You really can’t make this up. The New York Times has a piece up today on the back-story of how LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and other NBA stars ended up with “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts inspired by the death of Eric Garner.
Here’s an excerpt and note how Jay Z is somehow critical to the success of the plan:
The plan, a race against the clock before the Nets’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night at Barclays Center, unfolded across several boroughs of the city. James, Jay-Z, the visiting British royal couple and an associate of the hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons had starring roles. So did a security guard whose lone responsibility was to help smuggle the T-shirts into the Nets’ locker room. The shirts have since become part of the national conversation.
Come on, guys. It’s printing a T-shirt, not a SEAL Team 6 raid … it can’t have been that hard to plan.
Anyway, this photo of the NBA players in their T-shirts was widely shared on Twitter. That’s Jay Z in the middle … the one who IS NOT wearing the T-shirt:
Jay Z, @KingJames, and how those "I Can't Breathe" shirts made it to Brooklyn: http://t.co/SJHcNDO29A pic.twitter.com/rdUKqZai3K
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) December 10, 2014
But why? Here’s your answer — the shirt was too big. Again from that New York Times article:
Why Jay-Z didn't wear a "I can't breath" shirt on Monday. http://t.co/LbrZXsnL9C via @socprofjones pic.twitter.com/hpqcB2CYKk
— Neal Caren (@HaphazardSoc) December 10, 2014
So Jay Z had a chance to make an important statement, but his fashion sense got in the way?
And not everyone thinks Jay Z should get as much attention for this as he received from the Times. Here’s ESPN columnist Jason Whitlock:
Propaganda. People trying to steal some of the credit for what Derrick Rose, LeBron James and Kobe did http://t.co/U29GlwG0Is
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) December 10, 2014
Love the explanation that Jay Z didn't wear a T-shirt because it wasn't fashionable enough (too big). He can only do so much.
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) December 10, 2014
Rather than taking credit for what athletes did, how about organizing some rappers to do something positive. Been 30 yrs since WeAllSameGang
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) December 10, 2014
I mean they this publicist ran this garbage excuse out there like it had some credibility.
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) December 10, 2014
LeBron (Trayvon hoodie) and DRose (Cant Breathe) started this ish, and this the mudddphckyn thanks they get?
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) December 10, 2014
Seriously. Derrick Rose wore a T-shirt. LeBron credited it for him. And suddenly Russell Simmons and Jay Z masterminded this. #GFTOH
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) December 10, 2014
It's Jay Z's Rosa Parks-bus moment RT @KentMurphy79: so dramatic too. They "smuggled" t-shirts into the locker room?
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) December 10, 2014
Over to you Jay Z.
Related:
Twitchy coverage of Eric Garner.
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