NBA uniform manufacturing headed overseas? Senator says Hell nah!

As you know, NBA uniforms have been made right here on our shores for more than 40 years: A genuine source of pride for any true-blooded American (except when the Clippers are on TV). Now, Adidas, which has the exclusive contract to make the unis, has announced that it’s taking the whole shebang over to Thailand.
But one brave U.S. Senator says enough is enough, and is fighting to keep this from happening. Even though the only team in his home state happens to be the Knicks. What’s next — Pad Thai and peanut sauce at the Madison Square Garden concession stands?*
* = Actually might be tasty.

American Suppliers, one of three U.S. outfits with a contract to supply uniforms to the NBA, would lose about 100 jobs at a factory in upstate New York that makes more than half the uniforms used by the league.

Sen. Chuck Schumer said the switch would blemish over a century of history for the marquee American sport. He is calling on Adidas to reverse its decision and to keep making the uniforms in the USA.

“To do anything else is an insult to the American worker and sports fans everywhere in America,” the New York Democrat said.

Although Adidas is based in Portland, Ore.; it’s owned by a German company. It’s the second largest athletic shoe and apparel company in the world, behind a company whose name I don’t recall because they’re shy and don’t do much advertising.
Sure, basketball technically was invented by a Canadian: but otherwise we Amercans take great pride in being the the sport’s homeland. Recently the Kings’ Omri Casspi, who is from Israel, and the Grizzlies’ Hamed Haddadi, who is from Iran, joined in peace and brotherhood and posed for this photo, and then drove off in Haddadi’s tiny clown car. That is what happens in America, my friends.
And everything associated with the world’s greatest league, the NBA, should stay here. At least until it establishes teams in Europe.
***
Senator urges Adidas to keep NBA uniforms made in the USA [USA Today]