Kerr said the shirt is a reminder to vote for those willing to change the current gun laws in the U.S.NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Warriors coach STEVE KERR wore a "Vote For Our Lives" T-shirt at his press conference yesterday prior to Warriors-Raptors Game 2, in "support of stricter gun control laws after 12 people were killed and four more wounded in a mass shooting" in Virginia Beach on Friday. Kerr said, "The shirt is a reminder that the only way we can get out of this mess is to actually vote, and to vote for people who are going to be willing to create some change in our gun laws in our country." The Vote For Our Lives movement is "associated with March For Our Lives, an organization focused on bringing young people together to help end gun violence" (THESTAR.com, 6/2).
TAKING A STAND: Echo Fox team Owner RICK FOX has "changed his mind about departing the esports organization because of a racist comment made by an investor and plans to oust the individual from the organization." Fox, speaking on The GG Podcast last week, said, "At times, if you don't pick up the fight yourself, there's a chance that that situation or that individual may go on to hurt others -- may go on to continue to think that it's OK to conduct themselves that way" (ESPN.com, 6/1).
HONORS & AWARDS: IndyCar driver SCOTT DIXON has been "recognized by his homeland" with the awarding of New Zealand's Order of Merit. Dixon's bestowment by QUEEN ELIZABETH II was made for his "contributions to motor racing." There will be a ceremonial presentation later this month at the Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace (RACER.com, 6/2)....The National Basketball Coaches Association named former Jazz coach FRANK LAYDEN the recipient of the '19 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award (NBCA)....Virginia Tech in September will induct former SID DAVE SMITH into its sports HOF. Smith "oversaw Tech's sports information department throughout FRANK BEAMER's 29-season tenure" as the school's football coach (PILOTONLINE.com, 6/2).
GIVING BACK: TOM BRADY on Friday night "took the field at Harvard Stadium as part of the 20th Annual Best Buddies Challenge, a two-day charity event that continued on Saturday with a charity run, walk, and bicycle ride in Hyannis Port." Among those to take the field on Friday were Massachusetts Gov. CHARLIE BAKER and Best Buddies Int'l Founder & Chair ANTHONY SHRIVER (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 6/1). A number of Patriots players participated on Friday, with JULIAN EDELMAN, JAMES WHITE, JOE THUNEY, TED KARRAS, MARCUS CANNON, BRIAN HOYER and JOE CARDONA in attendance (BOSTONHERALD.com, 6/1). Meanwhile, Eagles QB CARSON WENTZ was at Citizens Bank Park with "more than 30 teammates present" Friday night for Wentz' second AO1 Foundation charity softball game (INQUIRER.com, 5/31).
NAMES: Actors JON HAMM and JENNA FISCHER attended Bruins-Blues Game 3, as did Gold Medal-winning U.S. track & field athlete JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE and former NFLers ISAAC BRUCE and CHRIS LONG. Chiefs QB PATRICK MAHOMES was also in the stands, shown on the video board "wearing a Blues jersey and chugging a beer" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/3)....The WALL STREET JOURNAL profiled USWNT F ALEX MORGAN, who said that the first app she checks in the morning is Apple News, and her “biggest time-wasting app” is Instagram (WSJ MAGAZINE, 6/1 issue).
