As we all continue to hold down the fort, here are some positive thoughts and moments from the sports world to get us through
It’s difficult to publish a blog titled “Some Good News” when, quite frankly, our country is experiencing the antithesis of those feelings.
So, we are taking a break from the regularly scheduled content and focusing this post on the positive #AthleteActivism we are seeing in response to the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis last week.
We are inspired by these stories, knowing that there must be justice, and it starts with the actions taken by us humans. These stars are using their platform to take a stand and be leaders in their respective communities during a time where leadership is imperative.
We start in the city of Minneapolis, where Minnesota Timberwolves stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Okogie joined former NBA player Stephen Jackson and others at Minneapolis City Hall in a rally for justice. Jackson, a friend of George Floyd going back to their upbringing in Houston, was especially emotional and heartbroken following Floyd’s murder. It is also special to note that Karl-Anthony Towns is putting his own personal grief of losing his mother to COVID-19 aside to stand up for a greater cause. A truly selfless act by Towns that reflects his character and true leadership abilities.
Overseas where some sports have resumed, players are taking action on the field to stand up and demand justice for George Floyd. Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, not only scored a hat trick in their game this past weekend, but more importantly made a statement that there are more important things than sports right now.
First professional hat trick ??. A bittersweet moment personally as there are more important things going on in the world today that we must address and help make a change. We have to come together as one & fight for justice. We are stronger together! ❤️ #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd ?? pic.twitter.com/ntOtwOySCO
— Jadon Sancho (@Sanchooo10) May 31, 2020
Basketball legends and two of the most looked-up-to African American athletes of all-time, Michael Jordan and LeBron James voiced their outrage and demand for change with various statements and social media posts.
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) May 31, 2020
Ohio State men’s basketball player Seth Towns, who recently transferred from Harvard to play for Buckeyes, was detained during a peaceful protest in Columbus last week. Said Towns on ESPN’s Sportscenter, “We have to be true to who we are and our voices. We have to use those voices to impact people, and there is a huge dilemma in this country right now that needs to be addressed and I won’t shut up. I won’t stop. I will continue to use my voice to speak out for the people who are unheard, and that’s what I did. A voice is so important, and when I say voice I’m not talking about speaking, per se. I’m talking about actions. I’m talking about going out and protesting and doing your duty as a member of this democracy.”
Prominent African-American coaches such as Ed Cooley of Providence College and Doc Rivers from the Los Angeles Clippers, both sons of former cops, have voiced their pain and need for all of us to come together and use our voices and ballots in November to enact positive change.
This is an extremely sensitive time in our country. It is imperative that the actions noted above are not only supported but also inspiring to us as individuals. You might ask, inspired to do what? As former Texans Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster recently said on Barstool’s Pardon My Take podcast, you need to own your situations and make the world that you live in better.
Our full interview with @ArianFoster from Monday is now LIVE on YouTube:https://t.co/VXIVjfZt0o
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) June 3, 2020
That’s it for this week. We look forward to impacting our world in a positive way each new day, and hope that you do too.