Reaction around the world of sports and the greater world beyond has been almost unanimously positive about the NBA’s decision to take the All-Star Game out of Charlotte in response to North Carolina’s shamefully bigoted HB2 law. The Hornets’ chairman, Michael Jordan, issued this statement in response to the move:
https://twitter.com/highkin/status/756242017680666624
But one Hornets co-owner isn’t reacting to this move with the grace that Jordan did. Felix Sabates is another member of the team’s ownership group, and in an e-mail sent to the rest of his fellow co-owners and team higher-ups, he voiced his displeasure with the NBA and the city of Charlotte (via The Charlotte Observer):
“I am very disappointed in this decision by the commissioner, it hurts our team and ownership group that has suffered very deep financial loses (sic) over the years,” Sabates said.
Later in his email, Sabates took aim at those he said were behind the game being moved.
“Shame on those responsible for such a short sighted decision to take the NBA All Star away from Charlotte I always thought this was country that ALL peoples not just a few can determine our future,” he wrote.
“Our Mayor opened a can of worms, who knows why? Our city council is the one to blame for our losing the NBA All Star game, none of this would have happened if not for a very few minority forcing our supposed city leaders into creating a problem that never really existed, there will always be another election, they better pray a very few can get them re-elected,” his letter continued. “What is wrong with a person using a bathroom provided for the sex the were born with, if you want to change your gender so be it, we are a free county, but don’t force 8 years old children to be exposed to having to share bathroom facilities with people that don’t share the organs they were Bourne (sic) with, this is plain wrong, this could cause irreparable damages to a children’s that don’t understand why they have to see what God did not mean for them to witness, we have some very confused business as well as political humans that frankly have made this a political issue rather then (sic) moral issues, SHAME ON THEM.”
Sabates ended his email by pointing out other states that are taking legal action to challenge a recent executive order from the Obama Administration requiring all public schools to allow students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.
“NOT FAIR FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE PENALIZED when 21 other USA states are suing the Federal Government over laws that are not fair to our communities,” he concluded.
