Posted on 04/05/2024 8:13:12 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
DeMar DeRozan is a six-time NBC all-star, a devoted family man, and a quiet, unassuming NBA superstar. When he heard in early January that Oron Beilin, one of the victims of the Hamas massacre of Jews at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7, was a huge Chicago Bulls fan, he autographed a special jersey for Beilin’s family with Oron’s name and the infinity symbol underneath.
It was a simple, graceful act done without fanfare or press coverage. The gesture caught the attention of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which decided to honor DeRozan for his act of kindness.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the most influential Jewish organizations in the world. Since its founding in 1977, it has been at the forefront of fighting anti-Semitism. It was a huge honor for the 34-year-old player, who has spent his career steering clear of political controversies.
But simply appearing at an event and saying a few words in front of a banner proclaiming “Solidarity with Israel” has caused a huge backlash by pro-Palestinian Twitter/X posters and others who have taken a non-political gesture by DeRozan completely out of context.
DeRozan doesn't want anything to do with the controversy.
“My whole career, I’ve never gotten involved with the politics side of things,” DeRozan said. “That’s just never a thing that I’ve ever really touched on or spoke on. I went there for the reason I went there for. We’re all going through something as people, as a country, as a world that we’re all battling, that we’re all trying to figure out and trying to get through at the end of the day.”
The outcry against him was vicious.
Demar derozan?????? pic.twitter.com/ol2l2OMsTQ— ✮ (@UTDJalen) April 4, 2024
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
NBC all-star?................
As a ride or die DeMar DeRozan fan,
There is no excuse for a grown man not to know there is an active genocide happening with his tax dollars.
Additionally, he has managers, PR reps, and his own brain. Not one person thought twice abt this???
Stop excusing genocide apologists. https://t.co/KWbR4KCeNL— sidra (@KashmiriChai32) April 4, 2024
DeRozan's speech accepting the award was class all the way. He talked about the importance of people uplifting each other, about his own struggles with depression over the last decade, and about the importance of community.
Not once did he mention Israel or the war.
DeRozan gave a generic speach about mental health at the reception of an philanthropy award
He never explicitly supported Israel AT ALL pic.twitter.com/460E6H8GTc— 💢👾 (@GreggPopowich) April 4, 2024
RE: NBC all-star?................
Yes. DeMar DeRozan has been selected to the NBA All-Star games six times in his career.
See Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeMar_DeRozan
He was a popular selection for the Toronto Raptors for several seasons, and has continued to be recognized for his strong performance with the Chicago Bulls.
The ‘enraged fans’ can send money to Hamas for guns and ammo…
How is that “we’re going to reunite the country” thingy working out for the Democrats? I was told it was just about Trump.
DeRozan is clearly apolitical and was doing an act of kindness to give a sense of comfort to the fan’s family and that was it.
Why are people fans of anyone or anything these days ?LOL
RE: Why are people fans of anyone or anything these days ?LOL
Why not?
A fan refers to someone who has a strong interest or admiration for something or someone.
I love basketball, a lot of sports, music and scholarship. That makes me a fan of these things and a fan of someone’s SKILLS who excels at these things.
One doesn’t have to agree with or idolize a person to admire his skills.
Better yet, we can airdrop the muzzies and their sympathizers into Gaza. Let them all fight for HAMas since they love them so much.
Exactly.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is a joke.
Pro-Palestinians far outnumber Pro-Israelis in the US. In fact, this and abortion may sink Trump’s hope in November.
If Israel doesnt step up and fight this fight like the intend to win then this is just another forever war like what all the Zeepers are cheering for. Nuke em from outer space if they have to.
There are a maximum of 450 players playing in the NBA at any time. They are drawn from a talent pool that is international. The pay is a minimum (for a full year guaranteed contract, which may not be what some players sign) about $1.1 million. “Guarantee” means even if injured.
The top end salaries can get to $45M+, multi year, and guaranteed. Endorsement deals add to that, mostly for shoes, but at your local convenience store you will see NBA player faces on bags of Doritos. There are shoe deals out there that pay $10M/yr for 15 yrs, guaranteed.
DeRozen is a superstar. He’s in that $40+M per year strata.
He’s not super old approaching end of career and looking for political things to deal with. He’s 34, still fighting for his next contract. That requires a lot of training and with all those numbers above, the competition for those contracts is intense.
There are a handful of superduper superstars in the NBA who make the occasional political statement, but you’ll find they are all newly signed to a multi year deal. DeRozen is in a “contract year”. He’s currently paid in year 3 of a 3-year $85M deal (85 is never divided evenly by 3, it will be backend loaded). He is playing this year, very well, and will hope for another 3 years of similar numbers — though at 37 it’s VERY rare to still be at top form and worth a back-end loading.
Point being, this is absolutely not a time he would seek political visibility. He is in a contract year. This blew up with him having largely no interest in it.
He is the only player on the Bulls that concerns the Celtics. He is an easy All Star.
He did not preach about this. His people did not make a big PR deal about this. He simply did a nice thing. These days that doesn’t seem to matter to people.
The outrage from social media is contrived. Social Media is a place where those who were bullied in third grade for being stupid get their revenge. Anywhere there are forums, this happens.
It should be ignored. Doing “good” is reward in and of itself.
Both the editor and author failed to make the All Star team this year.
I know the genocide claim is Hamas BS, but Demonicrats don’t have enough brains to research the truth.
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