Namemeligrong masibak bilang general manager ng Houston Rockets si Daryl Morey matapos na kampihan ang mga nagpoprotesta sa Hong Kong.
Una rito umani ng iskandalo ang mensahe ni Morey gamit ang social media na Twitter nang sabihin nito na “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.”
Pero makalipas ang ilang sandali binura ang kanyang mensahe dahil sa dala nitong malaking kontrobersiya.
Nilinaw ni Morey hindi naman niya nais na saktan ang mga fans ng Rockets at mga Chinese friends.
“I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided,” pagbawi ni Morey sa tweet. “And I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention. My tweets are my own and in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA.”
Pero nakarating sa China ang mensahe ng manager ng Houston.
Sinasabing nagalit ang China Basketball Association (CBA) kung saan ang namumuno ay ang Hall of Famer at Rockets legend na si Yao Ming.
Ang Rockets ay malakas ang tagasuporta sa China lalo na at ito ang kumuha noon sa future star na si Yao Ming noong taong 2002.
Sa statement ng CBA, kinumpirma nila ang pag-alis nila ng suporta sa Rockets.
“General manager of Houston Rockets club Daryl Morey made incorrect comments about Hong Kong,” pahayag ng CBA sa official social media page. “The Chinese Basketball Association is strongly opposed to this and will suspend communication and cooperation with the club.”
Ang Chinese CCTV sports channel ay nagsabi naman na hindi na nila ipapalabas ang mga laro ng Rockets.
Maging ang kilalang sportswear brand na Li Ning kung saan isa sa endorser ay si Dyawne Wade, at ang Shanghai Pudong Development Bank ay nagpasabi na rin na hindi na sila magbibigay suporta sa team.
Samantala, dahil sa inaasahang “backlash” sa liga, pilit na “nag-damage control” ngayon ang Rockets management at NBA.
Giit nila, anumang pahayag ng Houston general manager ay personal at walang kinalaman ang team at ang NBA.
Kinondena ni Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta ang naging tweet ni Morey at sinabing hindi sila isang political organization.
“I have the best general manager in the league,” ani Fertitta. “Everything is fine with Daryl and me. We got a huge backlash, and I wanted to make clear that the organization has no political position. We’re here to play basketball and not to offend anybody.”
Labis namang ikinalungkot ni NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ang pangyayari.
“We recognize that the views expressed by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey have deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable,” wika pa ni Silver. “We have the utmost respect for the history and culture of China, and hope that sports and NBA can be a positive energy for unity, continuing to build a bridge for international cultural exchanges and bringing people together.”
Sa ngayon ang Rockets ay nasa Japan para sa dalawang exhibition games kontra sa NBA champions na Toronto Raptors.
Agad namang dumistansiya ang head coach na si Mike D’Antoni at sinabing ang kanilang pokus ay ang magandang ilalaro at ang pag-enjoy sa kultura ng Japan.
