Videos by OutKick
The Summer of Woke has moved over to the NBA shop where Adam Silver’s merchandising department will allow you to buy personalized shirts and jerseys featuring “FuckPolice,” but will not allow you to buy “FreeHongKong” gear.
Go try for yourself or enter some new word combinations to see if they pass the Chinese censors.
The NBA and the Players Association recently agreed to a list of social justice messages that players can wear on their jerseys during the NBA bubble restart at Disney World. That list includes: Black Lives Matter; Say Their Names; Vote; I Can’t Breathe; Justice; Peace; Power to the People; Justice Now; Say Her Name; Si Se Puede (Yes We Can); See Us; Hear Us; Respect Us; Love Us; Liberation; Listen; Listen To Us; Stand Up; Ally; Anti-Racist; I Am A Man; Speak Up; How Many More; Group Economic; Education Reform; and Mentor.
Missouri Senator Josh Hawley’s letter to the NBA wondering why players weren’t given choices to support police, Hong Kong and patriotism was met with a “fuck you” from ESPN’s NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski.
Now comes an examination of what the NBA will let its customers put on a personalized jersey. It’s odd you can’t put “FreeHongKong” on a shirtsey, but you can drop a “FuckPolice.” You think that just happens by chance? To be fair, the NBA will let you buy a “FuckChina” shirtsey. “FuckLBJ” is also available. Same with “FuckLeBron.” And “FuckHongKong.” I also went through several “Free…” options and “FreeSyria” works; so does “Free Mexico” and “FreeRussia.”
But the minute you start trying to support Hong Kong there are red flags. I’m just sayin’.
The NBA bans you, the fan, from putting #freehongkong on customized league jerseys even as they allow players to wear customized jerseys. pic.twitter.com/px9enQa1qk
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 13, 2020
NBA.com will not allow you to add a “FreeHongKong” jersey to your cart:
But you can add a “FuckPolice” jersey to your cart:
The NBA won’t let you make a custom jersey that says freehongkong, but they will let you make one that says fuckpolice. pic.twitter.com/KmoHwiz1CA
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 13, 2020
Just tested this myself and it's true. You can put "FreeAmerica" or "FreeCanada" or "FreeMexico" or "FreeTaiwan" but not "FreeHongKong" https://t.co/YRtmoTaYpn
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) July 13, 2020
Backup plan:
noKgnoHeerF with jersey 9
Problem Solved.
After some experimenting, it appears “Fuck” with a space is not allowed. FreeHongKong is blocked, but Free HK is fine. I think it’d be better just to put FuckChina (which works), but then you’d be financially rewarding the NBA.
No way am I watching these bubble games. These millionaire millennials are clueless. They have zero awareness that they are fueling the twitter/social media flames that are destroying our country. They have zero awareness that the Chinese government is laughing as we destroy ourselves. Like Gary Jr. said a while back, Adam Silver should just give Lebron the trophy and get this whole meaningless show over. Just let these millionaire millennials go back to their mansions to promote their “brands”.
Interesting, when I try it anything with ‘Fuck’ it won’t let it through, maybe they tightened the coding or w/e on it since publication. Also, you can have ‘tiananmen’ on it and it allows it, which of course Google has worked with the CCP to censor in China any references to that massacre. Interesting that they would seem to censor FreeHongKong specificallly, but not FreeHK. And in the middle of trying out some things, it now doesn’t work and doesn’t give me a preview or tell me that something isn’t allowed now. Guess the CBA can’t do anything right.
It works and stops working in fits, but it seems VERY inconsistent with what is and isn’t allowed. Tiananmen – OK. FreeHongKong – not ok. FuckUSA – ok. FuckChina – not ok. But the most confusing: FuckXi – OK. FuckTrump – NOT ok. Seems like it’s a weird, buggy thing that isn’t necessarily working as intended?
I’m guessing buyers have gotten the orders approved but then they’re later declined when a human reads them? After human declines, then they’re put in a ban list when other users try it.
Does “I can’t watch” work?
The NBA is telling you what they are. Believe them and act accordingly.
How about FUCKTHENBA?
I may try to buy that.