Historically China's leaders have been very wary of even a small uprising: there is historical precedent for a dynasty being overthrown starting with the protes

Historically China's leaders have been very wary of even a small uprising: there is historical precedent for a dynasty being overthrown starting with the protest of just one man. It is believed by some that the memory of that potential is why Chinese authorities cracked down so brutally during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Part of me wonders if cancelling access to the NBA, which has more fans in China than in the rest of the world combined, could foment discontent... and if that, along with some sufficiently acceptable apologies on the part of the NBA will cause everyone to resume amicability and allow the NBA games to be shown without interruption this fall. After all, without basketball to watch, more than a few Chinese might have the time to learn about what's happening in Hong Kong.