John Stockton is undoubtedly the most famous former Gonzaga player. His number #12 has been retired there since 2004 and the best passer and ball stealer in NBA history can go to the McCarthey Athletic Center whenever he wants, tickets being permanently available to him.
Except that this privilege has just been taken away from him. After more than two years of conversations with college leaders, the former Jazz point guard has just been banned from the hall because he stubbornly refuses to put on a mask during matches, contrary to the health protocol put in place in Washington State.
“In fact, I was asked to wear a mask during the matches as I am a public figure, someone who is not very visible, and to stand out in the crowd”, he explains. “And so, they received complaints and thought that in relation to their superiors – we did not talk about it, but it was from their superiors, whoever they were – they were going to have to ask me to wear a mask or they were going to suspend my tickets. “
John Stockton therefore decided to watch the Zags games from home and not comply with the protocol, despite the university’s very patient attitude with his legend.
An antivax discourse that poses a problem
It must be said that Karl Malone’s former partner is fiercely opposed to all measures against Covid-19, masks but also vaccines, on which he has clearly conspiratorial opinions. He had thus been interviewed for a controversial documentary: “COVID and the Vaccine: Truth, Lies and Misconceptions Revealed”.
Asked by The Spokesman-Review, he also repeats that vaccines against Covid-19 have killed more than a hundred athletes, and tens of thousands, even millions of other people…
“I think everyone knows that now. There are 150, I believe now, more than 100 dead professional athletes anyway – professional athletes – in their prime, dying after being vaccinated, on the field, on the lawn, on the court”, he continues to assert.
Inevitably, on the side of Gonzaga, the speech of the main ambassador of the college, as well as his refusal to wear a mask during the team’s games, ended up becoming untenable in relation to the public.
“Gonzaga University continues to work hard to implement and enforce state and university-mandated health and safety protocols, including reinforcing the requirement to wear a mask indoors. People attending basketball games are required to wear masks at all times”, simply communicated the establishment. “We will not talk about the specific measures taken with regard to certain people. We take the application of health and safety protocols related to COVID-19 seriously and will continue to assess how we can best mitigate the risks posed by COVID-19 with appropriate measures. The recent decision to suspend concessions in the McCarthey Athletic Center is an example of this approach. Gonzaga University makes it a priority to protect the health and safety of students, employees, and the community. “
