It’s bigger than basketball and the players are proving it. In fact, it’s bigger than sports, period. Several professional teams joined the Milwaukee Bucks in boycotting their games to demand justice for Jacob Blake – the Kenosha man shot eight times in the back by police. And it’s EPIC. More inside…
History is being made right before our very eyes. And we love to see it.
While NBA players have decided to resume the playoffs as of minutes ago, according to ESPN, today's playoff games will be postponed.
The sports world is coming together in solidarity to demand justice for black people in America, and the latest victim of incompetet and embolden cops who tried to take the life of another black man. The protests come on the heels of Jacob Blake – the 29-year-old Kenosha, Wisconsin man being shot eight times in the back by a white police officer as his children watched in horror.
Athlete activism def just hit its peak.
The Milwaukee Bucks decided to boycott their playoff game in the Orlando Bubble following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in the team’s home state. The shooting sparked raging protests that have been going on since Sunday. Some of the protests were deadly, unfortunately.
Peep their boycott statement below:
The Milwaukee Bucks make a statement pic.twitter.com/6I0gfclzHG
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) August 26, 2020
The NBA announced it would postpone Game 5 of three different playoff games: Bucks vs. Orlando Magic; Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder; and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers.
The NBA and the NBPA today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games – MIL-ORL, HOU-OKC and LAL-POR have been postponed. Game 5 of each series will be rescheduled.
— NBA (@NBA) August 26, 2020
The Bucks boycott kicked off a wave of strikes in the professional sports world – something we’ve never seen before.
The WNBA players were going to play at first. At the 7-minute mark of each quarter, whichever team had possession of the ball was going to hold it and would receive a shot clock violation. The Washington Mystics made a major statement upon entrance into their game last night in the NBA/WNBA bubble.
However, the ladies had a change of heart and decided to boycott their games as well:
The athlete activism spread into Major League Baseball. The Milwaukee Brewers' game against the Cincinnati Reds was postponed.
“As a group, we continue to have conversations about what we can do and how we can use our platform to continue to elicit change as we recognize that there are still significant issues in our country,” Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun said. “And we made the decision today that the most impactful thing we could do was not play our baseball game, and not distract from what’s going on in the country.”
Check it:
Ryan Braun: "The most impactful thing we could do is not play our baseball game and to not distract from what's going on in the country."#Brewers pic.twitter.com/CCNE53lqyE
— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) August 27, 2020
The Seattle Mariners also decided not to play against the San Diego Padres:
The Seattle Mariners will not play tonight's game against the San Diego Padres after Mariners players agreed to postpone it.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 26, 2020
Additionally, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants decided not to play.
MLS players also stood in solidarity while taking a stand against racial injustice. They postponed all five matches:
In tennis, two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka pulled out from the WTA Western & Southern Open semi-finals – where she was due to hit the court today:
"As a black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis," Naomi said.
WTA/ATP organizers said in a statement that all play scheduled for today has been postponed in recognition of the fight against racial inequality.
LeBron James, the Lakers and the Clippers want to do MORE than just postpone the games. They want to boycott the remaining of the season! Everyone else voted to continue playing, but can you even have a season without LA’s two teams on the board?!
During a heated meeting amongst the NBA players, LeBron, the Lakers and the Clippers ended up walking out:
And King James wants y’all to know – it’s not a postponement, it’s a boycott!
Also…
Kenny Smith, Inside the NBA host, just walked off the set: “As a black man, as a former player, I think it's best for me to support the players and just not be here tonight."pic.twitter.com/3561mMA1Vi
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 26, 2020
Analyst Kenny Smith walked off TNT’s “Inside the NBA” in solidarity with the players’ protest. Peep the clip above.
As of this morning, several NFL teams have cancelled practice today as players opted to stand in solidarity.
Seven NFL teams have already canceled practice today: Bears, Cardinals, Colts, Jets, Packers, Titans and Washington FT. And more could possibly follow.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 27, 2020
The Packers have postponed* their practice today, as of now. Still TBD if they wind up practicing today.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 27, 2020
This is a movement like we’ve NEVER seen before. Professional athletes are using their platforms to raise awareness and to champion change like no other. THIS is how you protest – hit them in the pockets! The “Black Lives Matter” slogan being plastered everywhere is nice and all, but we are seeking REAL change. We want these cops who keep killing unarmed black people punished to the full extent of the law. PERIOD.
Photos: Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP
source: theybf
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