J.A. Adande, a journalist, was recently awarded the Curt Gowdy Print Media Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding written coverage of professional basketball. Previous recipients of this esteemed honor include renowned sports writers such as Michael Wilbon, Bob Ryan, and Peter Vecsey, who have made significant contributions to the field over the years.
However, the decision to honor Adande has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the integrity of the award. Two years ago, Adande made an appearance on ESPN where he defended the genocide of Muslim Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang region. Shockingly, he equated this horrific act with the voter identification requirements implemented by certain states in the United States. Adande argued that criticizing China’s human rights record while ignoring attacks on voting rights in the US was hypocritical. He suggested that to truly enjoy sports, it was necessary to shut out all external issues.
It is important to provide context on how China treats Muslim Uyghurs, which Adande downplayed during his appearance on ESPN. The treatment of Uyghurs includes killing, raping, torturing, and enslaving them. Adande’s attempt to equate these atrocities with voter identification laws is both monstrous and Nazi-like. By defending a communist regime and genocidal actions on national television, Adande has demonstrated a severe lack of courage and integrity as a journalist.
Adande’s diversion from China’s human rights violations to a false narrative about voter suppression laws in the US was strongly condemned by Fox News host Will Cain. Cain emphasized that comparing voter ID laws, which enjoy broad support from Americans across racial and political lines, to genocide was despicable. He also highlighted the concerning fact that Adande, in addition to being an ESPN commentator, holds a prominent position as the head of Sports Journalism at Northwestern University, a renowned institution in the field.
Clay Travis, a commentator, echoed Cain’s sentiments and criticized the sports media industry for its biased and irresponsible behavior. Travis emphasized that people turn to sports media for entertainment and updates on games, not to be subjected to Chinese propaganda spread by individuals like Adande. Travis highlighted the absurdity of China’s argument that disputes over voting laws in the US should prevent the country from addressing Chinese genocide, and expressed concern about ESPN’s role in propagating this propaganda.
Furthermore, honoring Adande with the Curt Gowdy Print Media Award raises questions about the credibility of the Basketball Hall of Fame. China’s influence on professional basketball is already significant, with numerous NBA team owners having substantial investments in Chinese ventures. Additionally, players have lucrative contracts with companies like Li-Ning and Anta, which exploit slave-produced cotton from Xinjiang. LeBron James, a prominent NBA player, cautioned against criticizing China due to these financial ties. Adande, as a recipient of the award, failed to hold James accountable for his remarks, highlighting a lack of integrity within the NBA media.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) appreciates an industry of reporters who vilify the US while remaining silent on China. The CCP’s appreciation for the Basketball Hall of Fame’s recognition of Adande further underscores the extent of China’s influence and compromises within professional basketball.
According to the Source outkick.com