We’ll spare you the pablum about the power of sports. In the end, it’s about money and prestige. The fact that sports can deliver both gives our games a special political weight, and we’ve seen the impact that weight can have on the broader society.
The NBA has been as proactive as any league in American sports when it comes to addressing issues that resonate beyond its own games, including raising awareness about discrimination based on sexual orientation. The league has shown little tolerance for anti-gay language, most recently suspending point guard Rajon Rondo for using homophobic language against referee Bill Kennedy, who later announced that he is gay.