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Question: There is now a second congressional committee demanding answers from the NBA? Answer: Yes. On Monday, the Senate’s committee on commerce, science, and transportation, chaired by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, with Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington as the committee’s ranking member, wrote to Silver with a more pointed purpose than their House counterparts’ Oct. 24 letter. Cruz and Cantwell want to know “why Rozier was cleared” by NBA investigators to continue playing when federal investigators eventually charged him with crimes.
Q: Does this end with Adam Silver on Capitol Hill, facing off against lawmakers in a televised showdown? A: A few days ago, the answer was probably no. The House expected someone from the NBA to deliver a briefing in person, but not necessarily Silver. But, as previously stated, there most likely won’t be any hearings until the government reopens or a new legislative session begins. The Senate is asking for a briefing in writing. But what its committee members do next depends on the NBA’s answers to those questions. If they feel the explanation as to why Rozier was charged by the feds but “cleared” by the league is insufficient, or, heck, if they are looking to make an example of the NBA, Silver could be compelled to testify at some point.
A United States Senate committee sent a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Monday, saying that last week's federal indictments of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones were a matter of "Congressional concern" and asking for details about the league's approach to investigating potential gambling violations. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which is chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and oversees professional sports, asked the NBA in its letter to provide documentation of its gambling policies and a list of investigations regarding betting.
While the Sixers are home waiting on next week’s NBA draft lottery, Daryl Morey is making news on Capitol Hill. During a Senate hearing on the shift in sports broadcasting from television to streaming Tuesday, an old tweet from the Sixers’ president of basketball operations resurfaced during one senator’s interaction with NBA executive William Koenig, who handles the league’s media rights deals. In October 2019, while still the general manager of the Houston Rockets, Morey offered his support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong by sharing a graphic stating, “Fight For Freedom Stand with Hong Kong.”
Anti-establishment Republican and former NBA player Royce White lost his bid for a U.S. Senate seat Tuesday after falling to incumbent Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota's top election matchup. White had acknowledged he was as surprised as anyone when the state Republican Party endorsed him in May, but the self-described populist went on to get a plurality in the August primary against a more conventional Republican, Navy veteran Joe Fraser.
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The state Senate this week quietly approved a bill that could finally change that time prohibition, but only for a very select group: VIP suite holders at Inglewood’s new Intuit Dome stadium. The bill, which was approved with little debate on the Senate floor Tuesday and now heads to the Assembly, would allow alcohol to be served until 4 a.m. to dues-paying members of private suites inside of Intuit Dome, the $2-billion, 17,700-seat new home of the Los Angeles Clippers that celebrated its grand opening this month.
Ex-NBA player Royce White, who used to write phrases like “Trump won” and “Protect RFK Jr.” on his head for games, scored an endorsement from the GOP in Minnesota to take on Dem Sen. Amy Klobuchar. White, 33 — a first-round NBA draft pick whose mental-health woes ended up sidelining him — notched a surprising 67% support during the state GOP’s convention in St. Paul’s RiverCentre on Saturday. “Thank you MNGOP and delegates for endorsing me as candidate [sic] in the 2024 Minnesota United States Senate race. I’m at a loss for words and that takes a lot,” the 6-foot-8 former hoopster posted on X after the endorsement.
Though Youngkin has several options for reviving the plan — such as introducing a budget amendment or sending down a stand-alone bill — he indicated Thursday that he has no immediate plans to do so. “The next step is for the General Assembly and particularly the Senate to embrace the opportunity. It’s their move,” he said.
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Royce White announced that he will be running for U.S. Senate in 2024, according to a video posted to his Twitter account. This came within days of a debut of a new conspiracy theory: That “advanced weapons” were related to the horrific fires in Hawaii. In 2022, White, the former first-round NBA draft pick and George Floyd protest leader, ran for Congress as a protege of Steve Bannon in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District. He finished with 37 percent of the vote in the Republican primary,
When reached for comment White told Mother Jones: “Take your White liberal racism back to yuppyville… Cuck.” When pressed whether that was confirmation that he was running for U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 2024, White replied, “Congratulations buddy… You’re the Please Call Me Crazy “Cuck of the Week.” (“Please Call Me Crazy” is the name of White’s podcast.)
The idea of recruiting Wade, who played 13 seasons with the Miami Heat, to run for Senate, has been openly discussed by Democratic donor groups. Beyond having star power in the state, Wade has become an outspoken advocate for transgender rights. His 15-year-old daughter, Zaya, is a transgender model and activist. Wade’s support of his daughter comes at a culture war-infused moment in time that has seen Republicans across the country file legislation taking aim at this community.
Cuban’s revelation is topical and timely. Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, has filed Senate Joint Resolution 17, a constitutional amendment to be considered during the 88th Texas legislative session, which begins Jan. 10. Alvarado’s resolution, if approved by two-thirds of the House and Senate, would enable Texas voters to decide next November whether to legalize sports betting and allow a newly created Texas Gaming Commission to issue licenses for up to four destination resorts in metropolitan areas.