I think it's pretty clear that Timber Joey and Blaze have a little sumthin sumthin going on the side.
It's not politics. It's equal rights for all. That's like saying the MLB shouldn't have endorsed black players like Jackie Robinson because "it's a polarizing issue."
I said politics are polarizing, and it is politics, whether you like it or not. Bringing up MLB and Jackie Robinson has no bearing on this discussion at all. In that case, you were talking about a league allowing black athletes to participate. That directly impacted the sport. Gay marriage does not directly impact basketball, or soccer. We aren't talking about gay athletes here. We aren't talking about basketball allowing gay athletes, which I don't think there's anything stopping gay men from playing basketball. This is the Blazers publicly speaking out about gay marriage. Whether you agree or not, it's a political issue. It's polarizing America. There are people who believe that it goes against their religion. My point is that sports should be for everyone, regardless of their political or religious beliefs. By supporting one issue, or another, they turn their backs on one side of the fence. How would you feel if the Blazers came out against gay marriage? Would you be able to support the team knowing that they don't support you?
I guess there's plenty of opportunity for him to pull a Kelly McGillis, but he doesn't seem ever to have been linked to it: Though, I didn't know this:
A rare moment of lucidity for Eric! Making gay marriage "political" is itself a political act. So the Blazers and Timbers are being apolitical, or even anti-political. Just like the NFL wanting to help people sign up for Obamacare was apolitical, but they got scared off it by psycho rightwing nutjonbs.
What in the fuck does gay marriage have to do with the sport? Endorsing black players is entirely different than supporting same sex marriage
How is it apolitical when they come out in favor of one side of a debate? They used to be apolitical, but publicly coming out in favor of gay marriage makes them political. I'm not sure why you, or Eric, think that gay marriage is not a political issue. It's something that is being voted on, it's something that is being lobbied, it's something that the country is split over. Professional teams should not come out in favor of one side or the other, just like they should not speak out about abortion, or publicly support a candidate running for office. Sports should be for everyone, regardless of who they vote for or what they believe.
Some people feel that equal rights should be for everyone regardless of their political or religious beliefs. The same way I'd feel if they came out against straight marriage, or if they came out against interracial marriage, or any other stance that denied equal rights to law abiding citizens of this country. A pro gay marriage stance does not deny anyone's rights. An anti gay (or anti straight or anti interracial) marriage stance does. BNM
Gay marriage is political in the same way that heliocentrism is religious: dickheads tried to make it so.
Equal rights should be for everyone, regardless of who they vote for or what they believe. Supporting gay marriage does not deny straight couples the right to marry. It does not infringe on their rights in any way. BNM
I am not arguing whether gay marriage is right or wrong. I am in favor of gay marriage. I am in favor of equal rights. That's not the issue here. My point is that it alienates a portion of the fans. The only reason why these teams came out in favor of gay marriage is because they're located in Portland. It's a popular opinion in this area. Would you see a team in a predominantly conservative region come out in favor of gay marriage publicly? I'm not talking about whether gay marriage is right or wrong. It doesn't even matter what issue it is. I don't think sports teams should come out publicly about political issues. Period. How would you feel if a team in Texas or Oklahoma came out against gay marriage? It would piss you off, right? They just need to stay out of it entirely.
You're right. Because 100% of the population supports gay marriage. So therefore it can't be questioned. Everyone who attends just has to sack up or be outcast as bigots and inbred Hicks with no internets. hoop fam
You are clearly not understanding what my point is. If the Blazers came out publicly against gay marriage, if they came out publicly against abortion, if they came out for Romney in the last election... would it affect how you felt about the team? Would you have a hard time supporting the team?
For me personally I don't give a shit about gay marriage. I'm not for it or against it but the political cock sucking on the issue just turns me off as annoying. I dont want to hear about it related to basketball. hoop fam
I am also anti spanish night. Don't give a fuck about their black historical month shit either. Nba cares. Its all like having female refs. ... crap. hoop fam
I applaud the Blazers in their pro gay marriage stance. Sometimes doing the right thing is more important than maximizing profits. Yes, I would be offended if they came out with an anti gay marriage stance. I'd be equally offended if they came out with a statement that denied equal rights to straight people, or interracial couples. I'm sure many baseball and basketball teams that were accepting of African American players back in the 1950s also alienated a portion of their fan base. Good for them. So, just to be clear, I'm not just pro gay marriage. I'm pro equal rights. Thankfully, we've come far enough in this country that sport teams don't feel the need to release pro racial equality statements. Hopefully, in another decade or two we'll be able to say the same thing about equal rights for gay people. BNM
The Blazers have absolutely sucked for a full decade now. Maybe they should concentrate on their job description until they reach a point that they are actually earning their money. Until they become winners, they are losers. Not role models, not wise sages, just losers. Why would I look to a bunch of losers for moral guidance?
It was so long ago most posters here have never watched a really good Blazer team play, except on youtube.
Why are you making this about whether gay marriage is right or wrong? I've explicitly said that this is not the issue for me. My issue is with sports teams coming out publicly for ANY political issue. You already said that you would be offended if the Blazers came out against gay marriage. How would that affect your ability to support the team? And you guys really need to stop bringing up black athletes. It was in the best interest of baseball to start playing black athletes because they were an untapped resource of talented players. It was stupid that they weren't signing black athletes in the first place. How does this compare to gay marriage in any way?
