New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signaled that the city’s vaccine mandates may come to an end within “the next few weeks”. Various outlets report various times that the mandates may cease. Some say within a few weeks, some say next month. When Adams was inaugurated back in January, he appeared to be dead set on keeping mandates in place. So the obvious question here is… what made Adams change his tune? Is it like other states who cite a “change in the science”? Or is there another reason? Brooklyn Nets basketball player Kyrie Irving, not “science”, may play the biggest role in all of this.
The NYC vaccine mandate has prevented Kyrie Irving from playing any home games for the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center because he is unvaccinated. As a matter of fact, Irving was barred from playing any NBA games – home or away – because the coaching staff did not want to play him “part-time” meaning he would only play road games. The organization has since softened up its stance and allowed Irving to play road games but not home games. The problem is that the rule the Brooklyn Nets must abide by does not apply to away players. So, for example, another unvaccinated basketball player could fly on a plane with his team and play the Nets in the Barclays Center with no problem.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke out against the New York City rule, citing the contradiction and hypocrisy in it. The rule is clearly punitive to home players while not applying to away players at all. And, of course, there is a ton of money on the line. The NBA is a money-making organization and one of the league’s star players sitting on the bench in New York City will cost them millions in revenue from ad dollars, merchandise sales, and more. NYC will also suffer financially from the Brooklyn Nets not being able to play at full strength. Eric Adams must take the financial well-being of his constituents and the city at large into consideration.
The timing is perfect for Eric Adams to roll back the rule and disguise it as “changing science” rather than “losing money”. Much of the world is abandoning virus restrictions and mandates. Even states like California are moving on in order to host large events like Stagecoach Music Festival. However, if Kyrie Irving did not stand up for what he believed in, this may be a totally different conversation. Much of the thanks for NYC going in a different direction can be given directly to Irving and the money he generates rather than the so-called “science.”
SOURCES:
Mayor Adams says city’s vaccine mandate unfair to Kyrie Irving – YouTube
Mayor Adams plans to soon phase out NYC’s indoor COVID rules, but ex-pandemic advisor warns against – New York Daily News
Rollback of proof of vaccination rule may be coming to NYC, Mayor Eric Adams says | Newsday
NBA news: NYC vaccine mandate changes could lead to Kyrie Irving’s return
Mayor Adams ‘can’t wait’ to phase out COVID-19 mask, vaccine mandates in New York City, says plan forthcoming | amNewYork
CDC cuts COVID isolation period from 10 to 5 days, recommends shorter quarantine | KTLA
New York to lift vaccine mandate, allowing Kyrie Irving in Nets home games
Adam Silver questions ‘oddity’ of NYC’s vaccine mandate for NBA players – Sports Illustrated
CDC Says Cloth Masks Don’t Protect Against Covid As Much As N95s, KN95s | Kaiser Health News
Cloth face masks won’t cut it against omicron, expert says | TheHill
Comments are closed.