LBJ在2007年北京奧運前夕拒絕譴責中國 - NBA

Reddit上面有人把這件事情翻出來，看來LBJ原本就是對中國很軟。
底下也是很多人在酸misinformed and uneducated。

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https://bit.ly/2ONMvEF

NBA All-Star LeBron James Refuses To ‘Be A Witness’ Against Darfur Genocide

FAIZ SHAKIR MAY 24, 2007, 2:17 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Ira Newble recently wrote an open letter
criticizing China’s role in the Darfur genocide, urging fellow basketball
players to pressure China to change its policy ahead of the 2008 Summer
Olympics. “China cannot be a legitimate host to the premier international
event in the sporting world─the Summer Olympic Games─while it remains
complicit in the terrible suffering and destruction that continues to this
day,” the letter stated.

騎士隊的 Ira Newble 近期(指2007年當時)寫了一封公開信，
批評中國在達佛(非洲蘇丹的一個區域)種族屠殺中扮演的角色，
「中國不應在持續進行可怕行為的情況下，得以正當擔任夏季奧運的主辦國。」

While most of Newble’s teammates signed the letter, only two did not: Damon
Jones and LeBron James. James, one of the NBA’s most recognizable faces, is
a perennial all-star and was named a tri-captain of the 2006 USA World
Championship Team. In an op-ed in today’s Christian Science Monitor, NYU
history professor Jonathan Zimmerman explains the dynamics behind Jones and
James’s decision:

大多數的隊員都簽名，只有兩人沒有：Damon Jones 和 LeBron James 。
James作為NBA的大明星，是全明星和2006年美國隊隊長。

對此，NTY歷史教授Jonathan Zimmerman表示：

James said he didn’t have enough information about the issue to take a
stand. Mr. Jones wouldn’t comment. We can choose to take them at their word,
of course — or we can follow the money. Jones has an endorsement contract
with an up-and-coming Chinese shoe and apparel company. James has a $90
million deal with Nike, which has huge business interests in China.

James 稱他對於這個議題並不清楚，所以不適合表明立場。
Jones則是不予回應。我們當然可以相信他們，但是也可以觀察錢的流向。
Jones即將與中國的品牌簽約，James和Nike有九千萬美金的合約，在中國有重大利益。

Ironically, LeBron James has not decided whether he will compete in Beijing.
But in the real battle, over Darfur, James has elected to stay on the
sidelines. That’s his right, of course. And the rest of us have the right to
call his behavior what it is.

LBJ還沒決定是否會參加北京奧運(指當時)，但是在現實中James不願牽扯進達佛議題。
這當然是他的自由，但是我們也有自由予以評論。


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