MILWAUKEE — Earlier this morning, and before his visit to Kenosha, President Donald Trump tweeted out a statement, saying ratings are way down and told players to "stand tall for our country and our flag."
People are tired of watching the highly political @NBA. Basketball ratings are WAY down, and they won’t be coming back. I hope football and baseball are watching and learning because the same thing will be happening to them. Stand tall for our Country and our Flag!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2020
Tuesday afternoon, the Milwaukee Bucks shared their reaction.
"I think it would be you know, somewhat disingenuous to say that the ratings don't matter," Bucks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer said. "I have no idea if what President Trump said is true or not. The ratings to our league and to our players and to all of us, of course they matter. But at the end of the day, what's most important is that we continue to fight for change."
The ratings for the NBA didn't go down after the Bucks boycotted game five against the Magic. But they also didn't go up. On Sunday, the NASCAR race on TMJ4 and NBC had one million more viewers than Lakers-Blazers on TNT.
TMJ4 asked Kyle Korver about the tweet, and what is his level of concern, about the ratings.
"Life is not about ratings," Bucks Guard/Forward Kyle Korver says. "Life is not about, life is about standing for what's right. It's for standing with and for people. That's what makes a good life. So we're trying to navigate both right now."
Some use sports as an escape for life's issues. Others want their athletes to stand for something. Most agree it's a very complex issue.
