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The NBA set an example two weeks ago that was quickly followed by all other leagues here in the US when Adam Silver quickly suspended the season after Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.
Now it looks like the NBA is setting another great example, this time with how to deal with financial situations with its employs in a way other leagues should be taking notice of and mimicking.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday that 100 of the NBA’s top executives from around the world, including Silver, will be taking 20-percent pay cuts while the season remains on hold.
That is a brilliant move by the NBA, as it recognized the people at the top can take more of a hit with their salaries than those who aren’t making tons of money working for the league.
This week we’ve seen other leagues and teams make some disgusting choices when it comes to pay cuts. The NHL is temporarily cutting all league office employees’ salaries by 25 percent starting on April 1, despite the fact that the NHL made $5.03 billion in revenue last year.
Speaking of the NHL, Boston Bruins billionaire owner Jeremy Jacobs made the worst move of the week on Wednesday when the team announced 68 full-time employees will be placed on temporary leave on April 1, and get one week of paid leave, and that another 82 full-time employees will receive an indefinite salary reductions starting April 1. That is all very awful stuff from an owner who is worth $3.3 billion.
In the NBA we saw the Sixers try to slash salaries until Twitter crushed Philly owner Josh Harris so hard that the team decided to squash those plans.
Now the NBA and Silver are showing everyone else how it’s done, yet again, and they should be commended for it.
Woj’s report stated that Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum are among those to take pay cuts and that no other support or administrative staff in the league will face pay cuts. Well, at least for now, because who knows how things could play out over the next few months.
But whatever does happen, Silver should be applauded for the way he has handled this situation right here and now. He truly seems to get things while so many other rich people in sports do not.
We need more Adam Silvers in the sports world… and the real world.
Thursday’s biggest winner: This reporter who became an awesome meme.
We need funny things in our lives right now and this reporter walking away from a pack of bison that he saw headed his way definitely supplies a lot of laughs, as he reacted the same way we all would have. But then Twitter went and had more fun with it, as he instantly became a hilarious meme. Too good.
Quick hits: MLB ballparks ranked… 37 best movies on Amazon Prime… Steph Curry talks with Dr. Fauci… And more!
– We ranked all 30 MLB ballparks from No. 1… to Oakland.
– Here are the 37 best movies to stream on Amazon Prime right now.
– Steph Curry did a livestream with Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday and they dove deep into the coronavirus pandemic and what you need to know. Check out the highlights of that chat.
– Justin Thomas shared an awesome Tiger Woods story from the Presidents Cup.
– The internet had some hilarious responses to a question about fighting Mike Tyson for $2,500.
– Here are the 26 best Nintendo Switch games to play through the quarantine.
– Oh, and James Harrison’s pushup challenge entry puts everyone else’s to shame.