Bulls G Derrick Rose "wore a black 'I Can't Breathe' T-shirt" prior to Saturday's game against the Warriors, making a reference to the highly publicized case surrounding the death of Eric Garner, according to the AP. It is "not known if Rose will face any penalty from the NBA," but players typically "are required to wear apparel of Adidas, the league's official outfitter." Bulls F Joakim Noah said of Rose, "He definitely is making a statement by wearing it" (AP, 12/6). ESPN CHICAGO's Nick Friedell wrote this "is one of the biggest social statements Rose has made in his professional career." Bulls F Taj Gibson said, "I thought it was great" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 12/6). In Chicago, K.C. Johnson noted Rose's T-shirt "was the latest in a string of demonstrations by athletes in response to police officers killing unarmed African-Americans" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/7). Meanwhile, the AP's Joseph White noted a week after some Rams players' pregame gesture referencing the Michael Brown case in Ferguson, Mo., some on the team "made another societal statement" yesterday with "I Can't Breathe" written on their equipment. Rams G Davin Joseph "wrote the words on the cleats he wore during pregame warmups," while TE Jared Cook "had it written on his wrist tape." WR Kenny Britt "had several names -- including Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin -- written on his blue and gold cleats." Elsewhere yesterday in the NFL, Lions RB Reggie Bush had "I Can't Breathe" written "in black across his blue warmup shirt," while Browns S Johnson Bademosi also "wrote the message on the back" of his pregame shirt. Lions coach Jim Caldwell "supported Bush's action." Caldwell: "I grew up in the '60s, where everybody was socially conscious. I believe in it" (AP, 12/7).
THE KING'S COURT: Cavaliers F LeBron James said of Rose's shirt, "It's spectacular. I loved it. I'm looking for one." When asked if he planned to wear the T-shirt before a game, James "was coy, but hinted it could potentially happen." In Cleveland, Chris Haynes reports James "didn't rule it out" when asked if he might do so before tonight's road game against the Nets (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 12/8). Prior to James' comments on the "I Can't Breathe" movement, Basketball HOFer Magic Johnson on Friday said that this generation's athletic superstars "should be more socially active." Johnson, speaking at Raptors GM Masai Ujiri's event honoring Nelson Mandela, said, "They have to get involved socially" (ESPN.com, 12/7). Johnson said, "LeBron is a great example of doing a wonderful job. ... I've got to give him a lot of credit. If he's out front being the best player, then the other guys usually follow the best guy" (ESPN.com, 12/5). ESPN N.Y.'s Ian O'Connor wrote James "has been no less consistent in his social awareness and engagement than he's been on the basketball court." James knows that he "doesn't have to go as far as he has, that he doesn't have to lead as conspicuously as he has." But he "takes his stand, anyway, and does it under the kind of social media surveillance and scrutiny that past superstars never faced." O'Connor: "If he doesn't overtake Michael Jordan as the greatest player of all time, he's already blown past Jordan and other titans as a champion who isn't afraid to impose his will on opponents outside of the gym" (ESPNNY.com, 12/4). In N.Y., Harvey Araton wrote James "has embraced his role as an athlete unafraid to address social issues." James is "wielding the organizational power he has generated -- a clout unparalleled in his and perhaps any professional team sport" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/6).
MOVING THE NEEDLE? ESPN’s Howard Bryant said of whether athletes can make a difference by speaking out on social issues, "Absolutely they can." He added, "There was a time when sports was in front of the country on social issues, whether you're talking about the unpopular Muhammad Ali or you’re talking about Jackie Robinson or Sandy Koufax or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. These guys are at a point now (where) they're more popular than they were back then. They have more power than they had back then. There's no question, if they lend their voice to something, people are going to listen." ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez: "I think Derrick Rose's message was extremely powerful because he didn't say a word and this is a guy that hasn't really been involved in too many controversial things and hasn’t really said much. Just with one t-shirt, which everybody's talking about now, can really at least get the conversation going for those who maybe weren't involved” (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN2, 12/7). Meanwhile, FS1’s Peter Schrager said of the Rams players' pregame gesture last week, "They reminded us yet again that athletes can have the strongest voice in the room, even when no words are needed at all" (“Fox NFL Kickoff,” FS1, 12/7). SPORTING NEWS' David Steele wrote under the header, "Athletes Refuse To Just 'Shut Up And Play'" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 12/7).
REMEMBERING A REVOLUTIONARY: In Toronto, Doug Smith wrote Ujiri's efforts on Friday to "celebrate the former South African president and global icon made for one of the most special regular season nights in Raptors franchise history." While Mandela’s legacy was "honoured, it was putting his action and life into the context of today’s society that was at the forefront" (TORONTO STAR, 12/6). ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin noted Johnson "was one of several NBA dignitaries to attend" the event, along with Charles Barkley, Dikembe Mutombo, Tracy McGrady and league Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum (ESPN.com, 12/5).
