In Detroit, Carlos Monarrez wrote the Lions "deserve credit for starting a protest movement that has cascaded throughout every American sports league." Teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB "followed the lead of the Lions set Tuesday and stopped practicing or playing games to support racial justice after the shooting of Jacob Blake." There has been "scarcely a mention of the Lions starting it all in an unplanned and organic way with the simple act of standing outside their team facility" and "speaking from the heart" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/30). In Pittsburgh, Ron Cook wrote the "entire NFL seems to get it ... finally" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/31).
GETTING BETTER: Saints and Pelicans Owner Gayle Benson is "recovering after testing positive for the coronavirus." Saints and Pelicans Senior VP/Communications & Broadcasting Greg Bensel said Benson is "under daily medical care, and she continues to feel better each day." Bensel "didn't detail Benson's symptoms but said she had not been hospitalized and was 'doing well in her recovery' at her home in New Orleans." Bensel: "She's been participating in daily executive calls as well as NFL and NBA owner calls. She's been active" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 8/29).
INCONSISTENCY SPOTTED: In Colorado Springs, Paul Klee noted on the same day the Broncos announced that Empower Field at Mile High "will be empty of fans in Week 1, a state with over 5.7 million people" had only 146 people "in the hospital with COVID-19." Klee: "Tell me again why no Broncos fans are allowed at the season opener." There "should be a limited number of fans" in the stands "no later than Week 3." Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is "receiving a paycheck," and people who work Broncos games "should be allowed the same" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 8/29).
