The Trail Blazers talked during training camp about "how they might demonstrate as a team" during the National Anthem this season, and players during yesterday's Fan Fest "huddled in a circle under the basket, arms draped over each others' shoulders and heads lowered," according to Mike Richman of the Portland OREGONIAN. The arms-over-the-shoulders-huddle "was the eventual consensus." Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard said, "We wanted to show a brotherhood amongst our team. Just stand together, stand up for something. That was it. It was simple. In support of what a lot of other athletes are doing." The Trail Blazers said that they will "continue to huddle" during the National Anthem (Portland OREGONIAN, 10/3). Meanwhile, the CP's Joshua Clipperton noted the Raptors before Saturday's preseason game against the Warriors in Vancouver took a stand by "locking arms during the national anthems." Players and staff "stood arm in arm during both the 'Star-Spangled Banner and 'O Canada' at Rogers Arena, with some bowing their heads." Raptors G Kyle Lowry: "We wanted to show solidarity. ... We all understand that things in the United States and the things in the world (aren’t) the best right now.” Raptors coach Dwane Casey: “I told our players, understand why you’re doing it. It’s not against the military, it’s not against the flag, it’s not against the country. It’s their feelings on social injustice" (CP, 10/2).
TAKING ACTION: In DC, Master Tesfatsion notes Redskins WR DeSean Jackson yesterday "wore custom cleats with a caution tape design" during yesterday's game against Browns to "continue the national conversation about unarmed African Americans dying at the hands of police." He said, “I felt like I’ve been silent long enough. It’s a bigger problem out there in the communities, in our society, things like the type of situations (where) people losing their lives." Tesfatsion notes Jackson was "among four Redskins’ players who rose their fists during the national anthem before the game" against the Giants last week. Jackson "clarified that his stance isn’t one that carries an anti-police message" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/3). Also in DC, Scott Allen noted Redskins S Duke Ihenacho during warmups "wore a mouthguard with the letters BLM, which is short for Black Lives Matter." It is "unclear if Ihenacho wore the mouthguard during the game." Ihenacho is "among the Redskins players who have spoken out about police brutality on social media" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/2). In Nashville, Dave Paulson notes Titans CB Jason McCourty, DE Daquan Jones, LB Wesley Woodyard and DT Jurrell Casey "all raised their fists" before their game against the Texans at NRG Stadium yesterday. Those same players, except for Jones, "first made the demonstration" during the Sept. 11 season opener against the Vikings at Nissan Stadium (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/3).
