Falcons Owner Arthur Blank yesterday addressed President Trump's executive order suspending immigration into the U.S. from seven predominantly Muslim countries, offering "some poignant commentary on what he sees as a troubled dynamic that runs counter to what he sees as the country's cultural and political underpinnings," according to Bob Glauber of NEWSDAY. Blank said, "I’m troubled by anything directionally in our country that separates people. ... This country was built on inclusion and diversity." Meanwhile, Falcons WR Mohamed Sanu, who grew up in a Muslim family, said, "I just pray we live in a country and a world that can be united. It’s hard for me to talk about this right now" (NEWSDAY, 1/31). Sanu: "I have some feelings but I'm not really going to talk about it now" (USA TODAY, 1/31).
HOOP SCREAMS: Pistons President of Basketball Operations and coach Stan Van Gundy said of Trump's order, "It's starting to get really, really scary stuff now. We're getting into the days of, now we're judging people by their religion -- trying to keep Muslims out. We're getting back to the days of, you know, putting the Japanese in relocation camps, and Hitler registering the Jews." Meanwhile, Lakers F Luol Deng, whose birthplace of Sudan is one of the countries affected by Trump's order, in a statement wrote, "Refugees are productive members of society that want for their family just as you want for yours" (ESPN.com, 1/30). Raptors G Kyle Lowry said of the order, "Our country is the country of the home of the free ... Personally I think it’s bullshit." Raptors President & GM Masai Ujiri said, "I am finding it difficult to really absorb some of this stuff -- from the (President’s) ban to everything that’s going on" (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/31). Lowry added, "NBA players -- a lot of us just go out there, and people don’t know that we do pay attention to everything, We care about our world. We care about our children growing up in this situation" (TORONTO STAR, 1/31). ESPNW's D'Arcy Maine noted WNBA Storm F Breanna Stewart on Sunday "attended her very first rally" at LAX to protest the order (ESPNW.com, 1/30).
LEAGUE BUSINESS: In Boston, Gary Washburn writes Trump's order makes the NBA "quite uncomfortable." While Commissioner Adam Silver has yet to comment, the league is "not limiting its coaches from giving their opinions on the current political climate." Dialogue around the league yesterday was "conscientious and commendable." The coaches "spoke from their hearts and their minds." The NBA is a "league of diversity, and its members become disturbed when there are any threats to that philosophy" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/31). Meanwhile, ESPN's Rachel Nichols noted the NBA is a league that "perhaps more than any other major American pro sport depends on the global community.” There are so many people right now who feel scared and helpless. ... These people need to know there are folks in positions of power who will stand by them and our society, that absolutely includes coaches and athletes" ("The Jump," ESPN2, 1/30). In Las Vegas, Adam Hill reports the UFC is working to "determine whether any fighters or employees" will be "affected by the order" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/31). ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson wrote under the header, "How Trump's Immigration Ban Might Affect Sports And Athletes" (ESPN.com, 1/30).
RIPPLE EFFECT: In California, Scott Reid cites Olympic historians as saying that the Trump administration has "created a major, perhaps insurmountable, hurdle" for L.A. in its bid for the '24 Games (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/31). The NATIONAL POST's Scott Stinson writes Trump's order has "seriously jeopardized" L.A.'s Olympic bid, if it "hasn't torpedoed it completely already." Logistics aside, the ban is "at odds with a pretty significant part of the Olympic spirit" (NATIONAL POST, 1/31). In L.A., David Wharton notes Paris has "put forth a bid that -- much like L.A.'s -- would eliminate billions in construction by making use of existing stadiums and arenas." Also, '24 "marks 100 years since Paris last hosted the Games in 1924, so returning would make for a nostalgic story line." The U.S. bid "could make the argument that a potential second Trump term would be nearly over" by '24, but that "doesn’t change the present situation." Wharton: "We may never know what, if any, impact Trump’s presidency will have on L.A.’s chances. So far, it probably hasn’t helped" (L.A. TIMES, 1/31).
VOCAL OPPONENT: Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban said of Trump's order, "Everything seems rushed." He added of Trump, "What is his leadership style? What's his communication style? Just tweeting is not communicating. Look, it's one thing to say I use Twitter to communicate, but the reality is, what, 15 percent of Americans are on Twitter? So it's the media that really communicates with most of us" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/31).
