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NBA granted license for Iranian basketball player

Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008 12:38 PM by Victor Limjoco

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is an update from a previous post, "Trading with the enemy"

By Robert Windrem, Investigative Producer/Special Projects

The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Wednesday granted the NBA a license that will permit its teams to negotiate with Hamed Ehadadi, the center on the Iranian Olympic Team. Yahoo! Sports reported that the league has sent out an email to all NBA teams clearing the way for the Olympics leading rebounder—a 7’2” giant—to negotiate with any of them.

However, the league warned teams that they will have to seek league approval for any deal with Ehadadi or another Iranian player attracting NBA attention, guard Mohammadsamad Nik Khahbahrami. The league general counsel explained that transactions involving Iranian nationals need to be constructed in such a way that they don’t violate the US sanctions laws.

In an interview with the Tehran Times Tuesday, Ehadadi said, "I will undoubtedly join Memphis Grizzlies by the end of next week. I met Memphis' officials yesterday to discuss joining the team… I received many offers from European teams but just playing in the NBA is my dream. Hopefully, I can join Memphis as soon as possible without any problem."

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It's always about money first. This Administration will do anything for a quick buck. Now all that talk about not doing business with a so called Axis of Evil is just bull. Look friends of the White House have been doing business with Iran for the pass 7 years as other companies were told they couldn't. This young man is a great player and will bring money to the NBA that's all that counts. As for terrorist they are more free to move around the US then American Citizens. We have seen a Gold Medal winner who has a undocumented Mother who is an immigrant. The Bush Policy will most likely kick him out but keep the Gold medal then give him a green card to come back in 2012 to win another Gold for the USA. Gary Phelps a retired State Trooper dumped his son and daughters 14 years ago never to be heard of again as he married his second wife and had kids. Now Michael his son has won 8 Gold Medals he's a Father again. Sounds alot like John McCain.

Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 1:17 PM)

This young man's dream is to play basketball in the NBA, not to play basketball while funding Al-Qaida, and blowing up train stations.  Is banning him from the NBA going to resolve our political problems with Iran?  No, it's just going to alienate the young man and prove to the world that we are mean and vindictive as a country.  Let the man play ball!

RangerDan, White Lake, MI (Sent Saturday, August 23, 2008 9:59 AM)

Jackie, Please take a pill and call your doc in the morning.

Steve Hansen (Sent Saturday, August 23, 2008 12:15 PM)

You mean like this speech Jackie?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNfI2fWFgCY

Dave, Tn (Sent Saturday, August 23, 2008 11:01 PM)

Let him play in the NBA, if he is good enough.  Why not?  Most Iranians like Americans, maybe their government does not.  Hey, we all know what happened when a Chinese ping pong star chatted it up with an American player while on a bus over in China back in the early 70's.  Still, most likely a conflict is going to take place within the next 5 years with Iran.  So keep the contract limitted to that.  Who knows, maybe he can help us get along better.  

Joe Schmozer (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 5:51 PM)

But Bob, will Ehadadi play for the New Jersey Americans/New York Nets/New Jersey Nets ... Brooklyn Nets? They could use a big guy.

RW (Sent Wednesday, August 27, 2008 12:01 PM)

Not letting this Iranian basketball player join the NBA is a mistake.  When have you ever heard of an iranian terrorist?  It's all political mumbo jumbo.  All Iranians do is bring there intelligence and strong family values to this country.  We should learn a thing or two from the Iranian people.  If anything, Americans should be banned from the NBA for killing millions of people around the world.  Wake up people we are sleeping.

Dean valilar, Hollywood, ca (Sent Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:49 PM)



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