We're lucky to have Osaka as figurehead, says Billie Jean King

When Naomi starts a trust fund for impoverished black families then that will be proof she is serious...

I stopped listenening to Ms. Osaka after she said there is a genocide against black people in the U.S.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2020/08/27/naomi-osaka-boycotts-match-western-southern-open-protest-genocide/amp/

It is a ridiculous statement. Last night in Rochester in the U.S. there was a mass shooting where 14 were shot and 2 died. Inner cities of the U.S. now resemble war zones. This goes unmentioned.

Does racism exist? Absolutely. However what is happening in the U.S. now is no longer about race and the fact that we do not discuss the violence in the inner cities and the leaders of cities and states allow rioting to continue is an even worse form of racism in my opinion.

I have nothing but admiration and respect for Naomi Osaka the supremely talent tennis supremo and athlete.

To leverage this platform to pursue a political agenda/objective, has little on nothing to with tennis.

BLM is a political organization, with a manifesto …..

Black Lives Matter coalition issues first political agenda demanding slavery reparations

https://populardemocracy.org/news-and-publications/black-lives-matter-coalition-issues-first-political-agenda-demanding-slavery

The agenda included six demands and 40 policy recommendations, including a reduction in military spending and a focus on protecting safe drinking water.

It also called for an end to the death penalty, decriminalisation of drug-related offences and prostitution, and the "demilitarisation" of police departments. It seeks reparations for lasting harms caused to African-Americans by slavery and investment in education, jobs and mental health

What Kind of Movement is Black Lives Matter? The View from Twitter.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-race-ethnicity-and-politics/article/what-kind-of-movement-is-black-lives-matter-the-view-from-twitter/375801268123BCA397284EFBE36C9F4E/core-reader

Naomi Osaka political agenda cannot be remotely described as off court.

The masks are upfront on court, and the intent is to broadcast across the media.

This is cynical.

We are all very lucky indeed to have someone like Naomi use her status as an influential young person, to highlight issues of systemic racism and police brutality which are in fact universal themes around the world including Japan.

As a person that has spent most of her life as a citizen of the United States (and still lives there when not touring), she has every right to highlight these injustices. And contrary to what people state here Naomi has discussed the racism she has faced in Japan.

When we have so many incidents of bad behavior by professional athletes and celebrities, it takes a special kind of person to find fault with someone like Naomi that uses her fame for good.

@oldman

When we have so many incidents of bad behavior by professional athletes and celebrities, it takes a special kind of person to find fault with someone like Naomi that uses her fame for good.

In spite of my statement above I do agree with what you posted. Ms. Osaka has shown class and is engaging in her right to protest (I still think the term "genocide" was way over the top however).

Political agendas must never become a platform that should be pursed in a sporting arena.

Whether one agrees, or disagrees Naomi Osaka political opinions is secondary.

The slippery slope, is who or what level of moderation will be mandated to decide what political platform should be acceptable or not?

This cuts right to the heart of elected Government and Democracy.

When sport and politicking inter-twines, the resulting political conundrum embraces the public opinion and engulfs the whole sporting ethos.

Good for Naomi-chan. Refreshing to see a world famous athlete with a social conscience, unlike the 99% who are just robots and advertising models who never speak up about social injustice.

Long may Naomi-chan continue to highlight the racial injustice and police brutality in the world. If she does this Tokyo 2021, to hell with the whiners.

You heard it first on JT when I showed Osaka has not renounced her US citizenship as she stated she would do one year ago. A major news network has replied to me and she can expect some questions soon about her false claim.

5,500 Blacks are killed every year by other Blacks. 250 die from an engagement with the police. 1,250 white people are killed by police. How about we focus on people being killed and not just one race - the definition of racism?

People are being duped by BLM. It cares nothing about Black lives. It cares about global Marxism and destroying Capitalism. Per the founders of BLM who proudly claimed on video that they are "trained Marxists."

@Simian - I am in the camp that the athletes should do as they please; however - if you see what is happening people are voting with their wallets. The viewership of the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc. is down dramatically and consequently the revenue (this is not considering attendance of course).

In my case I have voted with my wallet as I no longer support professional sports in the U.S. (I live in Japan but I do not purchase subscriptions or fames to watch on the net anymore).

In my first post I indicate that I disagree with the rhetoric however when compared to many other professional athletes Ms. Osaka does not come accross as a buffoon.

There is one way to stop this and that would be make it illegal for athletes to engage in such criticism but I think all of us here are smart enough to realize where such suppression of free speech would lead.

I doubt Naomi has seen the police bodycam footage of George Floyd's arrest or is aware that he was dying of a drug overdose and having difficulty breathing even before he was on the ground.

Osaka and BLM are addressing real problems the African-American community face that were not caused by " liberal, Marxist, socialism".

And why on multiple articles are there the same ignorant repetition of this mantra as if it is actually a thing? The fact that you use these terms interchangeably shows nothing but your massive ignorance and lack of erudition.

But BLM is a Marxist group, their beliefs are rooted in Marxism. They proudly proclaim it. I won’t be so hard on Osaka because she’s still somewhat of a naive kid and still growing and learning, it’s good she’s supporting something that she believes in, but she does need to do more research on the group she’s supporting with their short checkered and violent history.

She should then also try to fight the embedded racism from her country.

Hypocrisy as it’s best.

As I said in an earlier thread when she kicked off her mask idea, I think her heart is in the right place but she needs to be careful picking victims & WHAT she says about them or she could end up going down in flames\drama etc

I doubt Naomi has seen the police bodycam footage of George Floyd's arrest or is aware that he was dying of a drug overdose and having difficulty breathing even before he was on the ground.

I doubt you have any idea what you are talking about. Plentiful past evidence to support that theory.

She is amazing.

I doubt you have any idea what you are talking about. Plentiful past evidence to support that theory

Actually we do, we have the autopsy report that does state that. Regardless, the woman can support anyone she wants, but people like Blake and Floyd and so many are not old models at all, quite the opposite actually, but did they deserve to die? No, they didn’t, but let’s stop talking as if these people represented something good and decent, they didn’t.

Say it loud and say it proud to the haters and racists, Naomi-chan -

*Black** Lives Matter. *

Osaka should be banned from any tennis tournament where she is making political statements.

What she does outside professional tennis is her own business, she can protest all she likes, perhaps join the front line of some of the political protests and be whatever nationality suits her on that particular day but keep it OUT of tennis.

Raise $$$ and give to the poor black families... Then we can talk. As for now... just gimme a break.

You heard it first on JT when I showed Osaka has not renounced her US citizenship as she stated she would do one year ago.

She stated she would do it. She hasn’t given any indication that she doesn’t intend to. Where is the controversy here? Seems like you’re trying to create a controversy where none exists.

Naomi retains her Japanese passport so technically she’s Japanese. But most of her countrymen obviously do not think she is one of them. I would have liked her better if she had sticked to tennis.

Naomi retains her Japanese passport so technically she’s Japanese. 

She’s ethnically Japanese and a Japanese citizen. That’s not technically Japanese, it’s actually Japanese.

Whatever ethnically, half this, half that, or half Klingon, is beside the point.

The question is a matter of sports excellence, leveraging that platform on a global stage, to further a political agenda. Not personal you understand.

It is a question of political democratic principle.

Don’t cross into politics, it is not for the faint hearted, let alone sport celebrities.

Actually we do, we have the autopsy report that does state that. 

BOTH autopsies were ruled homicide.

All 4 officers involved are charged with murder or aiding and abetting murder.

What you and Serrano are doing is trying to undermine Osaka’s right to protest.

Do you think you know more than all those involved in the autopsies and criminal proceedings? Sitting on some secret evidence? No. No you are not.

Do complain if you think there has been a great miscarriage of justice. Do protest for Chauvin’s release if you feel strongly about it.

No society/country can hold together if only one side is allowed to bring politics into public spaces while another side is banned from doing so. Liberals cheering this BLM movement on should realize they are playing with fire.

BLM “CLAIM” they’re for injustice, but these people never talk about inequality about people they don’t care about, not one mention of the many black children that were killed in these shootings, they don’t address the black on black crime or how as a community they can uplift themselves and we haven’t seen any of that over the last 3 months, absolutely nothing in detail. Again, Osaka she has the absolute right to support any organization she wants, but I doubt very much she knows in detail that this organization is a fake ruse. When you’re 22 you’re allowed to make mistakes.

When you’re 22 you’re allowed to make mistakes.

When you’re 22 you’re entitled to your own adult opinions and shouldn’t be belittled as a child. Who on earth do you think you are?

I doubt very much she knows in detail that this organization is a fake ruse

She’s part of the movement herself. Are you trying to suggest exerting anywhere claiming BLM is faking it?

Nope. BLM is made of people like Osaka who believe in the protest.

The question is a matter of sports excellence, leveraging that platform on a global stage, to further a political agenda. Not personal you understand.

How would it not be personal for her?!

I disagree, all of my life and going back to my parents days when they were young liberals have always been overly irrational and felt that the only way and the right way is the liberal way and historically we have always watched their policies fail time after time and now they galvanized into these radical groups destroying the country and as of yesterday the damage is close to $2 billion and for what? What’s the purpose of destroying your own community? Why would we want to idolize thugs? Again, people as well as Osaka or any other these sports athletes can support anyone they choose, but don’t be surprised as more people decide not to support these people by watching.

They can support these people and we can turn the channel.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/nfls-first-week-draws-fewer-viewers-amid-sports-bonanza-11600212261

She’s ethnically Japanese and a Japanese citizen. That’s not technically Japanese, it’s actually Japanese.

Keep in mind she said this:

"Before I am an athlete I am a black woman." That would be ethnically black, right?

What you and Serrano are doing is trying to undermine Osaka’s right to protest.

What? I am doing no such thing. I'm just saying she probably doesn't know the full story of the circumstances of George Floyd's arrest or his criminal record, including illegally driving a car while under the influence of drugs.

I'd like to see her wear a mask with Bernell Trammell's name on it. You know, or probably you don't, the black Trump supporter dude who was murdered. But his black life apparently doesn't matter because he was a Trump supporter.

She should then also try to fight the embedded racism from her country.

Yeah, like why foreigners are routinely refused housing simply because they are foreigners. Jeez...

You should NOT be able to Make Political statements as a Sportsperson. Fans cant so there seem to be exceptions to the Rule and that is why sports Fans will dwindle to Nothing round the world with "Bend the Knee" and so on..

The MSM seem to have skipped the Fact that George Floyd had a Criminal History and the day of the Arrest

had enough Drugs in him to drop 2 "average" sized people.

Also the fact that he Pulled a Gun against a Pregnant women's stomach also was Ignored by the MSM.

You cant write your own History so this is an absolute shameful act. A Mask with Floyds name, but not a word by MSM about the Black Retired Policeman gunned down by Violent Rioters or the Children killed in Crossfire in the Chicago Gang Wars every weekend but a guy with a Criminal Record. What a Disgrace.

I'm just saying she probably doesn't know the full story of the circumstances of George Floyd's arrest or his criminal record, including illegally driving a car while under the influence of drugs.

How do you know that?

And no, that’s not what you said. You claimed that Floyd was already dying of a drug overdose before he was restrained.

Now apparently his DUI record is more important than his murder.

I'm just saying she probably doesn't know the full story of the circumstances of George Floyd's arrest or his criminal record, including illegally driving a car while under the influence of drugs.

How do you know that?

Police reports. You should look them up and read them.

And no, that’s not what you said. You claimed that Floyd was already dying of a drug overdose before he was restrained.

He was complaining that he couldn't breathe even before he was put on the ground. Watch the bodycam video.

You claimed that Floyd was already dying of a drug overdose before he was restrained.

Maybe not that moment, but very, very soon, either way when your heart swells to double or 3 times I normal size, you are a ticking time bomb And yes the officer contribute to that quick demise, but let’s get one thing out of the way he was loaded and he was in a very bad in critical shape now that is not excusing the officers actions, and he should have NEVER died like that, but to make this guy a martyr is just baffling to me. Is BLM really want to make a difference and protest then they should want someone that was a real hero and that was retired police chief officer David Dorn.

BLM is trying to change the fact that black people are disproportionately killed by cops. That’s its “thing.” Not black on black violence, etc.

Stop bring race into it. Criminals are disproportionately killed by cops. Doesn’t sound so bad anymore, does it?

BLM it’s not doing anything of the sort in like that, what they are doing now is causing a lot of grief causing a lot of damage and causing a lot of stress to the entire nation and people are getting very tired of it, it would be different if they were peaceful protesters in the same way that Martin Luther King or even Malcolm X were, but these people are revolutionary Marxists that want to fundamentally tear down and destroy this country from within. For Osaka, she feels that she’s doing the right thing and just some people that look at her as a hero, but the others that are watching her play her sport are not happy with it and I understand it

No, you misunderstand in your rush to respond. I mean how do you know what Osaka understands or not?

How is it that you know more about this incident than her and all those involved in the autopsies and prosecution?

The common thread here seems to be that 22 year olds know nothing and someone with a dui or drug history murdered in the street had it coming.

For the simple reason that many 20-year-olds don’t know and especially nowadays most kids in the United States don’t understand pretty much anything, they can’t even read or write, they can’t name our founding fathers or don’t know even the meaning of our constitution and what it stands for that matter any of the articles, important date, Timelines and I could go on and on, so what are these teachers in school teaching the kids these days besides being political activists?

 And yes the officer contribute to that quick demise, but let’s get one thing out of the way he was loaded and he was in a very bad in critical shape now that is not excusing the officers actions, and he should have NEVER died like that

But you will never accept that it was murder. Despite both autopsies concluding homicide and all officers involved charged with murder.

He was complaining that he couldn't breathe even before he was put on the ground.

Complaining that he can't breathe, so kneel on his neck for nine minutes. Yeah, nothing wrong there. Jeez.

*Is BLM really want to make a difference and protest then they should want someone that was a real hero and that was retired police chief officer *David Dorn.

Can't wait to see Naomi's David Dorn mask..

For the simple reason that many 20-year-olds don’t know and especially nowadays most kids in the United States don’t understand pretty much anything, they can’t even read or write, they can’t name our founding fathers or don’t know even the meaning of our constitution and what it stands for that matter any of the articles, important date, Timelines and I could go on and on, so what are these teachers in school teaching the kids these days besides being political activists?

Sounds like the American voting or military recruitment age should be raised to at least 23. Sounds dangerous letting them hold a rifle or cast a ballot. How can you expect children to know anything? They can drive too? Jeez, what a recipe for disaster. Luckily old men know what’s best for them.

Complaining that he can't breathe, so kneel on his neck for nine minutes. Yeah, nothing wrong there. Jeez.

Never said there's nothing wrong there. Jeez.

Fact is Floyd was no role model, whereas David Dorn was. Where's his mask?

But you will never accept that it was murder.

Leave the emotion out of it! I never said that, please go back and read what I wrote.

How can you expect children to know anything? 

By having teachers teach him to not be political activists in school, leave the politics in indoctrination out and teach teach kids properly at how to be a product of society and that would be a good start to making positive and critical decisions.

I will believe all this activism once she bad mouths Japan too. Maybe she can wear a mask with the name of people who suffered “racial injustice” in Japan next.

after all she is Japanese, right?

I will believe all this activism once she bad mouths Japan too. Maybe she can wear a mask with the name of people who suffered “racial injustice” in Japan next.

Why would Naomi-chan need to "bad mouth Japan" or wear a protest mask honoring victims of muderer police in Japan? When were children, women and men shot dead in Japan due to the color of their skin, like so often in the USA?

Naomi-chan, we stand with you and the righteous BLM movement against these racists and killers.

Strangerland

I am stating my comments are not a personal attack.

Clearly on court, Naomi Osaka relates to a personal political agenda. This is the crux of the matter.

What authority will determine which political agenda is acceptable or not?, i.e what is activism can be mask friendly?

Crucially, what criteria will govern that decision?

And where does that mandate originates from?

My question is a simple one, Strangerland, in front of a televised global sports audience.

What authority decides which mask is politically acceptable?

This is the slippery slope when sports and politics collide.