thelesterlee
NBA media day is typically used to introduce new signings and give fans new phone wallpaper of their favorite teams ‘Big 3’ because every fan thinks their team has a Big 3.
But this year, the conversation has almost entirely been about the few players who refuse to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Also about Ben Simmons hating the Sixers but mostly about vaccines.
Among the players publically un-vaxxed includes Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Isaacs and Michael Porter Jr.
Every time these unvaccinated players were asked about their refusal to simply get a shot of medicine in their arm, they all pretty much had the same answer. “Personal choice”. And that’s cool or whatever. No one wants to be pressured into anything they don’t want to do. It’s why I never update my iPhone IOS despite constant notifications and my phone battery lasting 4 minutes.
I could lie and pretend as if my decision to not update my iPhone is some noble stance against uniformity or ‘personal choice’ but it’s just laziness. At this point, with millions upon millions of dead coronavirus bodies, there is no reason to avoid vaccination outside of wanting to feel special and different.
Here’s what Bradley Beal said about not getting vaccinated:
“I would like an explanation to people with vaccines, why are they still getting COVID? If that is something that [vaccinated individuals] are supposed be highly protected from, like it’s funny that it only reduces your chances of going to the hospital. Doesn’t eliminate anybody from getting COVID. Right?”
“… So you can still get COVID,” Beal added. “And you can still pass it along with the [vaccination] right? I am just asking the question.”
This is a very popular, very annoying childish stance Beal is taking. But it’s not totally his fault that he’s dumb. There are easy answers to his stupid contrarian questions but it’s not about actually being right. It’s about being different.
When he says “I’m just asking the question”. he doesn’t actually want an answer because the answer is simple: yes, you can still get Covid after you are vaccinated but it’s not about just testing positive for having it in your system. It’s about not needing to be hospitalized, which he mentions because he already knows this and he’s just being a dick.
It’s about keeping others safe which is where the ‘personal choice’ bullshit ends. The WHOLE ASS POINT of us waiting a year for this vaccine was so that we all get vaccinated and if/when we catch or spread it to the person next to us, no one has any negative side effects.
We were in lockdown waiting for a vaccine. We got the vaccine. And now these losers won’t take medicine. Like, no shit people still keep getting Covid. Just get the shot.
But if you’re reading this, then you probably know all this already and the point of this article isn’t to wag my finger at the loud minority who think their personal freedoms are being encroached upon by the burden of saving their friends, family and neighbors.
America is a selfish country. We knew this already. It’s also a country where the government routinely fails us and are aided by highly popular media outlets whose purpose is to spread misinformation. No matter what political side you support, you are wary of the government’s intentions.
So yes, Bradley Beal is dumb. But our decaying American healthcare system is more at fault. Our history of experimenting on brown people and the overall mistreatment of brown people, specifically in hospitals, is more at fault.
That being said, these professional athletes have received surgeries and are constantly being treated by doctors so you cannot now suddenly fear doctors when you interact with them on a daily basis.
Let’s absolutely make fun of Jonathan Isaac for being a geek who once invited the whole Orlando Magic team to one of his sermons and no one showed up. Never stop make fun of Andrew Wiggins for trying to get a religious exemption to avoid getting vaxxed and being denied.
But please zoom out and realize genuinely evil people like Ted Cruz are using these people to advance their shitty anti-vax agenda. I would share his specific tweet but I don’t want Google search results to attach me to that man’s Twitter feed.
There is nothing that makes me more uncomfortable than seeing an NBA player say or do something controversial and giving a shitload of racists permission to demean the entire NBA. Most people are in the NBA are vaccinated. This isn’t a big deal.
Don’t turn this into a ‘what should the league do about unvaccinated NBA players?’. ‘Should athletes just shut up and dribble?’.
Everyone wants to feel special and different. No one wants to feel like a ‘sheep’ or whatever. No one wants to feel like the government is tricking them.
Unfortunately, a global pandemic takes precedent over your own personal feelings and disbelief. This isn’t about America or individualism or any of the shit. The WORLD is sick. Get the fucking medicine.
Also, you never want to be on the same side of history as Ted fucking Cruz.
