Naomi Osaka's Stand Example From NBA

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The rain man, Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks.

NBA star, Joel Embid of the 76ers is a good example of why Naomi Osaka decided to pull out of the French Open and professional tennis, for now.

Atlanta Hawks upset the apple cart by beating his team in Game 7 of the 2021 playoffs. Responding to a post game question Joel Embid said.

“I’ll be honest. I thought the turning point was when we had an open shot, and we made one free throw and we missed the other, and they came down and scored.”

 Sports media said Embid was blaming team mate Ben Simmons although Embid didn’t mention his name. Simmons must be feeling bad where ever he is, but what will erode his mental health is that the world will never let him forget. This is the tradition. That is how media works.

I supported Naomi Osaka’s stand from day one because I’ve written about how sports media handles post game. She paid a fine for refusing to speak to the media during the French Open this year. I also supported Brooklyn Nets player, Kyrie Irving’s decision not to speak to the media in May. The NBA slapped him and his team with a $35 000 fine.

My support is based on media antics, something that is being downplayed. The emphasis seems to be on mental health, not the cause. Questions are about finding the bad guy, apportioning blame, beating somebody who’s already down. That’s journalism. No, it’s not. Sports media do not live in a bubble.

They are human beings with preconceived ideas about how the game is going to go and stripping bare, players they don’t like. Reporters are sent to post game press conferences to rubber-stamp what assignment editors have already decided is ‘the story.’

Joel Embid is going to pay for his honesty, for being a team player. That’s why he didn’t mention any name when asked about the 76ers’ loss to Atlanta Hawks. The media, in its glory found the ugly side to his honest answer.

In fact, is there any need for post game press conferences when Twitter is here?

This is another ‘written podcast’ by Nonqaba waka Msimang. 

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