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The New School

What’s wrong with the NBA Coronavirus narrative, and how it could be so much better!

By Tania Gelin Staten Island, New York December 15, 2020

Global Pandemics in an Unequal world: Learning From Covid-19 Research Portfolio 1 Instructor: Sakiko Fukuda-Parr

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What’s wrong with the NBA Coronavirus narrative, and how it could be so much better! Abstract Does the National Basketball Association as a professional sports league have a responsibility to create a proper corporate narrative to Blacks during the COVID crisis that continues well after the pandemic’s end? I think many Americans would argue yes. During a March 11, 2020 game between the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder, where one player was found to have contracted the virus, the league urged fans to follow CDC guidelines, and subsequently used coronavirus testing kits on NBA players. Nationwide, however, there was a shortage of kits. (Baird, Robert P, 2020) The justification on the use of testing kits in a league that is dominated by blacks stirred, in my mind, questions of responsibility and obligation on the part of players who are viewed as role models and activists. The league, however, lacked a proper narrative in its COVID response in three areas, 1. The association failed to acknowledge economic flaws that create poor outcomes for blacks. 2. The association did not have a narrative that was achievable for fans, and 3. The association failed to state their commitment in supporting players to create institutions specifically designed to tackle systemic poverty and health concerns in the Black community. That the NBA has more Black players than any professional sports league in the nation demonstrates that now is the time to expand the NBA’s reach, owning institutions in Black communities because it is not just about the pandemic, but so much more than the pandemic. Sports Commentator Scoop Jackson said, “The social and societal responsibility in sports goes beyond the athletes. Yet almost all the responsibility in sports, as far as activism goes, falls to the athlete.”1 This is extremely important to note because the narrative was not effective because it was not in touch with what low-income and poor blacks were going through on a daily basis during the pandemic. The NBA needs the assistance of players in producing the right narratives and outcomes for the black community because there is so much in social and societal determinants that affect black people, it is arguable that NBA ball players should be a part of the discussions to produce a narrative that is effective. Capitalism has historically discriminated against Blacks and so, intervention is needed to correct past wrongs to further avoid being left behind in times of crisis. (Morrison and Reeves, 2020) During the pandemic, many questioned the integrity of government-run institutions and a trend emerged where many Americans placed their faith in corporations. The NBA has made a pledge to give $300 million to support Black communities and with proper planning a lot can been done with that money. Institution-building is so much more than creating basketball camps or giving sneakers to basketball teams. (Yyoungmisuk, Ohm, 2020) It is about intervention to change outcomes in a way that is lasting. Much of this paper will focus on the NBA’s response narrative to the COVID-19 pandemic so that death tolls like those experienced by Blacks during the pandemic are avoided. Keywords: NBA, healthcare, coronavirus, inequality, corporations, politics, communities, Blacks

1 Jackson, Scoop, 2020, The game is not a game p. 194 3

1. The incident

It was a day that will go down in sports history. On March 11, 2020 at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena fans pack the stadium to watch their home team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, play against the Utah Jazz. One of the ESPN announcers mentioned that Rudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz’s star player, is out with an illness. Oklahoma fans were particularly energized that Gobert was not present. The announcers felt that Oklahoma was guaranteed an easy win because of Gobert’s absence. With both teams having completed their warm-ups and the starting line-ups’ announcement being made, players and fans were eager for the start of the game. In a strange turn of events, city officials and NBA officials and later, NBA officials and team coaches held private discussions on the court, while the crowd waited, standing on their feet in a failed attempt to usher in the game. Thirty minutes passed before the players were told to return to their locker rooms. Soon after, an announcement is made that the game had been postponed. The crowd began to boo. We later learned that Gobert had tested positive for the coronavirus and that the NBA had suspended all games until further notice. 2Ironically, the day the announcement was made, the World Health Organization had declared the novel coronavirus a global pandemic. Jazz-Thunder postponed just before tip-off,

There will be those who claim that the March 11 shut down of the NBA season by Commissioner Adam Silver was an appropriate decision, given Gobert’s diagnosis. Earlier during a press conference, Gobert had jokingly touched microphones, table and chair to poke fun at the Coronavirus. It is not clear whether a teammate had given Gobert the virus or whether Gobert had given the virus to his teammate. The NBA choose to highlight the situation that happened with Gobert as an example for everyday Americans to take seriously the guidelines set by the CDC.

Kurt Badenhausen writer for Forbes online said in a March 16 article for Sports Money that controversy arose when the NBA used much of the Oklahoma state coronavirus testing kits to test 58 persons in the entourage of the Utah Jazz. The entire incident generated negative press. In the following days, entire NBA teams were tested, while there were a limited number of kits available in the US. Media frenzy soon followed as regular Americans could not do the same.3

The NBA’s access to the testing kits through the assistance of private medical firms and concierge doctors was well publicized in the press. (Sullivan, Paul, 2020), (Kornfield, Meryl and Tate, Julie, 2020) Many players did not meet the criteria for getting tested. The NBA and its ball players have great wealth and as such, a narrative should have been made addressing how policy has played a part in many areas affecting blacks, including health, acknowledging the limitations of blacks as a race and making the commitment to create structures that will reduce inequality over time. The focus should not have been making a show of accessing testing kits

2 Jazz-Thunder postponed just before tip-off | 2019-20 Espn.com “NBA Highlights on ESPN”, March 11, 2020 3 Bromberg, Nick, 2020, “Reporter asks Trump why NBA players were prioritized with testing”, CNN 4 that others cannot obtain, which according to Schwartz, an author and reporter at The New York Times creates anger many.

Although the NBA did donate money and supplies in the fight against COVID, the association’s message during COVID was one that could not be followed. In addition to a lack of testing kits, USA Today Writers Kelly Tyko, Jessica Guynn and Mike Snider discussed “panic buying” in a February 28, 2020 article in USA Today, detailing how shoppers went into a buying frenzy, limited the supply of masks, gloves and hand sanitizer online and on the shelves. Using creative methods for keeping safe and frequent hand washing as well as social distancing were not publicized by the press as measures taken by the NBA to remain safe. The message was getting tested, even with a limited number of testing kits was taking the measures to remain safe.

While admired, NBA players are seen as the elite in addition to being perceived as positive actors for individuals who have no paternal role models. This did nothing to make people realize the seriousness of COVID-19, at least not in a way they could imitate. According to CNBC’s Tom Huddleston Jr., October 22, 2019, the average NBA sports player makes 7.7 million dollars a season. The players also have a union the National Basketball Players Association, which according to the union’s website, provides the players with stellar health benefits to keep them in top shape.

The infrastructure of the association, the comradery between the men who play the sport and the wealth of the men themselves makes them admired among many Blacks. All said, the NBA’s input, when appropriately directed, can create immediate action and lay the foundations for fostering positive health outcomes, while also reducing inequality within the Black community. The NBA has good intentions and is fully capable of helping the black community but it falls short from missteps in planning, like those expressed above.

2. Pandemic outbreak and issues of fairness

In March, the CDC published an alert for the Coronavirus on its Website. In the bulletin, the agency detailed who to prioritize for Covid-19 tests due to the shortage of testing kits. At the time, those persons included,

1. “Hospitalized patients who have signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 in order to inform decisions related to infection control.”

2. “Other symptomatic individuals such as, older adults (age 65 +) and individuals with chronic medical conditions and/or an immune compromised state that may put them at 5

higher risk for poor outcomes (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, receiving immunosuppressive medications, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease).

3. “Any persons including healthcare personnel, who within 14 days of symptom onset had close contact with a suspect or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient, or who have a history of travel from affected geographic areas within 14 days of their symptom onset.

Although members of the Utah Jazz ball team were in close contact with Gobert who, at the time, tested positive for the coronavirus there was no mention that all those tested from the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder entourage experienced cases of “symptom onset” that would have prioritized players of either team to receive coronavirus testing.

3. Political response

Use of coronavirus testing kits brought the issue of inequality in obtaining access to healthcare to the center stage and defined discourse in the presidential debate. That Oklahoma state officials could put the welfare of athletes above the welfare of the state’s constituency seemed baffling to most. Almost immediately politicians were dragged into the debate.

New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio who in the past questioned government funds being used to build Barclay Arena as a home for the Brooklyn Nets was skeptical. DeBlasio who had become accustomed to the tactics of the NBA and was quick to publicly admonish the association for what he believed was its incompetency.

In his Twitter page DeBlasio wrote, “We wish them a speedy recovery. But with all due respect, an entire NBA team should NOT get tested for COVID-19 while there are critically ill patients waiting to be tested.” He added, “Tests should not be for the wealthy, but for the sick.” The mayor received support in his comments from one of his Twitter followers, Gurdeep Singh, who said, “One player had symptoms and therefore they had to test the entire team.”(Mayor Bill de Blasio 2020)

NPR radio host Dave Davies interviewed New York Times Reporter Nelson Swartz on inequality the transparency in the stark differences in healthcare between rich and poor, black and white witnessed during the pandemic. Swartz said that during the pandemic the rich ensured their safety by securing private transportation (planes and cars) to avoid situations of being in populated environments were the possibility of contracting the virus greatly increases. They are more likely to work remotely and have second homes enabling them to vacate populated urban cities. [https://www.npr.org/2020/04/13/833042757/from-private-helicopters-to-concierge- doctors-inequality-is-a-big-business] 6

Many Americans witnessing how inequality determined who contracted the virus poked fun at the United Nations’ global chant, “We are all in this together”, which was to be a rallying cry for people to get through the tough times of the coronavirus pandemic as a collective. It never materialized- not among the heads of state around the world who often bickered with one another about the origins of the virus and/or which nationals had infected their populations. It never materialized in the United States, either, where tensions mounted between Democrats and Republicans on the handling of the pandemic reached insurmountable heights and frustration grew among the poor and minorities over their treatment in society when compared to the rich.

At a press conference, President Donald Trump was pulled into the conversation surrounding inequality and access to testing kits by the NBA. CNN recorded the discussion of a reporter who asked the president on the fairness of NBA players’ ability to acquire testing kits during a time of shortage.4 The president responded, “No, I wouldn’t say so, but perhaps that’s been the story of life. That does happen on occasion, and I have noticed where some people have been tested fairly quickly. Look, we have inherited a very obsolete system. This was a system that was out-of-date, obsolete or it was a system that was never meant to care of the type of quantity, the number of people were talking about, millions and millions of people.” (Trump, Donald, 2020) The president fell short of criticizing Oklahoma state officials, in a mostly Republican state.

4. Inequality in healthcare and health outcomes The NBA’s ability to access high-priced concierge doctors to provide them with testing kits opens up the discussion to how wealth can buy health. Swartz also notes in a June 3, 2017 write-up in the New York Times how some of the best doctors have been leaving medical practices with hefty workloads to work as concierge doctors for a reduced number of clients that includes, CEOs, celebrities and athletes-- people able to afford thousands of dollars in out-of- pocket costs required for high-quality care. The wealthy, while not immune, suffer less morbidity and mortality rates during pandemics because of their ability to receive quality care.

For the right client, a concierge medical practitioner will travel across country, make certain a patient does not have to wait in a waiting room, ensure immediate access to specialists and have access to coronavirus testing kits, even during a period of shortage. (Swartz, Nelson 2020)A Los Angeles Times article by Elmahrek, Kaufman and Poston published on March 23, 2020, titled Coronavirus testing sales by ‘concierge’ doctors under review by medical board suggests that at the height of the pandemic, some doctors were reported as charging clients hundreds of dollars for coronavirus testing, money that is not easily expendable in many American households. For the rich, healthcare is convenient and that is not the case for everyday Americans (see Figure 1).

4 CNN (2020) “Reporter asks Trump why NBA players were prioritized with testing” 7

According to the US Census Bureau, household incomes differ by race. Blacks generate the lowest income of all racial groups and in some states make half of what white households earn. It does not help matters that forty-four percent of those employed are low wage earners.5 For the rich, the costs for coronavirus testing is inconsequential, as health is important to personal upkeep, giving them the opportunity to remain in proper health during the pandemic. For some, the elite not only includes CEOs, athletes and celebrities but politicians as well. It is due to politician’s ability to craft public policy considerations concerning public health that could become law and the quality health coverage they receive that they are watched for the health coverage they receive.

On October 1, 2020, when President Trump contracted the coronavirus, immediate action was taken to ensure his safety. He was airlifted and sent to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where he was to receive the highest-level of care (see Figure 2). The Atlantic which often publishes articles favorable on Medicare for All, has been critical of the health coverage given to elected officials and staff in the White House, Congress and the US Senate. While many in the US lack the ability to pay for essential health coverage due to immigration status or high out-of-pocket costs, many politicians do not experience such problems. In an article published on October 6 in The Atlantic titled, “Donald Trump’s gold-plated health care”, The Atlantic Writer Olga Khazan ridiculed the president’s ability to access top-of-the-line care, while some Americans avoid medical care because of costs.

Khazan wrote, “For more advanced medical care, Trump goes to a military hospital such as Walter Reed, where his suite includes offices, conference rooms, and a private living space. To get to and from the hospital, Trump has access to a helicopter and Secret Service staffers. She continued, “For everyday people, ambulance fees are the largest source of unexpected medical bills.”Khazan was quick to recognize that this level of care was not unusual for a US president and acknowledged that Walter Reed has been caring for American presidents since the early 20th century.

Members of House of Representatives and the United States Senate their staff receive their medical care from The Office of the Attending Physician, which can also make recommendations for elected officials and staff to get admittance to private health or government sponsored health facilities like Walter Reed.

Writer Adam Harris in a March 15, 2020 article published in The Atlantic titled, “It Pays to be Rich During a Pandemic” said “Even members of Congress have care immediately on hand through the Office of Attending Physician, a fully staffed office that can make recommendations to send lawmakers to world-class hospitals for top-of-the-line care with the stroke of a pen.”

5 Escobari, Marcela; Seyal, Ian; Meaney, Michael Realism About Reskilling, Brookings page 3 8

(Harris, Adam 2020) This has led to many Americans to question whether elected officials are serving the interests of the people or themselves, while bodies of the dead remain in freezer trucks in downtown Brooklyn waiting for burial (see Figure 3).

5. The NBA’s corporate narrative

After substantial criticism from the press and politicians. NBA’s Chief Communications Officer Michael Bass was quick to issue a public statement on the association’s entitlement to the testing kits. Bass discussed the NBA’s decision during a March 18, 2020 interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

During the interview Bass said, “public health authorities and team doctors have been concerned that, given NBA players’ direct contact with each other and close interactions with the general public, in addition to their frequent travel, they could accelerate the spread of the virus. Following two players testing positive last week, others were tested and five additional players tested positive. Hopefully, these players choosing to make their test results public, they have drawn attention to the critical need for young people to follow CDC recommendations in order to protect others, particularly those with underlying health conditions and the elderly.” Bass’ argument created questions on the role of the league and players during a pandemic.

For NBA executives, the testing of players suggests model behavior for fans of basketball, especially inner- city youth in communities of color to care for themselves and keep safe during the pandemic. There remains, however, three discrepancies in Bass’ argument,.1. The need for advocacy in a manner that is achievable. 2, Failure to acknowledge economic flaws and failures of the government system toward blacks that create poor health outcomes, and similarly 3. Supporting players to create institution specifically designed to tackle systemic poverty and health concerns in the Black community.

The question begs, aside from behaviors, how has policy been responsible for the magnitude of the pandemic we witness today? Some, like Sabrina Stringer, in a May 25, 2020 article published in The New York Times titled, “It’s not obesity. It’s slavery.” suggests that slavery, a product of trade and capitalism, is to blame for inequality in the country which created the high death count among black people. Others like Economist Richard Wolff, suggest that capitalism is the reason pandemics are poorly controlled.6 Neoliberal policies were a reorganizing of the capitalist structure system with trickledown economics left corporations and not individuals in positions of power and safety. Economists and Nobel prize winners such as Joseph Stigltiz and Paul Krugman argue that neoliberalism does not work because when the rich get richer, they didn’t give more; they saved more. How else

6 Economist Richard Wolff, 2020, lecture 9 can one explain how billionaires exist in a country where half 44%, 53 million, of those employed are low-wage earners?7 In May 2020, 20, 935,000 persons were unemployed, not including those who are not in the Department of Labor count. During the pandemic billionaires got richer, while millions lost jobs and livelihoods. We have entered a point in history where people are not satisfied with capitalism because they don’t believe it is serving the public well. In a report published by YouGov, it was found that half of the millennials8 polled favored socialism.

Trickledown economics has created hopes and expectations from many Americans that corporations-not the government-are the answer during the pandemic. A recent Axios-Harris Poll study of approximately thirty-four thousand persons found that 72% of Americans, “trust companies more than the Federal government to help find solutions to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic and racial equality movement.”9 Eighty-one percent said “large companies with resources, infrastructure, advanced logistics, are even more vital now to America’s future than before the pandemic.”10 The poll also found that 76% of Americans believed that “companies were more reliable than the federal government in keeping America running during COVID-19.”11

5.1 The association failed to acknowledge economic flaws that create poor health outcomes for blacks Many blacks are distrustful of government and health structures because of past injustices. Nassif-Pires, an economist whose primary focus lies in inequality shared that during the pandemic the divide between rich and poor could be seen in many areas, including in four areas with discussion to healthcare. They include how 1. Health and economic impacts are disproportionately felt by working class, poor population and minorities. 2. Inequalities are being magnified by the pandemic. 3. Inequality creates challenges to contain the spread of the virus. 4. Inequality is increased by the pandemic and therefore leaves us even more vulnerable.12

Health inequity is a persistent problem in the US and abroad. The World Health Organization recognized that societal norms can create conditions for inequity and put the organization’s findings in a report called Closing the Gap in a Generation, Commission of Social Determinants of Health. Although the report was written in 2008, sadly it is still relevant today. The World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health made three recommendations. 1. Tackle the inequitable distribution of power, money and resources. 2.

7 Escobari, Marcela; Seyal, Ian; Meaney, Michael “Realism About Reskilling”, Brookings page 3 8 YouGov, “US Attitudes Toward Socialism, Communism and Collectivism, p. 12 9 The Harris Poll (2020) “The Insight. Special Report: Six Months That Changed America” page 15 10 The Harris Poll (2020), “The Insight. Special Report: Six Months That Changed America” page 15 11 The Harris Poll, (2020), “The Insight. Special Report: Six Months That Changed America” page 14 12 Nassif-Pires, 2020, lecture 10

Measure and understand the problem and assess the impact of action. 3. Improve daily living conditions. 13

Even as President Trump blamed the system as the cause for players being able to access coronavirus testing kits and as the cause of our inability to contain the virus, we have seen other instances where systems are effective in reducing the coronavirus.14 We have seen in other countries where low cost models for fighting COVID-19 worked and could have been followed in the United States.

According to a World Bank blog, Vietnam’s low-cost model to reduce the spread of the pandemic with a limited number of testing kits proved effective. Forbes quoted a poll from YouGov that put the approval rating of the Vietnamese government’s handling of the COVID crisis at 95%. An effective narrative was used by the government with mass advertisements, music and public address to stop the spread. So, there exists the possibility to control the spread of the virus using low-cost methods.

America has a wealth of resources available in fighting COVID-19. Similarly, in the US, the FCC oversees the Lifeline program. On the agency’s website, it explains how the program was able to provide free phone program with limited data and minutes for low-income Americans. The phones have GPS capabilities for contract tracing, so were use of an app mandated to learn when cases have spiked in specific communities, the citizenry would be prepared. This is not impossible. Many students in school districts throughout the US, have access to free I-Pads for remote learning. That we were not adequately prepared for a pandemic of this magnitude has, in many ways, sullied the reputation of the United States in matters relating to health and infectious disease control around the world.

5.2 The need for advocacy in a manner that is achievable

Communication and direction is important in narratives formed by government officials as well as from the corporations that people turn to in times of crisis, both to justify future actions and to illicit favorable reactions. The public’s ability to trust the government and respond willingly to changes was and still is important during a pandemic. What is more alarming is that the American public has, for a long time, been skeptical of government, long before Trump. Something must change in our attitudes and behaviors toward health and the government’s role in caring for the public, especially with pandemics occurring as often as they

13 WHO (2008) “Closing the Gap in a Generation, Commission of Social Determinants of Health” pages 1-40 14 CNN (2020) “Reporter asks Trump why NBA players were prioritized with testing” 11 do. Time is important, and time is the change agent, in limiting the reach and scope of a virus as deadly as COVID.

Unfortunately, trust was not achieved during the COVID-19 pandemic and it is up to the NBA to take a leadership and accountability in these matters. They do not always see themselves in this light. Even retired NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recently wrote of his struggles with health ailments in a carefully crafted essay on the inequality that exists in the American healthcare system. The essay was posted on WebMD.

Of his experience with the American healthcare system Abdul-Jabbar wrote, “I’ve been fortunate because my celebrity has brought me enough financial security to receive excellent medical attention. No one wants an NBA legend dying on their watch. Imagine the Yelp reviews. I’m also lucky that one of my sons is an orthopedic surgeon and another is a hospital administrator. Dad gets to nag them for medical advice whenever he wants. But while I’m grateful for my advantages, I’m acutely aware that many others in the Black community do not have the same options and that it is my responsibility to join with those fighting to change that. Because Black lives are at risk. Serious risk.” (Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem 2020)

While it was beneficial that he brought awareness to inequality in healthcare in matters relating to Black Health, not once did he see himself or the NBA as being in a position to provide a real solution to the problem. It is not so much about fighting for change as it is about making the change, partnering with groups that are willing to provide assistance in hospitals—not only fighting the government but working outside of the government as well. Real lasting change cost money and time, something retired NBA players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have. Debates have taken place Black community took place long ago and the same discussion continue today. This should not be. So, the players remain on the sidelines as activists when they are the ones that can, in fact, illicit change.

Many blacks, in the days following the Association’s testing of players for the virus, found that many blacks did not believe that the pandemic was real, but a hoax. Proof that the narrative used by the NBA was ineffective. By mid-April the Axios/Harris poll found that, (56%) of those surveyed feared dying from the virus, only to be eclipsed by (60%) feared losing their job. 15 Page 11 The Harris Poll

In the 1980s, under former NBA Commissioner Stern, measures were taken to “curtail player behavior” and solidify negotiations with news agencies to improve the “visibility”, “marketability” and ultimately the “profitability” of the NBA. Corporations and the media seemed to believe in Stern’s vision, spending millions in advertising dollars on some of the

15 The Harris Poll (2020) “The Insight. Special Report: Six Months That Changed America”, page 11 12 association’s top ball players, with the belief that these players make up for the paternal male role models missing from many black households16.

Budford May quotes Bandura a recognized figure in the field of sociology’s social learning theory who writes17 “a role model can be anyone with whom an individual comes into contact that might influence that individual’s behaviors, attitudes, and aspirations. Direct role models, like parents, teachers, and peers, have sustained contact with individuals and can influence their everyday behavior, whereas indirect role models, such as professional athletes, have mediated contact with individuals-through television, for example-but still model behaviors and attitudes.”,

Many people could not imitate the behaviors requested because of occupation; many blacks are employed as essential workers. According to an Axios poll, one in every six essential workers are Black. Overcrowding in cities, especially housing in urban settings as well as overcrowding in jails have caused the virus to swell and spread with the Black population. Even using public transportation to go to or from work and school can be enough time for people to acquire and spread the virus.

To place the argument in its proper context, the mta, the transit system for the nation’s most populous city, New York City, and surrounding area published on its Website that the association transports 15.3 million persons daily. With crowded trains and buses in the city, the probability exists that the people who use mass transit are at a higher risk of contracting the virus and spreading it to others than those living in less densely populated parts of the country. Being stuck in compact train, tram, bus or ferry an average of 37.6 minutes, which the US Census Bureau estimates is the average commute time to or from work for most New York City residents, and in most cases is more than enough time for a person to contract or spread the virus, which according to the CDC on average is at 15 minutes or more at a distance of six feet or less.

5.3 The association failed to state their commitment in supporting players to create institutions specifically designed to tackle systemic poverty and health concerns in the Black community

Data from the US Census Bureau states that Blacks account for 13.4 percent or 40 million of the US population yet they bare the majority of health burdens in the country, suffering disproportionately from other races in health ailments such as heart disease and cancer. That is to say that, with some illnesses, even though the number of whites dying from a disease may

16 Budford May, “The Good and Bad of It All”, page 448 17 Budford May, “The Good and Bad of It All”, page 448 13 appear greater based on their population size, the numbers may be marginal when compared to other races that are less in number. COVID presents that type of situation.

COVID was a disease that affected more whites globally than any other pandemic in recent history. Only look at the statistics of those dead and you will find many European nations were hit hard by the pandemic. On the contrary, HIV/AIDS affected more Blacks globally and to date, there is no vaccine for HIV/AIDS. In stark contrast, it has not been roughly a year (2019) since COVID 2 started to become a serious threat and already there are vaccines being tested and in a matter of months they will be given to most of the American public.

Leading experts contend that, historically, disease development and outcomes among Blacks have been prioritized over social and societal determinants of health, which creates a situation where, on the surface, the problem is regarded from its evolution its manifestation and ultimate end. 18 Illness, however, is an ongoing theme in communities of color. No real attempts have been made to rectify the problem at its source (e.g. housing, education, occupation, etc.) but to isolate from the poor and minorities while benefiting from the productivity of their labor.

To have a role model requires direct interactions between persons, which given the high cost of tickets to basketball games is limiting for youth. According to Team Marketing.com 2018-2019 for the NBA fan cost index, the cost to see an NBA game has gone up over the years, with a family of four paying on average $420.65 to see a game. Non-premium seats run at a cost of $73.66 a game. The median household income for an American family was at 68, 703 for the 2019 calendar year, a variety of factors may affect this figure including, gender, race, education, immigration status.

According to a blog from ESPN’s David Aldridge posted on November 21, since the lockout, teams are required to supply at least 500 tickets at $10 apiece, but those are for sections where visibility of the play is difficult. (Aldridge, David, 2020) Some may opt for watching games on their television, computer or mobile devices instead, which is how many youths and those with lower incomes watch sports. Creating institutions would rectify this problem because they are lasting, having more impact than one game or one encounter with an NBA ball player.

Recently Lebron James opened a public school. Many newspapers, including The New York Times reported on the event, Located in Akron, Ohio, the city where James was born and

18 Nassif-Pires, 2020, lecture 14 raised, the school was renamed Lebron James’ I Promise School,. When James explained his vision, he was quickly met by skepticism from parents at the mostly black school.

That the school was one of the worst performing schools in Akron’s school district made the skepticism of the parents all the more egregious. Luckily, Mr. James had the fame, money and connections kept his critics at bay, and he was able transform an underperforming school to a highly competitive school, beating many schools in statewide exams. Just like in education; institutions in health can yield positive results. USA Today reports that James plans to create House Three Thirty, a community resource center to assist the community in reaching development goals, as well.

This is an exemplary example of institution-building in education that can be transformative and empowering for the black community. It is a model that should be used across a broad range of disciplines where Blacks need better supports and services- not solely giving basketballs, new sneakers or the traditional holiday turkeys to the Black community. In an Harris Poll published on October 13, 2020, it was found that of 2000 persons surveyed, 70% admit to “struggling” financially. Weather it is health, poverty, housing, education or food insecurity, there remain many areas that need to be tackled in the Black community to create change that is effective and lasting (Figure 4).

Similarly, direct influence on everyday life was important on the impact of the decisions made by youth that can influence responses toward determinants of health—not idolizing a role model on television per se, who is also a basketball player, to know how to play ball and learn the discipline needed to become a ballplayer but learning the skills needed to be successful in life and personal care.

Many hospitals are struggling financially to stay open. The 300 million that the NBA is promising to Black communities could be used keep doors open and expand services through mobile health clinics to target health ailments common among the Black community or simply to reach the elderly, the ambulatory and undocumented immigrants. Social determinants take into account life and work conditions, health risks, access to health care in addition to health outcomes. As an example, Morrison and Reeves of the Associated Press detailed how TRAPMedicine, an initiative designed to educated young black men and boys about health in barbershops has received praise in black communities, as well as support from celebrities.

6. The subject has always been Black Health 15

Societal determinants of health are also relevant in multiple areas related to health outcomes, including how inequality in social structures and institutions are related to 1. influence and power 2. Health profiles/outcomes 3. Social conditions of life 4. Bio-medical factors.19 Such areas are important to the health of Black America.

Two mainstream theories have been tied to social and societal determinants of health and disease outcomes and are categorized as either Biomedical, which considers individual, genetic heritage, and biological factors with regard to health outcomes or Behavioral/Lifestyle which factors individual, behavior, practices and beliefs into health outcomes.20

It is important to understand the two, to create collaborative and corrective measures to reduce inequity that will ultimately lead to positive health for Blacks suffering from chronic health conditions. This is important because the NBA is in a position to create social structures and institutions owned by and managed by blacks for the Black community, something which is lacking at present.

On the NBA’s Twitter page the Association claims that the focus is on civic engagement, police brutality and social justice, which explains the association’s alignment to Black Lives Matter. The Website does not mention health, education, employment or affordable housing- other areas where the Black community needs assistance. (NBA, 2020)

According to the CDC, more Blacks are likely to die from health- related illnesses than police brutality. This is not intended to marginalize the mission of Black Lives Matter but to put into perspective that health is not a subject tackled by the organization’s leadership. Whereas the NBA, on occasion, does focus on health-related issues, including COVID. it is arguable that more focus should be placed on matters involving health by the NBA.

On its website, the NBA promoted its campaign #NBA Together, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In it the association urges fans to keep fans connected to their favorite NBA ball teams and players, promoting safety measures outlined by the Centers for Disease Control, touting community volunteerism to help the poor and vulnerable populations and using the internet to keep in touch for speaking and keeping in contact with others. The foundation for the union representing basketball players, NBPA donated 5.5 million dollars to coronavirus relief, with most of the money going toward PPE for healthcare workers.

19 Nassif-Pires, 2020, lecture pdf page 6 20 Nassif-Pires, 2020, lecture pdf page 7 16

The organization has also founded NBA Cares, which on the website touts that “NBA Cares is the league’s global social responsibility program that builds on the NBA’s mission of addressing important social issues around education, youth and family development, and health- related causes in communities around the world. Health care private and public is a big issue in the United States but there is no mention of this on their website.

In 1989, Charles Rosenberg noted in page 8 of his popular essay, “What is an Epidemic” that “The adoption and administration of public-health measures inevitably reflect cultural attitudes. The poor and socially marginal, for example, have historically been labeled as the disproportionately likely victims of epidemic illness, and they have been traditionally the objects of public-health policy. Often, indeed, good empirical evidence has supported such assumptions; experiences as well as ideology has enforced the association.”

In the US there is much talk on Medicare for All. On Govtrack.us, the site lists the introduction of H.R. 676 (114): Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act. The legislative policy consideration was put forward in 2017 by Senator Bernie Sanders in the US Senate and Rep. John Conyers in the House. The bill’s founders believed that anyone needing medical assistance should be able to receive quality care. Even if Medicare for All were to become law, it does not suggest that problems would end or, if remotely similar to the healthcare set-up in Brazil that private healthcare would vanish. It simply means that all would be guaranteed the best health coverage government dollars could buy.

On the lighter note, sanctuary cities have been known to provide health coverage to foreign nationals who have become legal through Temporary Protected Status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, refugees and even some migrants. Medicare for All would close up any legal loopholes that would prevent these categories as well as undocumented persons from being denied access to healthcare to better control diseases as pandemics become more frequent and more care is needed in containing the contagions.

7. Social Justice takes the stage After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, programs and funding accounts were created to care for victims of 9/11 and their families. Scholarship programs were created for the deceased’s children, so too were summer camp programs as well as funding to support the families. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused illness through the virus, but it has created mental, behavioral and economic struggle for much of the population. According to an Axiom/Harris poll, suggested that after 9/11 alienation dropped to 47%. Today 68% of 17

Americans say they feel alienated.21 By mid-April when many of the NBA players had secured tests for the virus, a Harris poll noted that (56%) of those surveyed feared dying from the novel coronavirus, and even more Americans (60%) feared job loses.22

This time is different. The enemy is a virus that cannot be seen with the human eye. There is no source of comfort just a steady stream of unending sickness and anger, about the government and systemic inequality. About the inability of many Americans to access health services during the pandemic Nelson Swartz suggested that the whole experience of not finding kits created “anger” for those trying to get tested. The Coronavirus isolates people, kills people, creates an environment where people lose their jobs and it has been going on for months, a reason corporate-giving is seen as important.

Blacks in the United States have been in a perpetual state of crisis. Crisis are not supposed to last decades yet crisis for the Black community in the United States has lasted decades. I would dare to say centuries. It is happening in multiple areas. The Black race continues to lag behind all other races economically, even while making strides in the area of education, sports and the arts. Sports offers hope and is one of the few areas where poor or low- income blacks have the opportunity to get substantial wealth. That is the reason players, owners and executive staff in the Association see it as their responsibility to help the black community

The NBA has become the champions for issues affecting the black community and the NBA’s executive staff has no other choice but to support them in their concerns. It is a fact one NBA agent noted concerning a discussion between NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and team owners to encourage their support of having the words, “Black Lives Matter” placed on the courts of basketball stadiums nationwide. Silver’s conversations with team owners began,”Hey guys, this is what we’re going to do to support our players. Our league is overwhelmingly comprised of African American players. This is important. This is a partnership.” (Martinez, Jose, 2020)

An agent in the NBA on the condition of anonymity told NBC’s The Athletic that he felt message was not consistent. Although active supporters of Black Live Matter, players wore shirts that the audience could not buy. In the agent’s opinion, it was a missed opportunity to get fan involvement and donate proceeds to Black causes. There are those with a different opinion.

Although Black Lives Matter influenced Biden’s decision to pick Kamilla Harris as his running mate, support for Black Lives Matter seen a decline in recent months. It is unclear why. Some

21 The Harris Poll (2020) “The Insight. Special Report: Six Months That Changed America” page 14 22 The Harris Poll (2020) “The Insight. Special Report: Six Months That Changed America” page 11 18 see the lack of inclusivity by the organization as a problem-- it lies in the name which some believe should be “All lives matter.” It lies in what races other than black say about their inability to participate in Black Lives Matter. Others do not like the riots or curfews that resulted from the rioting. Still others do not like the message of “defunding” the police.

Without mentioning Black Lives Matter, President Barack Obama questioned the approach of activists demanding to defund the police During an interview on Snapchat’s “Good Luck America” with Peter Hamby, Obama said "If you believe, as I do, that we should be able to reform the criminal justice system so that it's not biased and treats everybody fairly, I guess you can use a snappy slogan like 'Defund The Police,' but, you know, you lost a big audience the minute you say it, which makes it a lot less likely that you're actually going to get the changes you want done," (Obama, Barack, 2020) All things considered, Obama’s argument makes sense!

As a result, politicization of NBA on matters with the Chinese government and Black Lives Matter is causing ratings for the NBA to drop. Data from the Harris Poll published on October 14, 2020, supports this notion, confirming that of the 2000 respondents surveyed, 38 % believe the league has become “too political”. At the same time, 19% do not approve of the league doing business with China, which the article went on to admit is also relevant to politics. If both incidents were totaled together would raise dissatisfaction with the political posture of the league to 57%. (Badenhausen, Kurt, 2020)

In a Marist Poll published on October 15, 2020, only 46% of those surveyed said athletes speaking out on political issues made no difference in whether they watched games, which means a remaining 54% ARE affected by what is said by the Association and its players. Despite the drop in ratings, the Harris Poll on Corporate Reputation Rankings conducted from late June and early July 2020, reported that respondents ranked the NBA at (86), NFL (81) and MLB (75) for corporate responsibility.

In the US, it is rare that politics gets in the way of sportsmanship. As an example, the United States actively participates in the Olympics, which has players from all types of political persuasions-democracies, socialist and communist regimes. Yet, since the U.S. began participating in the Olympics, there was only one US boycott of the games, which was under President Jimmy Carter. At the time, many athletes were angered by his decision. It was one of many mishaps that prevented him from getting reelected to a second term in office.

Carter’s decision wasn’t popular among many Americans at the time. If people didn’t mind the athlete’s participating in the Olympics then, why now would it make a difference when numerous corporations conduct business with countries around the world? I say this to make the connection that contentious politics, argumentative politics is what people hate—not advocacy. Television remains a 19 popular medium for its ability to ease the stressors that are common to everyday life. {Roberts, Nicole F. 2019)

In a recent article published in The Hill, Writer Joe Concha suggests that the recent intensified, politicized nature of the NBA caused a significant drop in viewership this season. In the NBA finals between the Lakers and the Miami Heat, television viewership dropped significantly from 18.34 viewers last year to a staggering low of 5.6 million, the same night Sunday Night Football drew in 11.4 million viewers. (Concha 2020) The NBA has to keep in mind that with the COVID pandemic, a narrative must keep in mind the physical and mental well-being of the population and focus on matters in relation to time and space.

According to a 2020 Axios-Harris Poll, “Forty-one percent of people surveyed in the Harris poll said they felt confused and an additional 26% said they felt angry when they read content from people whose beliefs and values they disagreed with.” 23However, the same poll found that consumers look to companies to handle social justice issues. Seventy-nine percent of the people surveyed expect a company’s leadership to respond to COVID-19 and racial inequality.24 So we see that it is not the league’s involvement in matters involving social justice but rather the style or manner of communication that has brought in disparaging viewer and approval ratings.

Because players in the NBA are in the unique position of being role models, they are well positioned to create and own institutions in black communities that will have a lasting impact in ways that business owners, preachers, lawyers and doctors cannot fulfill. The institutions that really matter, that are in Black communities, were not created by nor are they owned by Blacks. Nationwide, business ownership among blacks is low and less profitable than white, Latino and Asian businesses.

Therefore, The message of black power or black empowerment through ownership or enterprise, is a message that both incorporates and goes beyond the message of Black Lives Matter to reach a higher level of self-sufficiency and independence within the Black community, a message defined by Stokey Carmichel and reiterated by Michelle Obama when as an undergrad at Princeton University, she crafted a thesis exposing the importance of blacks returning to their own neighborhoods to assist in its development, arguing that the comfort Blacks have with one another will allow for the realization of these goals.25 Others, like Scoop Jackson and Budford May believe that role models, like the players in the NBA, are significant to the black community and the progress of the race.

23 The Harris Poll, 2020, The Insight. Special Report: Six Months That Changed America p. 14 24 The Harris Poll, 2020, The Insight. Special Report: Six Months That Changed America p. 16 25 Robinson, Michelle Lavaughn, 1985, Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community p. 26 20

To place argument in its proper context, in the 50 plus years that Stokey Carmichel urged Blacks to return to the black community to help other Blacks, did well-off Blacks not come to the aide of poor blacks? I would peradventure the answer to be yes? The connections, money and support can allow for the creation and maintenance of Black institutions. The importance of power is tackled by Boas and McNeil who make the connection between power, institutions and social justice.26 This is the reason the assistance of the NBA is needed to help players in achieving these goals because they already operate from a position of power.

8. Narrative matching the actions

More than any professional sports league, the players on the NBA has been known and praised for being active participants in matters involving social justice and race. They have been very generous with their money and time, all for philanthropic causes, and the NBA (the hiring organization) has been generous as well, supporting players in matters relating to social justice, race and the endeavors of their players.

Unfortunately, this act of kindness has not always extended itself to improving the lives of community residents where the league operates its stadiums, a majority of which are located in impoverished communities. (Martinez, Jose 2020) Many of the cities where NBA teams have stadiums create waste and are environmental hazards for residents living near the sites, many of whom are persons of color. 27 At a 2012 Green Sports Movement, held at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania the United Nations Environment Programme’s message was clear that “[b]uilding and managing a sports facility and operating an event uses energy and can contribute to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation, as well as to ozone- layer depletion, habitat and biodiversity loss, soil erosion and water pollution.” This means higher morbidity and mortality rates for those having preexisting conditions who live near stadiums. On the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was a joint development between the UN and the International Olympic Committee in 2015, the United Nations met with sports teams including the NBA who signed commitments to follow five principals that would reduce carbon emissions by stadiums. The principals that were agreed upon in the Paris Accord were to“1. Undertake systemic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility. 2. Reduce overall climate impact 3. Educate for climate action. 4. Promote

26 Boas, Morten and McNeill, Desmond, 2004, Introduction: Power and Ideas in Multilateral Institutions - Towards an Interpretative Framework page 1 27 The Green Sports Movement, 2012, Knowledge@Wharton, Wharton University of Pennsylvania 21 sustainable and responsible consumption, and 5. Advocate for climate action through communication,” 28

While an improvement over former measures used by the league, much of the damage to communities had already been done. Sports leagues have an obligation to neighborhood residents and those living in the surrounding areas who may be sickened by pollutants emitted by stadiums, especially during pandemics like the coronavirus where preexisting conditions can increase morbidity and mortality rates.

Attention to inequality in the US is important in preparing for pandemics like Covid-19. The NBA had considerable time from when players fell ill to develop an effective narrative and response to COVID-19. Considering that health inequality is a topic of great concern in the United States with national attention on healthcare reform being a frequent conversation during the presidential debates, it is expected that conversations on health, especially relating to the Black community remain active topics of discussion among those hoping for change.

Another area of concern is that professional sports leagues like the NBA benefit from tax subsidies, which are given to the teams to attract or keep them to cities. 29 Clearly an opportunity cost lost for those who favor the creation of affordable housing. In a report released by the White House, it is estimated that the nation’s homeless population is at 500,000 persons daily, 200,000 of which are not sheltered.30

9. Conclusion

Narratives are not merely statements but affirmations of how people see themselves in the world and their relations to others. Narratives are purposeful, putting information in its proper context of time and space. Narratives form linkages between statements and actions. It is identified in this piece that If the narrative is not consistent with the action it quickly loses meaning and it becomes self-serving.

The NBA has great potential to do great things for the Black community, and overall, it has done great things for the Black community. However, the association’s method in assisting the Black community must be well planned, so as to be effective and not use up vital resources in a

28 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2018) Sports for Climate Action Framework p. 9 29 Parlow, Matthew J. (2002) Publicly financed Sports facilities: Are they economically justifiable? A Case Study of the Los Angeles Staples Center P.487 30 The State of Homelessness in America, 2019, WhiteHouse.gov p. 1-41 22 manner that does not benefit the Black community. We have seen that lack of proper planning or poorly executed narrative has had a negative impact on the league as well as its players to guide and improve the lives of Black America.

While governments can change economic structures to reduce inequality, change is dependent on a host of other factors for change to take place. That is the reason knowledgeable people with experience is needed. NBA players can meet the needs of Blacks community because of the level of trust and comfort that is already present toward the league and its players. Producing the proper narrative sets in place support for the agenda of creating institutions that would improve life for Black America across a broad range of industries. This is particular important today in matters involving health, where time can mean the difference between life or death.

Appendix

Figure 1 23

People wait on line for Coronavirus testing.

Figure 2

A 2007 photo of Presidential Suite at Walter Reed Medical Facility. Figure 3 24

Eight month have passed since the dead remain in freezer trucks at Brooklyn Navy Yard . Trucks have 90 bodies a piece.

Figure 3

Lines form for food pantries in NYC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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