Because of the great number of fans of major American professional sports, commissioners of the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL have a massive opportunity to influence the country's culture. In March, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was presented with a career-defining opportunity when the governor of North Carolina passed House Bill 2, a response to a bill passed in Charlotte that allowed transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender they identify with. House Bill 2 nullifies that law, forcing all individuals to use the bathroom corresponding with the biological sex listed on their birth certificates, not their gender identities. This bill is incredibly controversial and has created quite the uprising, including from Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts, who said "this legislation is literally the most anti-LGBT legislation in the country."
Following the initial backlash, reports began to surface that the NBA is considering moving the 2017 All-Star Game, which is currently slated to take place in Charlotte. However, Silver said last week that there was no discussion during the offseason owners' meetings of moving All-Star Weekend and that the league is "not making any announcements now." That's the reaction we get from the commissioner who just two months after being promoted boldly pried the Clippers away from owner Donald Sterling after his racist rant? Silver absolutely should not have immediately moved the game from North Carolina after the legislation was passed, but he should publicly let the state's governor know that it will be moved if House Bill 2 is still in effect at a certain time determined by the NBA.
If Silver presented the aforementioned ultimatum to North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, his reaction would be very telling. It seems inevitable that the bill will be struck down, but McCrory would have to weigh his apparent transphobia against the financial benefits of hosting All-Star Weekend in his state. The last five NBA All-Star Weekends have averaged an economic impact of $117.2 million. Couple this with the outrage of local basketball fans, and it would be hard to envision McCrory sticking to his guns.
Many of you may be wondering what business Silver has making this move. Silver's job is to govern the NBA, not promote the LGBT agenda. However, moves like this are not unprecedented in sports. Prior to the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Statehouse, the state was unable to host predetermined championship games. The ban from the NCAA prevented South Carolina from hosting NCAA Tournaments, conference tournaments and even bowl games. (Now that the flag has been removed, Charleston will host the Medal of Honor Bowl in 2016.) The ban was enacted in 2001, and while it may not have been the primary reason for the removal of the flag, it shows that sports executives have the opportunity to make a statement on social issues.
In this scenario, Silver has the ball in his court. If the bill is not repealed before February and Silver chooses not to move the game, the decision will likely be met with a moderate amount of scrutiny, but it's unlikely that the masses will call for Silver's head. However, threatening to move the game out of Time Warner Cable Arena stacks the deck in his favor. Ideally, McCrory would then repeal the bill, and the Hornets would still host the game. On the other hand, if McCrory chooses to stand by and let the league steal All-Star Weekend from Charlotte, the NBA will likely make more money elsewhere, as Charlotte is one of the smaller markets in the league. Also, Silver would likely be painted as a hero in the LGBT community. So Adam Silver, I challenge you stand up to McCrory and fight for the rights of transgender people everywhere. As McCrory made clear, they need all the support they can get.