NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski found himself in hot water following a spat with a U.S. senator. The ESPN journalist uttered bad words directed at the politician and was suspended by his network. NBA players led by LeBron James came out in support of the breaking news specialist.
Wojnarowski's suspension was triggered by the email he reportedly sent to Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. The politician called the attention of NBA officials on the policy that players are allowed to wear social justice messages on their jerseys.
Hawley protested that the privilege given to the players was inappropriate. The senator's position was made known in a press release and a copy of which reached Wojnarowski. According to Yahoo Sports, the journalist sent back a vulgar message that clearly wasn't too pleasing for Hawley.
A copy of Wojnarowski's email was made public of Hawley's office and immediately, he took responsibility for his action, saying that what he did was "disrespectful ... and a regrettable mistake."
The journalist offered his apology not only to Hawley but also to his ESPN colleagues. Wojnarowski stressed that what he did "was unacceptable" and does not represent his co-workers and the company that he works with.
NBC Sports said the suspension will last two weeks or so and without pay. However, the journalist, who is trusted by NBA figures with the latest developments in the league, is expected to be back days before the NBA season restart commences.
Unsurprisingly, Wojnarowski won the support of the NBA celebrities he reported about. James to Twitter to make known to the world that he has the back of the ESPN journalist. His #FreeWoj hashtag gained traction quickly and has sparked a social media movement to bring the columnist back to active duty.
The Lakers superstar's entry to the picture is seen as a boost to Wojnarowski's case and could speed up his return to coverage of the NBA.
James was joined by other NBA stars and the support expressed was delivered in various ways. Some made light of the situation while others opted to simply tweet #FreeWoj.
For perspective on the incident, according to Clutch Points, Hawley's letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver questioned the league's support for the "Black Lives Matter" movement, which the senator said should also be extended to other social issues such as giving due attention the military and police force.
The politician also pointed out that it seemed odd for the league to champion social justice causes while at the same time maintaining a good business tie with China, which the U.S. government has accused of suppressing its citizens' protest actions.
