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The NBA's return brings with it a leadership opportunity in the social justice movement

admin — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 11:11:12 +0000

Basketball has never felt less essential. Worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality have pushed a global pandemic below the fold, and yet the NBA is moving toward resuming its 2019-20 season.

There was a time we hoped the league could provide a welcome distraction for Americans quarantined and isolated because of the coronavirus. That time has passed. We should no longer welcome any distraction from the movement currently spreading across the country. All eyes should be focused on a broken system.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley tweeted on Wednesday, surely echoing the thoughts of many of his colleagues who have joined protests and spoken out in the wake of George Floyd’s homicide in custody of the Minneapolis Police Department." data-reactid="18">“Everything going on right now, basketball is not important,” Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley tweeted on Wednesday, surely echoing the thoughts of many of his colleagues who have joined protests and spoken out in the wake of George Floyd’s homicide in custody of the Minneapolis Police Department.

I had my reservations about the NBA returning in the midst of a pandemic, so sports seem even sillier now, but basketball is coming back, and I am trying to reconcile with that, because I write about basketball. Here is where I have landed: The league has a chance to dominate this conversation in the next five months, and seizing that opportunity could carry the current movement forward in a way that creates a lasting impact.

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson (right), a friend of George Floyd’s, poses for a photograph at a memorial for Floyd on Wednesday. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

by a wide margin." data-reactid="40">When the NBA returns at the Walt Disney World Resort next month, players and coaches will have a massive audience as the faces of the most popular North American sport resuming games this summer. Among the four major North American sports leagues, the NBA has the highest percentage of African-Americans at every level of its organizations — from players to coaching staffs to executives to the league office — by a wide margin.

Malcolm Brogdon of the Indiana Pacers joined a peaceful protest in Atlanta partially organized by Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics on Saturday, and the two rising stars made public pleas to a crowd of thousands in their hometown, a few hundred miles from where a black man, Ahmaud Arbery, was gunned down while jogging last month." data-reactid="41">Three quarters of NBA players are black, according to the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, and many have been among the most vocal social justice advocates. Malcolm Brogdon of the Indiana Pacers joined a peaceful protest in Atlanta partially organized by Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics on Saturday, and the two rising stars made public pleas to a crowd of thousands in their hometown, a few hundred miles from where a black man, Ahmaud Arbery, was gunned down while jogging last month.

“This is a moment,” Brogdon told protesters. “We have leverage right now. We have a moment in time. People are going to look back, our kids are going to look back at this and say, ‘You were part of that.’ I’ve got a grandfather that marched next to Dr. King in the sixties, and he was amazing. He would be proud to see us all here. We got to keep pushing forward. Jaylen has led this charge, man, and I’m proud of him. We need more leaders.”

Daddy changed the world.” Flanked by All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns and other Minnesota Timberwolves, Jackson spoke passionately from a justice rally in Minneapolis’ Government Center Plaza last week." data-reactid="46">Former NBA player turned popular broadcaster Stephen Jackson was a close friend of Floyd’s. He was seen in recent days holding Floyd’s young daughter on his shoulders as she told onlookers, “Daddy changed the world.” Flanked by All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns and other Minnesota Timberwolves, Jackson spoke passionately from a justice rally in Minneapolis’ Government Center Plaza last week.

“When was murder ever worth it?” he said, referencing Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer since charged with Floyd’s murder. “But if it’s a black man, it’s approved. You can’t tell me when that man had his knee on my brother’s neck, taking his life away with his hand in his pocket, that that smirk on his face didn’t say, ‘I’m protecting.’”

LeBron James tweeted a photo of his Miami Heat donning hooded sweatshirts in honor of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old high school student who was shot and killed by Orlando-area neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman in 2012. James was also among dozens of players to sport “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts in protest of a grand jury opting not to indict New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo for the choking death of Eric Garner in 2014." data-reactid="51">NBA players have been increasingly vocal about racial injustice in the years since LeBron James tweeted a photo of his Miami Heat donning hooded sweatshirts in honor of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old high school student who was shot and killed by Orlando-area neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman in 2012. James was also among dozens of players to sport “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts in protest of a grand jury opting not to indict New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo for the choking death of Eric Garner in 2014.

LeBron James was among the NBA players who wore “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts in protest of police brutality in 2014. (Rich Kane/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

a number of occasions, notably after the president referred to Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players protesting police brutality as “sons of bitches” and also after he defended “very fine people on both sides” of a 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a neo-Nazi drove into a crowd of anti-racism protesters, killing Heather Heyer." data-reactid="76">James has criticized Donald Trump for furthering the racial divide on a number of occasions, notably after the president referred to Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players protesting police brutality as “sons of bitches” and also after he defended “very fine people on both sides” of a 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a neo-Nazi drove into a crowd of anti-racism protesters, killing Heather Heyer.

Over the past week, James has pledged support for protests to tens of millions of social media followers.

If you still haven’t figured out why the protesting is going on. Why we’re acting as we are is because we are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here! Can we break it down for you any simpler than this right here???? ??‍. And to my people don’t worry I won’t stop until I see https://t.co/e4pJ0PvwJj

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 4, 2020

“I won’t stop until I see change,” James wrote on Thursday.

The audience for James and other NBA players will only increase when they convene to resume the 2019-20 season in Orlando next month, when the league will take center stage on national television. The most predominantly black sports league in America, a league that empowers its players to voice their opinions, will have one of the most powerful voices in the world in the months leading up to the presidential election.

thugs” in a Twitter rant that also suggested, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” when he called on the nation’s governors to “dominate” protesters or risk looking “like a bunch of jerks,” and when he promoted the use of tear gas on peaceful protesters to clear his path for a photo opportunity." data-reactid="83">Racism and social justice are not inherently political issues, but they become more so when the president of the United States responds to protests not with a consistent unifying message but by calling Minneapolis protesters “thugs” in a Twitter rant that also suggested, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” when he called on the nation’s governors to “dominate” protesters or risk looking “like a bunch of jerks,” and when he promoted the use of tear gas on peaceful protesters to clear his path for a photo opportunity.

should be deported, and in another he said this week, “I am ... an ally of all peaceful protesters.” It is clear why Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr and members of the Golden State Warriors repeatedly clashed with Trump over his divisive remarks and why Trump rescinded an offer to visit the White House that was never extended to the champions of the blackest sports league in America." data-reactid="84">In one breath Trump once suggested Kaepernick and other NFL players peacefully protesting racial injustice during the national anthem should be deported, and in another he said this week, “I am … an ally of all peaceful protesters.” It is clear why Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr and members of the Golden State Warriors repeatedly clashed with Trump over his divisive remarks and why Trump rescinded an offer to visit the White House that was never extended to the champions of the blackest sports league in America.

an essay on the subject for The Players’ Tribune. Kerr and former Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy joined the Players Coalition in endorsing a letter to Attorney General William Barr last month that called for the arrest of the men who killed Arbery." data-reactid="85">The NBA also features a number of white men who have pledged their support for social justice and anti-racism efforts and put their face to white privilege. Kyle Korver, a senior member of the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks, penned an essay on the subject for The Players’ Tribune. Kerr and former Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy joined the Players Coalition in endorsing a letter to Attorney General William Barr last month that called for the arrest of the men who killed Arbery.

Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich, coaches together on the U.S. men’s national team, have been vocal critics of President Donald Trump. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Van Gundy told Yahoo Sports in late May. “‘You do this, this and this, so you come home alive.’ I started getting more of that in my career. I'm like holy [expletive]. I've never once talked to my kids about that or felt the need to. If my kid got pulled over, it was because they deserved to get pulled over. Even if they mouthed off, nobody was gonna shoot them.”" data-reactid="106">“I’ve never met a single black parent that doesn’t have to sit their kids down and talk to them very directly about how you deal with the police if you’re stopped,” Van Gundy told Yahoo Sports in late May. “‘You do this, this and this, so you come home alive.’ I started getting more of that in my career. I’m like holy [expletive]. I’ve never once talked to my kids about that or felt the need to. If my kid got pulled over, it was because they deserved to get pulled over. Even if they mouthed off, nobody was gonna shoot them.”

has long been one of the NBA’s most vocal critics of Trump’s leadership." data-reactid="107">Kerr hosted San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich this week on his “Flying Coach” podcast with Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for a conversation about how they, as privileged white men, can engage players of all backgrounds in meaningful conversations and assist the effort to bring about systemic change. Popovich has long been one of the NBA’s most vocal critics of Trump’s leadership.

Popovich told The Nation’s Dave Zirin in a conversation prompted by the oft-private coach. “That’s why these protests have been so explosive. But without leadership and an understanding of what the problem is, there will never be change. And white Americans have avoided reckoning with this problem forever because it’s been our privilege to be able to avoid it. That also has to change.”" data-reactid="108">“The thing that strikes me is that we all see this police violence and racism and we’ve seen it all before but nothing changes,” Popovich told The Nation’s Dave Zirin in a conversation prompted by the oft-private coach. “That’s why these protests have been so explosive. But without leadership and an understanding of what the problem is, there will never be change. And white Americans have avoided reckoning with this problem forever because it’s been our privilege to be able to avoid it. That also has to change.”

a blowhard.” Curry called him an asset, “if you remove the et.” James called him a “bum.” The NBA’s voice on this is glaring." data-reactid="109">Popovich went so far as to call the president “a deranged idiot.” Kerr has called Trump “a blowhard.” Curry called him an asset, “if you remove the et.” James called him a “bum.” The NBA’s voice on this is glaring.

the 1967 Cleveland Summit, including Bill Russell, who also had a front-row seat as a guest of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington and for whom the NBA’s Finals MVP trophy is named." data-reactid="110">Players and coaches have two months before the season resumes to craft a more effective message to the American public, one that elevates the national conversation from name-calling and attempts by detractors to conflate peaceful protests with looting and the excessive use of force by police with assaults against police officers. There is an opportunity to further a sports activism cause once carried by their predecessors at the 1967 Cleveland Summit, including Bill Russell, who also had a front-row seat as a guest of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington and for whom the NBA’s Finals MVP trophy is named.

shameful, inhumane and intolerable,” forming a committee to combat social injustices with tangible reform in NBA cities. That is a start. There is a long way to go, but coaches and players can undoubtedly serve as leaders in carrying the momentum of this movement into the most consequential election of many of their lifetimes." data-reactid="111">The National Basketball Coaches Association recently condemned “police brutality, racial profiling and the weaponization of racism” as “shameful, inhumane and intolerable,” forming a committee to combat social injustices with tangible reform in NBA cities. That is a start. There is a long way to go, but coaches and players can undoubtedly serve as leaders in carrying the momentum of this movement into the most consequential election of many of their lifetimes.

The best reason to welcome the NBA’s return in the face of a pandemic is what might unfold off the court in Orlando during the months before another champion refuses to accept a White House invitation. In that way, basketball might just be essential again.

– – – – – – –

Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach" data-reactid="118">Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach

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LFC to harness power of past triumphs & future ambitions for eventual return

admin — Tue, 05 May 2020 10:57:41 +0000

Jurgen Klopp has likened his Liverpool players to showing the excitement of “five and six-year-old boys” over a return to football.

The Reds last played competitively 55 days ago on March 11 and were merely six points away from clinching the Premier League title before the pandemic caused all fixtures to be suspended.

Since then, like the rest of the world, the squad have isolated at home and in order to keep fit and firing each player was handed an individual training programme, like they would during the offseason.

And now discussions are picking up as to when the Premier League can safely return, with a date in June widely reported for games, with training to resume later this month – first with individual sessions followed by team training.

Liverpool have been providing a glimpse into how the players are staying active over Zoom, whilst the squad themselves have been ever-present on social media, from Alisson’s novel throwing practice to Jordan Henderson training with a professional cyclist.

And the boss, who is equally “recharged,” can see the eagerness exuding from his team to return to the field of play, but insisted there is still work to be done before games resume.

“The boys have a lot of work to do, physical work because we all expect to go again,” Klopp told Fox Sports, via the Mirror.

“I don’t know exactly when but we have to prepare for that – that is what the boys do.

“When we come back together again, we have to make the best of the situation we have. We don’t know how long we will get to prepare for the games, so in that moment we will just try.

“When we give the boys a challenge to do in their gardens you can see in them they play really like five and six-year-old boys.

“And that is what we will try to transfer onto the pitch then as well.

“There will be busy times coming up – hopefully – but we are prepared for that.

“We are so recharged I can tell you – you can use my energy to light up different cities in my home area! So that’s 100 percent possible and that’s how it is at the moment.”

Liverpool’s time in lockdown extends beyond maintaining physical fitness as the Reds have also looked to keep mentally sharp through video analysis and the spirits high by showing highlights of recent triumphs.

It’s these “little things” which are keeping Liverpool focused on what lies ahead and what is also keeping them grounded, with the Premier League title next on the to-do list when it is possible to return.

“We have to make sure that we will be physically ready again. Then there is the technical thing and the tactical thing,” he added.

“It is the tactical thing we probably work most on at the moment with a lot of videos we send the boys – we send them videos of what we did well, what we didn’t do well and what we want to do in the future.

“We remind ourselves of things we have achieved in the past and want to achieve in the future.

“There are a lot of things we are really looking forward to do again. It is the little things, you appreciate the little things so much more in this moment, the little things you can do.”

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NRL coronavirus: RLPA action could lead to shock Jack de Belin return when NRL season restarts

admin — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 08:29:45 +0000

Exiled St George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin could be cleared to return from his indefinite suspension before the NRL season restarts after the coronavirus hiatus, according to reports.

De Belin was the first player banned under the NRL’s controversial no-fault, stand-down policy last February.

The policy, introduced under ex-ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie, allows the NRL to indefinitely suspend any player charged with an offence carrying a maximum jail sentence of 11 years or more.

De Belin is facing five sexual assault charges stemming from an alleged incident involving a woman in December, 2018.

MORE: Peter V’landys ‘very confident’ NRL can return on June 1

His trial, alongside co-accused Shellharbour Sharks player Callan Sinclair, was initially due to commence in February but was rescheduled to early November before the COVID-19 crisis hit.

Having already missed the entire 2019 season, De Belin’s case is now almost certain to be pushed back to 2021 due to further delays in the court system caused by social distancing rules.

As first reported by News Limited, De Belin is seeking an in-person meeting with NRL CEO Todd Greenberg in a bid to have his suspension lifted.

But the Dragons and NSW lock’s biggest hope of a 2020 return lies in the Rugby League Players Association’s (RLPA) legal challenge of the no-fault, stand-down policy.

The RLPA will argue the NRL violated the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) after failing to consult them before implementing its powers to suspend players before a legal matter has been decided by the courts.

An independent arbitrator will hear the matter in the coming weeks, with News Limited reporting a decision could be reached by the end of April.

If the RLPA prevails, new CEO Clint Newton will push for the policy to be immediately eradicated, clearing the way for the off-contract De Belin to immediately return.

De Belin challenged the no-fault, stand-down policy in the Federal Court in 2019 but withdrew his case in August.

Meanwhile, new ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys this week boldly declared the NRL competition could resume as early as June.

The season was suspended last month after just two rounds due to the coronavirus.

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South Korean soccer player facing sexual assault charges asks to return home

admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 22:39:26 +0000

Jasmine Stole , jstole@guampdn.com
Published 5:45 p.m. ChT March 20, 2018

Information gathered from the Judiciary of Guam website: www.guamcourts.org
If you believe you have been the victim of sexual assault, contact police as soon as possible.
Guam Pacific Daily News

In this Feb. 7 file photo, Byong Oh Kim, left, prepares to take a seat next to his attorney, F. Randall Cunliffe, prior to the start of his arraignment hearing at the Guam Judicial Center in Hagåtña.(Photo: PDN file photo)

A soccer player for a South Korean soccer team charged with sexual assault on Guam after a woman told local police he raped her in a hotel asked the court to allow him to return home pending his trial.

Superior Court of Guam Judge Arthur Barcinas said Tuesday he will decide at a later time if Byong Oh Kim will be allowed to leave Guam for South Korea.

Kim is accused of sexually assaulting a woman inside a room on Jan. 22 at the LeoPalace Resort. He was indicted on charges of three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and four counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Kim is an active duty member of the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps, according to the defense’s court filings translated into English. He’s also a player for the Sangju Sangmu soccer team, which was on Guam in January for training, according to a news release from the soccer team.

“Kim is a member of the Korean Army and is currently AWOL because he could not return to his unit,” stated his attorney, F. Randall Cunliffe.

Col. Hyeon-Cheol Park, an officer with the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, at Tuesday’s hearing, said Kim is expected to be discharged from the military on Sept. 4, if they don’t add time for the weeks he’s been absent.

When he’s discharged, he will be a free man, according to Park.

Cunliffe said military duty is mandatory in South Korea.

The prosecution opposed releasing Kim to South Korea. Assistant Attorney General Sean Brown said the woman accusing Kim said she is “very scared” and feels less scared because Kim is currently on Guam. The woman lives in South Korea, documents state.

Brown also said there’s no way to ensure the woman’s safety if Kim is in South Korea, the probation office on Guam isn’t able to monitor him there. If Kim violates his conditions, there’s no way to investigate it, Brown said.

“Once Kim leaves the island, there’s no guarantees for his return,” Brown said.

Park said that if Kim is allowed to go back to South Korea, he will be restricted to the military base and they will ensure he returns to Guam for his court hearings and the trial in August. “My country will guarantee he will come back for court,” Park said.

There wasn’t an interpreter for Kim at Tuesday’s hearing. Barcinas said he will schedule another hearing when an interpreter is available.

Cunliffe in court filings said Kim’s military base is in central South Korea and the woman accusing him of sexual assault was attending college in Pusan which Cunliffe said was in the southern part of South Korea and far from where Kim is stationed.

Kim is currently on pre-trial release after posting $10,000 cash bail.

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