Category: Politics and activism

Celtics Lab 208: Jaylen Brown wants a new Black Wall Street in Boston and more from his supermax presser

The Celtics star made use of signing his new contract to help shed light on efforts to address systemic racism in the city and hopes to found a new Black Wall Street in Boston, a sign of the depth of his commitment to the community.

Star Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown has officially signed his historic supermax contract extension, and did so with the sort of pomp such a moment deserves, with Olympian and civil rights icon John Carlos in attendance along with lead governor Wyc Grousbeck, team president Brad Stevens, and head coach Joe Mazzulla.

But the most interesting guests at the signing and press conference were Brown’s Steam students from his MIT bridge program, Black and brown youth from the greater Boston area. The Celtics star made use of signing his new contract to help shed light on efforts to address systemic racism in the city and hopes to found a new Black Wall Street in Boston, a sign of the depth of his commitment to the community.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast dove into Brown’s supermax extension contract presser, what we can learn from what was said and done at it, and what the extension means for Boston moving forward.

They also get into the news of Mike Gorman’s final season calling games and the rest of the trickle of news still percolating this late in the NBA offseason, so tune in and get up to speed on all things Celtics this last week of July.

The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by Fan Duel and Better Help.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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Blacklisted in his own country, former Boston Celtics forward Jonas Jerebko regrets Russian stint

The former Boston forward finds himself blacklisted by Sweden’s basketball association, forbidden to play for the Swedish National Team as a result of his decision.

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Bereft of NBA offers to play the sport in which he rose to prominence as a forward, Swedish basketball player and former Boston Celtics forward Jonas Jerebko accepted an offer to play for CSKA Moscow as the war between Russia and Ukraine kicked into high gear.

Now, the former Boston forward finds himself blacklisted by Sweden’s basketball association, forbidden to play for the Swedish national team.

“I hadn’t played basketball for almost a year and a half and I felt like I had no other offers,” explained the so-called Swedish Larry Bird via Reuters. “I got an offer from them (CSKA Moscow) and I took it. At that time, I was only thinking about basketball – it went completely wrong. I regret it now, and if I could go back in time, I would not have done it”

“I had tunnel vision in terms of trying to get back to the NBA, I had no other offers, so I took this one. At the same time, I don’t want to blame that – I’m to blame,” he clarified.

“Nobody else is to blame – it was my fault, you make your bed, you lie in it, as the saying goes. But we all make mistakes, we’re all human.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Kristaps Porzingis met up with displaced Ukrainian youth basketball players at Auerbach Center

The meeting was part of a week carved out by Sparks and his team to “take the pressure off the Ukrainian players and allow them to be kids and genuinely enjoy themselves” after long absences from home.

Ukrainian girls’ basketball team Club MOBI has been displaced from their native country, having spent the entirety of the war in that country in nearby Latvia training. Now in Massachusetts to play a number of teams in the US, the team had a chance to meet new Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis, who happens to hail from their adopted home of Latvia.

“It was great to meet these young (Ukrainian) players,” said Porzingis via Boston.com’s Trevor Hass after he had a chance to get to know them at the Auerbach Center after his introductory press conference earlier this week.

“What an incredible timing of events, the fact that they were displaced there for the past year, then to be able to see someone from there,” shared Celtics Senior Director of Youth Development Chris Sparks.

“They were just blown away with how it worked out,” they continued. “He was super great with them.”

The meeting was part of a week carved out by Sparks and his team to “take the pressure off the Ukrainian players and allow them to be kids and genuinely enjoy themselves” after long absences from home.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Former Boston Celtics Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala explain the origins of Juneteenth

Evan Turner and Andre Igodala on the origins and significance of Juneteenth, a Federal holiday in the U.S. commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

If you happen to be a fan of the Boston Celtics (or any team in the NBA) and are still not quite sure what Juneteenth is, what it celebrates, or how to commemorate it properly, former Celtics assistant coach Evan Turner and Golden State Warriors veteran Andre Iguodala put together a clip breaking it down for us on their “Point Forward” podcast.

The duo discusses the origins and significance of Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the U.S. commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. They highlight the historical background, initial celebrations in Texas, and the commercialization of Juneteenth in the 1920s and 1930s.

Iggy and ET also mention the importance of spreading awareness, celebrating, educating and agitating for change.

To learn more about Juneteenth for yourself, take a look at the clip embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Highlights from Grant Williams’ Playbook Initiative workshop

The Charlotte native was seen giving away Celtics tickets at a Playbook Initiative event put on by the Celtics and Project 351.

Reserve Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams may have a challenging process about to unfold for him in his restricted free agency, but that has not stopped him from keeping up with his favorite causes.

Most recently, the Charlotte native was seen giving away Celtics tickets at a Playbook Initiative event put on by the Celtics and Project 351 as he participated in a workshop with students, answering their questions at a community event earlier this spring at Boston’s practice facility. The students in attendance spoke about social issues that concerned them in the city of Boston and beyond, played a little rock, paper, scissors, and asked Williams questions on all sorts of topics.

To see the highlights of the event for yourself, be sure to check out the link embedded below.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Bill Russell’s stand against racism in Lexington, Kentucky

The Boston legend took a major risk by boycotting a game for how he and his fellow Black Celtics were being treated.

Believe it or not, there are still plenty of fans of the Boston Celtics who are not aware of the role the team and its brightest star Bill Russell played in the US civil rights movement. The folks at the CLNS Media “History and Legends” YouTube channel put together a video that delves into the remarkable moment when Russell took a stand against racism by withdrawing from an NBA match.

His actions inspired his African American teammates from the Celtics to join him, followed by the Black players of the opposing team, the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks. Frank Ramsey of Boston and Cliff Hagan from St. Louis, who were once all-American teammates at the University of Kentucky, received local adoration.

However, this experience was not shared by all their fellow Celtics and Hawks players, highlighting the racial divide.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear this important story for yourself.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics great Bill Russell investigated by FBI in 1960s for civil rights activism

The parallels with how the Bureau collects information on Black activists today is notable.

The history of the US civil rights movement cannot be told without the inclusion of Hall of Fame Boston Celtics big man Bill Russell, and it also can’t be told without bringing up the FBI. The Bureau was infamous for monitoring the activities of activists and organizers in that critical stretch of US history, a practice that has continued with the monitoring of Black Lives Matter and other organizations.

Now, the Boston Herald’s Joe Dwinell has revealed that Bill Russell was himself monitored by the FBI after a successful Freedom of Information Act request, a fact that should not surprise much given the history pointed to above.

But one jarring in the present nonetheless given Russell’s stature in the NBA community and as a fighter for social justice over the course of his life.

Boston’s Jaylen Brown recaps his, Malcolm Brogdon, and Grant Williams’ visit to White House

The trio made the trip to talk about criminal justice reform.

The Boston Celtics are something of an anomaly in the NBA. The team has not one but three vice presidents in the National Basketball Players’ Association, the league’s union. All three are activists for causes beyond the sport of basketball as well.

When the Celtics were in Washington D.C. to play the Washington Wizards, that trio, Jaylen Brown, Malcolm Brogdon and Grant Williams, had an opportunity to go to the White House to talk with Department of Justice representatives about criminal justice reform on Monday.

To explain what they said at that meeting, Brown fielded a number of questions after practice on Tuesday. He also addressed how he started getting involved on social justice issues with Brogdon after protesting together in Atlanta, Georgia, following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis-area police.

To hear what the former Cal player had to say about the trio’s meeting with the DOJ at the White House, check out the clip embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Jaylen Brown, Malcolm Brogdon to speak to Department of Justice about criminal justice reform

The Celtics stars have teamed up to use their platforms for the greater good in the past as well.

Given the Boston Celtics have three National Basketball Players’ Association vice presidents on their roster, it probably should not be surprising to learn several Celtics players are slated to speak to the government next Monday.

More specifically, star Celtics forward Jaylen Brown and reserve point guard Malcolm Brogdon will be part of a group speaking to the Department of Justice about criminal justice reform according to recent reporting from the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn. This comes on the heels of Brogdon addressing the United Nations General Assembly about worldwide access to clean water, a cause he has a foundation dedicated to providing water in East Africa.

Brown, of course, is also no stranger to using his platform to push for social change, and the pair have teamed in the past, such as when Brown drove from Boston to Atlanta to join Brogdon in marches against the police killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Malcolm Brogdon spoke to the United Nations on his off day this week

The Celtics veteran advocated for more access to clean water globally.

Most of us tend to kick back on our day off whether with a good book, a movie or even just a nap. Not reserve Boston Celtics point guard Malcolm Brogdon.

The man whose nickname is “the President” due to his Barack Obama-esque voice as much as his interest in fighting for the greater good off of the court spent his off day this week addressing the United Nations about the problem of growing water scarcity around the world. It is a rapidly worsening problem globally, and Brogdon helps fight for access to clean water through his charity work in East Africa.

NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin recently sat down with the Virginia alum to talk about that work with his Foundation and working with former New England Patriot Chris Long’s organization “The Waterboys” to similar ends, his address to the United Nations and more.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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