Actress Gabrielle Union on Thursday told the '16 CAA World Congress of Sports audience that wage discrimination in men’s and women’s sports is “criminal” and “unconscionable.” Commenting on the suit brought against U.S. Soccer by members of the U.S. women’s national soccer team, Union said, “There is no way that you can legitimately explain it, although a couple members of the men’s team tried. There’s no two ways about it.” Asked how the situation could be fixed, Union said, “You pay them. You boycott Rio. It’s pay or play.” The controversial comments by former BNP Paribas Open CEO & Tournament Dir Raymond Moore on women's tennis also came up. Noting comments made last month by Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 player on the ATP Tour, that men deserve higher pay because their events draw more fans, Union said, “(Male players) should be thanking Serena (Williams). Her absence (in the U.S. Open and Miami Open finals), what that meant for the bottom line of those tournaments, just how important she is to tennis, her and Venus ... I noticed that the men’s final also took a hit. All of the attention was on the women’s final.” More Union: “The men should have gotten down on their knees and prayed to Serena. She brings that attention.”
ATHLETES MAKING SOCIAL STATEMENTS: The topic of athletes making social statements also came up in light of the “I Can’t Breathe” shirts worn by some NBA players during pregame warmups during the ‘14-15 season. Union’s husband, Heat G Dwyane Wade, also honored Trayvon Martin by appearing on the cover of Ebony magazine in ‘13. Union said the idea of athletes making social statements is “here to stay.” Union: “We saw athletes in the '40s, '50s, '60s who were very, very politically active. And they all paid for it dearly. ... In this day and age, the longer you stay silent, that will affect your bottom line. Your fans want to know what side of history you’re going to be on."
