Topline
John Stockton, the National Basketball Association’s all-time assists and steals leader, Recount the Spokesperson-Review On Sunday, his alma mater, Gonzaga University, banned him from home basketball games for refusing to comply with the school’s mask mandate, then shared bizarre false claims about the Covid vaccine -19.
NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton has been banned from attending basketball games at his alma mater for … [+]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Highlights
Gonzaga, a Jesuit school in Spokane best known for the success story of its men’s basketball team, suspended Stockton’s season tickets after its most famous alum repeatedly refused to wear a mask at games, Stockton noted.
A staunch opponent of Covid-19 masks and vaccines, Stockton has shared a number of debunked conspiracy theories in the interview, like claiming 150 professional athletes in their prime[ped]
dead” after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine (there are
no proof to support this claim).
Gonzaga sporting director Chris Standiford did not immediately respond to Forbes‘ request for comment, and declined to comment at the Spokesperson-Review.
crucial quote
Stockton noted that Standiford informed Stockton of Gonzaga’s decision in a “not pleasant” conversation: “Basically it came down to, they were asking me to wear a mask to the games and, being a public figure, someone a little more visible, I stuck in the crowd a bit. And as a result they received complaints and felt like from any superior – these weren’t discussed, but from any superior – they were going to have to either ask me to wear a mask , or they were going to suspend my tickets.”
Chief Spokesperson
Many have criticized Stockton for his claims about Covid-19 vaccines, including The nation sportswriter Dave Zirin, who tweeted, “John Stockton thinks 150 professional athletes were killed by the vaccine. Just in case you have someone similar in your family, here’s a fact check. Conclusion: Not to shock you, but that’s bullshit Conservative sports commentator Clay Travis supported Stockton’s decision to refuse to wear a mask, Tweeter, “Good for Stockton here.”
Further reading
John Stockton’s disregard for COVID-19 mask mandate forces Gonzaga to suspend NBA Hall of Fame basketball subscriptions (Spokesperson-Review)
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