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Sports in Society

NBA Players, Coaches Use MLK Day To Speak About Race Relations, President Trump

Cavaliers F LeBron James used Martin Luther King Jr. Day to "not only again voice his criticism" of President Trump, but to "express his fear of what the current leadership" in DC is inviting in America, according to a front-page piece by Marla Ridenour of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. James: "The state of racism will never die, but what we cannot do is allow it to conquer us as people. We can't allow it to divide us" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 1/16). James added that honoring King's memory and message is "more vital than ever." James said, "The guy in control has given people and racism, and negative racism, an opportunity to be out and outspoken without fear. And that's the fearful thing for us because it's with you, and it's around every day. But he's allowed people to come out and just feel confident about doing negative things" (AP, 1/15).

NOT JUST COACH SPEAK: Warriors coach Steve Kerr said King would be "less than inspired by the leadership in our country." Kerr: "There's no doubt about that." Warriors F Kevin Durant said, "I feel like we're in a dark place as a nation, but we're going to get out of it" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/16). Nuggets coach Mike Malone said in the current climate, celebrating MLK is "that much more important." Malone: "When you have a president making some of the comments that he has made, it’s so important to remember and honor the legacy of Dr. King and what his message was. Simple, but powerful. Fight for equality, fight for the respect of everybody." Malone also "touted the NBA’s desire to allow its players more freedom of political expression" (DENVER POST, 1/16).

HAVING A DREAM: In Memphis, Geoff Calkins notes the city and Grizzles celebrated the holiday on Sunday with a "symposium at the National Civil Rights Museum" and continued yesterday with the Earl Lloyd Sports Legacy Symposium at FedEx Forum. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who was in Memphis yesterday, said, "There's no place in the world I'd rather be" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 1/16). Also in Memphis, Evan Barnes notes at the symposium yesterday, former WNBA Liberty Dir of Franchise Development Swin Cash "relayed a thought about her five-month old son she felt highlighted the need for authentic conversations about race." It was one of several observations Cash, former NBAers Penny Hardaway and Sam Perkins and Basketball HOFer James Worthy "shared during the symposium." The four speakers "discussed why WNBA and NBA players have led the discussion in sports regarding race, their thoughts seeing the museum Sunday and what Dr. King would perhaps say if he was alive today" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 1/16). In Utah, Eric Woodyard notes Jazz Owner Gail Miller was the "recipient of the Rosa Parks Award" yesterday during the 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon hosted by the NAACP Salt Lake Branch (DESERET NEWS, 1/16).

NO DAYS OFF: Silver noted some in the past said the NBA should not play games on the holiday, but he said the league can "inspire people by playing ... and by making it something bigger than the game." Silver called it a "terrific opportunity to educate people about the values that are important to this league.” NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts said it "warms my heart" that current players all either "understand or want to understand more" about what King's legacy was. Roberts: "I can't even imagine that the NBA would not be embracing this holiday in the way we do." Roberts said, "We have a commissioner and a league that rather than tries to suppress but instead appreciates and is supportive, works well for me because I do see in our population, our player population is not going to ignore some of the events in our communities but instead want to make a difference. ... I don't think we expect our players to ignore that need” (“NBA Tip-Off,” TNT, 1/15).

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