Tiny detail in Aussie basketball jersey is infuriating

If you didn’t know it was there, you probably wouldn’t see it. Which makes this whole sorry saga just so sad.

Phoenix players wearing the pride jersey

COMMENT

Almost six months ago the Australian sporting landscape was thrown into turmoil at the hands of a pride jersey saga.

This week it happened again and showed us that despite the time passing, we haven’t taken a single step forward.

Unless you were living under a rock here’s a quick refresher on what unfolded in July, 2022.

Seven players from the Manly Sea Eagles sensationally stood down after the club announced a pride jersey – featuring rainbow stripes and trim – would be worn as a one-off.

The players opposed wearing the jersey due to their religious beliefs. After the saga the Sea Eagles lost their final six games of the season before coach Des Hasler was let go in the offseason.

Despite the issue dominating headlines across the country and the divide being evident far and wide, another pride jersey conflict occurred this week.

This time it was in the NBL with the Cairns Taipans at the forefront.

Drama erupted when it was reported several players were “hesitant” to wear the rainbow logo before the club decided none of their players would be wearing the Pride jersey for their contest against the South Melbourne Phoenix on Wednesday night.

Now before we go any further, here’s what the jersey looked like for the Phoenix players in that game.

The Wednesday night jerseys. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

If you’re struggling to find exactly where the pride jersey design is, you’re not alone. The NBL’s version was far less prominent than what Manly were going with … and even then there’s was minimal.

Fans watching the broadcast wouldn’t have even known players were wearing the pride jersey if it wasn’t pointed out.

The tiny detail sat just under the collar on the jerseys with rainbow colours spread around the Champion logo. It was the same on the players’ shorts.

That’s it. The tiny logo.

Social media as you’d expect was abuzz at the news with the Taipans’ statement being picked apart line by line from furious fans.

Then there’s the other side of the coin and people praising the Taipans and stating politics don’t belong in sport.

It’s the latter which is sadly missing the picture and proving why Australia, in the 181 days since the Manly saga, isn’t moving forward.

See that tiny ass logo on his chest?! That's what the Taipans refused to wear for Pride Round. You can't even see it on the broadcast. Absolute joke from the organisation. #NBLpic.twitter.com/endRJB3rIE

— James McKern (@jLmcKern) January 25, 2023

Pride Round and Pride Jerseys aren’t a political statement. It’s basic human decency. It’s a simple message that everyone is welcome.

For Manly it was seven players who refused to don the harmless rainbow jersey. For the Taipans, the picture is far worse.

The decision to side with the players who refused to wear it shows that the club isn’t welcoming at all.

The Taipans refusal isn’t great. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

In their statement the Taipans wrote “our team has already been subjected to a barrage of abuse and harmful commentary that has led to individuals being targeted and shamed”.

While abuse and harmful commentary is never the answer, the Taipans attempting to play that card when the LGBTIQA+ community have been subjected to far worse over the years is laughable at best.

Players weren't being asked to parade around in full rainbow attire, they were being asked to wear a barely visible logo for a few hours at best.

News.com.au journalist Sam Clench summed it up perfectly in the wake of the Manly saga when he wrote: “It is saddening and more than a little infuriating that in 2022, in a liberal society such as ours, that sort of prejudice remains.

“These young men should be criticised. Their views should be interrogated and tested. Otherwise, as a society, we are implicitly saying there is no problem with their attitude.”

It’s time we took a step forward and stopped treating fellow humans as lesser.