the press, numerous fans, and national leaders -- particularly from the Democrat party. (It is an election year you know). Soon all three contests, including the Lakers Game 5 against Portland was shelved. 

There is no telling when or if the NBA season will resume. At one point the Lakers and Clippers voted to boycott the rest of the postseason. LeBron James, who more than anyone in the NBA, has been the face and voice of the social justice movement in the sport reportedly walked out of meeting between the league and its players. The Lakers and Clippers followed his lead. 

 Soon Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and the WNBA, followed suit with baseball postponing four games on Wednesday in protest. Soccer and the WNBA also postponed games. The NFL's Detroit Lions canceled practice on Wednesday in protest.

This comes as the NBA's television ratings are down more than 40 percent, and ESPN's ratings down 20 percent according to Slate.com. 

Many people have tried to theorize why the downturn in ratings are happening. The fact that games are being played during the day when people work hasn't helped. The lack of a fan presence during COVID-19 is another. But the one telling argument that has been consistent with a lot of viewers is they are simply tired of seeing politics infused into sports. 

Many fans have also pointed to an apparent double-standard that the NBA is willing to stand against abuses at home, but have said little on human rights abuses in China - a country that has been a huge financial boon for the NBA.

Many fans have taken to social media expressing their lack on interest in watching games as long as political protests continue in sporting events. Many have simply washed their hands of sports, the NBA, NFL or Major League Baseball all together. 

If the NBA does return, Wednesday's events probably won't help bring fans back to the couch. 

Fans hoping for a return to some normalcy and escapism from the harsh political climate that has crippled this country the past six months won't get a reprieve.  And it didn't help matters when players from the Milwaukee Bucks reminded people to "go and vote November 3" during a joint player press conference outside the locker room. 

Clearly politics -- in all it's ugly forms -- has taken a firm hold.

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