Mixed Signals

One the one hand, ESPN is to be admired for their work in uncovering the deep hypocrisy of the National Basketball Association's presence in Xinjiang, China, operating a player development academy not many miles from the Uighur concentration camps run by the Chinese Communist Party.

On the other hand, as the league begins play, the site's NBA news feed is once again filled with the faux-edgy, hip, gossipy headline stream ("There's no denying the beef between Harden and Giannis") that signals business as usual in toadying up to the same organization that stonewalled, stalled and apparently flat-out fibbed when asked about its lack of response to reports of abuse at its school. Not to mention fawning features on how the league is helping its players promote their desire to see social change. Checking out the site feels like watching a puppy who realizes that he's not going to be put outside for making a mess on the rug.

The players can't really be blamed for not knowing all that much about bad situations in other countries where their league has significant financial interests. Even if they follow news it's hard to find coverage of those things in the midst of yet another example of how Donald Trump is really the worst no we mean the worst for real this time. Maybe it's cynicism to suggest that league officials are encouraging the players in their own interests and causes in order to make sure they don't look too closely at what might strike at the heart of league interests and revenue streams.

And maybe it's not. Be nice if someone tried to take a look at that.