Sacramento Kings Might Regret Their “Year Of The Monkey” Shirt Promotion On 1st Day Of Black History Month

Harrison Lee10 years ago

Next Monday is the start of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Monkey. Yesterday was the first day of Black History Month. Somehow, the Sacramento Kings came to the conclusion that handing out t-shirts with a purple monkey and the words “Year of The Monkey” on them before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks last night was a solid idea. I mean, a shirt celebrating the monkey on the first day of Black History Month, despite the Year of the Monkey not starting until next Monday, can’t possibly cause any harm, right?

Sure enough, star center DeMarcus Cousins saw the shirts and immediately caused a scene demanding that they be removed.

From ESPN:

Cousins criticized the giveaway of Year of the Monkey T-shirts. Bucks TV analyst and former player Marques Johnson described the situation on Facebook.

“I walk into the building and DeMarcus Cousins calls me over to an animated discussion he’s having with Kings operations people,” he wrote. “He ask me, ‘Olskool, what you think about this T Shirt? Told him a little insensitive on 1st day of Black History Month’. They pulled the shirts…”

And here they are removing the shirts…

Someone on the Kings’ promotional staff, without a doubt, fucked it hard. I get where they were going with the shirt. I see nothing wrong with them since the NBA wants teams to celebrate the Chinese New Year, and this year is, in fact, the Year of the Monkey. But maybe wait until a home game later in the month, or another month altogether. Just a thought.

Thanks for the screw up, guys. It makes for good entertainment..

[via ESPN]

Image via Twitter/ @olskool888