SME Steel, a construction company in Salt Lake City, Utah is giving up its suite at Jazz basketball games because the NBA is allowing players to kneel during the national anthem and supporting Black Lives Matter.
Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans and referees kneel during the anthem as a peaceful protest method to highlight racial injustice. pic.twitter.com/Cnt3n1oXJN
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 30, 2020
SME Steel Warns Utah Jazz To Stop Disrespecting Anthem
The Washington Free Beacon reported that SME Steel Contractors sent a letter to the NBA earlier this month asking the franchise to “put a stop to all disrespectful actions during the anthem and remove the Black Lives Matter logo from the arena.”
The letter sent to Jazz owner Gail Miller stated.
“The recent actions of the NBA—including the owners, coaches and players of the Utah Jazz—have converted a beloved entertainment venue into a forum for dissemination of political propaganda which is divisive and completely out of step with our company and its values,”
SME Steel has since confirmed that they really did send the letter, adding that the response to it from the public has been “overwhelmingly positive.”
SME general counsel Mark Wilkey said:
“We have received emails and letters from individuals and companies throughout the country thanking us for standing up for the country, the national anthem, and the idea that sporting events do not need to be a venue for forcing controversial political views on patrons.”
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NBA Caters To Radical Left
Like many other sporting franchises, the NBA has been catering to the radical left and pushing for leftwing social justice causes.
The NBA has painted “Black Lives Matter” on its courts and allowed players to kneel during the national anthem. The Jazz players kneeled in their first game after play resumed following the coronavirus hiatus.
The Jazz franchise expressed support for the players who kneeled, highlighting the team’s commitment to “advancing social justice.”
This did not sit well with the Utah construction company which said that while it was “disappointed” to see the NBA season delayed by COVID-19, “that disappointment pales … to the feelings we experienced when NBA games ‘restarted’ on what appears to be a billboard for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.”
The letter also stated:
“To say the least, it is ironic that pampered and exceptionally well-paid athletes cavalierly exercise their freedom bought for them through the courage and sacrifice of this nation’s servicemen and women by disrespectfully kneeling during the country’s anthem.”
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SME Steel Attacks NBA
Not stopping there, SME accused the NBA of ignoring “true heroes like Chris Kyle and Pat Tillman” while promoting “names and tributes for felons.”
SME has licensed the suite at Utah Jazz games for 28 years. And, they’ve paid around $6 million in ticket fees and at least $1 million for food and beverages.
The company said in the letter that it was “personally involved in the fabrication and erection of steel for the venue now known as Vivint Smart Home Arena,” describing the Jazz as a “source of camaraderie, community pride and top-tier sports entertainment (regardless of the wins and losses).”
However, SME has no interest in being affiliated with the Jazz franchise if this is how the team is going to allow players to behave.
If the NBA continues to allow players to disrespect America at every game, it can expect more companies and people to start giving up their suites and tickets as well.