Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Michael Jordan: ‘He Took Commerce Over Conscience’

[Doobie Doo]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Michael Jordan: ‘He Took Commerce Over Conscience’

They’re both legends in basketball, but one has decided to make a difference when it comes to political and social issues.

BY: YESHA CALLAHAN
Posted: Nov. 3 2015 7:41 AM


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732

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar isn’t one to mince words when it comes to his social and political views. Over the last couple of years, Abdul-Jabbar has been vocal about politics and activism, not only in the U.S. but abroad. And it’s safe to say he’s made good use of his time since retiring from basketball.

But not every basketball player is as astute as Abdul-Jabbar when it comes to politics, and in a recent interview with NPR, the former Los Angeles Laker had a few things to say about Michael Jordan with regard to the infamous “Republicans buy sneakers, too” comment Jordan reportedly made in 1990.


“You can’t be afraid of losing shoe sales if you’re worried about your civil and human rights,” Abdul-Jabbartold NPR.

And it’s those sneaker sales that have kept Jordan at the top of the list of highest-paying athletes even though he’s retired.

“He took commerce over conscience. It’s unfortunate for him, but he’s gotta live with it,” Abdul-Jabbar went on to say.

Abdul-Jabbar isn’t the only one speaking out against Jordan recently.

Earlier this month, retired NBA player Stephon Marbury defended his affordable sneaker against Jordan’s overpriced sneaker, saying they’re both made in the same factory.


Over the last year, Jordan has made over $100 million with his sneaker brand, which is more than what he made during his NBA career. There’s no denying the fact that Jordan has literally turned Nike into what it is today, but should we expect him to be vocal about social and political issues, especially since he’s never done so in the past?

It’s not hard to tell what Jordan’s bottom line consists of, but thankfully, there are those out there, like Abdul-Jabbar, who are willing to stand up and be vocal about things they believe in besides sneakers.



For more of black Twitter, check out The Chatterati on The Root and follow The Chatterati on Twitter.

Yesha Callahan is editor of The Grapevine and a staff writer at The Root. Follow her on Twitter.

Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.


Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Michael Jordan: ‘He Took Commerce Over Conscience’  

 

[CarbonBraddock]

michael jordan doesn't owe 'society' a goddamn thing. kaj needs to shut the fukk up on this one.

 

[QuavoFlow]

spend $200-400 on shoes that almost every nikka has to impress bytches yu probably won't even fukk....brehs

 

[Osmosis]

michael jordan doesn't owe 'society' a goddamn thing. kaj needs to shut the fukk up on this one.

Yes he does

 

[the cac mamba]

“He took commerce over conscience. It’s unfortunate for him, but he’s gotta live with it,” .

 

[MikelArteta]

Michael Jordan is a billionaire and owns a NBA team worth more than half a bill he paid like 100 mill for.

Anything you buy costs cheaper. So what if shoes cost 5 and are sold for 200 no on is telling you to buy them I find it ridic, but I'd throw 200 bucks on a college football game

 

[Jack Trippa 3z company ho]

Jordan is a known a$$hole, and a greedy one at that. It's like when Kanye came out he was gonna do affordable shoes, but instead drops $800 shoes.

Shout to Starbury.

 

[Dwayne_Taylor]

what does he owe?

Yes he does

 

[beenz]

no new revelations here.

gon

 

[onelastdeath]

Yes he does

And why's that?

 

[Raptor]

We need more black billionaires like Jordan but I wished he didnt target young black kids for his expensive but shytty quality shoes.

 

[Shadow King]

Kareem is right

 

[King Poetic]

I totally respect Kareem opinion and u know dudes going to hate

These brothers went through shyt and know their history......

Jordan I respect as a businessman, but he would let whites shyt on him and ask them is it snow...

I still remember the story of Jordan mother said where he went to a pool party at a neighbors and all the white kids jumped out the pool and left.. fast forward years later and he like

That's why I respect Barry bonds so much when he said he never fukk with the media because how they treated his dad and Willie Mays when he was little and said he wouldn't fukk with ever again

 

[ucanthandlethetruth]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Michael Jordan: ‘He Took Commerce Over Conscience’

They’re both legends in basketball, but one has decided to make a difference when it comes to political and social issues.

BY: YESHA CALLAHAN
Posted: Nov. 3 2015 7:41 AM


224



732

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar isn’t one to mince words when it comes to his social and political views. Over the last couple of years, Abdul-Jabbar has been vocal about politics and activism, not only in the U.S. but abroad. And it’s safe to say he’s made good use of his time since retiring from basketball.

But not every basketball player is as astute as Abdul-Jabbar when it comes to politics, and in a recent interview with NPR, the former Los Angeles Laker had a few things to say about Michael Jordan with regard to the infamous “Republicans buy sneakers, too” comment Jordan reportedly made in 1990.


“You can’t be afraid of losing shoe sales if you’re worried about your civil and human rights,” Abdul-Jabbartold NPR.

And it’s those sneaker sales that have kept Jordan at the top of the list of highest-paying athletes even though he’s retired.

“He took commerce over conscience. It’s unfortunate for him, but he’s gotta live with it,” Abdul-Jabbar went on to say.

Abdul-Jabbar isn’t the only one speaking out against Jordan recently.

Earlier this month, retired NBA player Stephon Marbury defended his affordable sneaker against Jordan’s overpriced sneaker, saying they’re both made in the same factory.


Over the last year, Jordan has made over $100 million with his sneaker brand, which is more than what he made during his NBA career. There’s no denying the fact that Jordan has literally turned Nike into what it is today, but should we expect him to be vocal about social and political issues, especially since he’s never done so in the past?

It’s not hard to tell what Jordan’s bottom line consists of, but thankfully, there are those out there, like Abdul-Jabbar, who are willing to stand up and be vocal about things they believe in besides sneakers.



For more of black Twitter, check out The Chatterati on The Root and follow The Chatterati on Twitter.

Yesha Callahan is editor of The Grapevine and a staff writer at The Root. Follow her on Twitter.

Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.


Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Michael Jordan: ‘He Took Commerce Over Conscience’

 

[Soon]

Everybody else is getting money. Why is it a crime when a black man is getting money?

Business should never be mixed with social causes. Its either one or the other.

Jordan never made himself out to be anyone's hero.