Tag: George Floyd

‘I don’t have all the answers, but something does have to change,” says Boston’s Jayson Tatum on Uvalde, Texas school shooting

‘What happened yesterday in Texas was devastating,’ shared Tatum, commenting on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

For better or worse, in the modern NBA players are often looked to for commentary on issues that transcend basketball — some of them so grave that the sport hardly seems worthy of our attention in comparison.

And such an event transpired on Tuesday, with yet another massacre taking place at a school in Uvalde, Texas that left at least 18 children dead at the hands of an alleged shooter themselves hardly more than a child. After practice on Wednesday, star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum found himself being asked about the shooting, which happened almost two years to the day of the incident that took the life of George Floyd.

“(The killing of George Floyd) had a great impact on everyone,” explained Tatum, “especially at the time that it happened.”

Isaac, 24, had also gained attention in …

Isaac, 24, had also gained attention in the NBA bubble for the 2020 Playoffs. He was the only player refusing to kneel in a demonstration of solidarity after the murder of George Floyd. He even wrote a book titled “Why I Stand” to explain his decision. Appearing in a tour labeled as pro-Trump and encouraging extreme conspiracy theories can be considered part of the book promotion and marketing.

Ravens add numerous athletes in latest 7-round mock draft

The Ravens select numerous athletes in our latest 2022 seven-round mock draft

The 2022 NFL draft is less than one month away, meaning that the Baltimore Ravens will be able to add plenty of talented playmakers to their team. Baltimore currently has 10 draft picks in this month’s draft, including nine in the first four rounds.

The Ravens have plenty of needs to fill, even after signing players such as safety Marcus Williams, offensive lineman Morgan Moses and defensive lineman Michael Pierce. The draft will be key for the team round out the rest of their roster with rookies that can contribute at a high level both right away and in the future.

Below we look at a full seven-round mock draft for Baltimore.

More recently, in the aftermath of the …

More recently, in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder two summers ago, Irving bought Floyd’s family a house. Irving has been known to meet grieving families of fallen soldiers in the bowels of arenas before games, too. “Even when he’s ‘bad’ Kyrie, when he meets the family of a fallen soldier behind the scenes, in the underbelly of the arena, he is genuine and real and, like, hugs the mom,” said a league official who’s known Irving for years. “Right now, today, I believe he would take care of someone in that way.”

Celtics icon Kevin Garnett opens up on Floyd protests, Allen feud in new NYT interview

The Big Ticket had some surprising takes on both.

Legendary Boston Celtics big man Kevin Garnett recently sat down with the New York Times’ Sopan Deb for a wide-ranging interview covering everything from KG’s attempt to buy the franchise where he started his NBA career — the Minnesota Timberwolves — to the status quo of his longtime feud with former Celtics teammate Ray Allen after the latter left Boston to join the Miami Heat in free agency in 2012.

It also touches on The Big Ticket’s views on the activism that spread like wildfire after the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 that nearly put the brakes on the NBA’s post-pandemic hiatus restart.

You should read the interview in full, but here is a sampling of some of the more intriguing answers offered up by Garnett.

Sixers’ Doc Rivers calls for George Floyd bill to be passed

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers on why he supports the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Tuesday marks the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd, and in an effort to help with better training for police officers, the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition is working to help pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers has been openly pushing for equality and police reform, and he spoke out for it again on Tuesday.

“Today is the anniversary, it’s so strange that we call it an anniversary,” said Rivers. ”That sounds like something that you should celebrate. I don’t know if we should be celebrating the anniversary of the George Floyd incident and so this is about the George Floyd bill. Before I say something about it, this is not political. The George Floyd [bill] has nothing to do with if you’re Republican or Democrat.”

Rivers does not want the police to be abolished. He just wants officers to be better trained to deal with tough situations.

“I am the son of a police officer. I’m pro-police,” Rivers stated. “This has nothing to do with being anti-police. The George Floyd bill, in my opinion, is a bill that both sides want to pass. It’s a bill that one of the key points is about police training. We can train our police officers better. I think every police officer would want that. It’s a very positive thing. The fact that takes six months to be a police officer, and it takes about a year and a half to get your barber’s license tells you that we need more training.”

Racial tensions have spiked in America over the past year. Across the Black community, the Asian community, or the Jewish community, there has been a lot of hate. Rivers just wants to see it all end.

“Equality and justice, everybody should want that,” he continued. “It shouldn’t matter what side of the aisle you’re on. That’s what I struggle with. When you see one person being treated poorly or one race being treated poorly. We’ve been going in cycles in our country lately. First, it was the Blacks, then we started with the Chinese, then we went to the Jewish people right now. Can we just treat everybody the right way? I mean, how hard is that. I think everybody should want that.”

Equality and justice are something that the George Floyd bill can offer. Rivers just wants to see everybody treated the same whether one is a police officer or not.

“There are bad cops out there and it protects us against them,” he finished. “It’s just a really good bill. It’s a solid bill, it’s a fair bill, and I’m just hoping that every single person can call their senator. I’m a Democrat, I’ve called all my Republican friends, and I have a lot of them, to tell them that this is a bill that should be passed. It should be bipartisan. It should have nothing to do with what side of the aisle you’re on.”

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This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

Sixers’ Doc Rivers calls for George Floyd bill to be passed

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers on why he supports the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Tuesday marks the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd, and in an effort to help with better training for police officers, the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition is working to help pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers has been openly pushing for equality and police reform, and he spoke out for it again on Tuesday.

“Today is the anniversary, it’s so strange that we call it an anniversary,” said Rivers. ”That sounds like something that you should celebrate. I don’t know if we should be celebrating the anniversary of the George Floyd incident and so this is about the George Floyd bill. Before I say something about it, this is not political. The George Floyd (bill) has nothing to do with if you’re Republican or Democrat.”

Rivers does not want the police abolished. He just wants officers to be better trained to deal with tough situations.

“I am the son of a police officer. I’m pro-police,” Rivers stated. “This has nothing to do with being anti-police. The George Floyd bill, in my opinion, is a bill that both sides want to pass. It’s a bill that one of the key points is about police training. We can train our police officers better. I think every police officer would want that. It’s a very positive thing. The fact that it takes six months to be a police officer, and it takes about a year and a half to get your barber’s license tells you that we need more training.”

Racial tensions have spiked in America over the past year. The Black, Asian  and Jewish communities have been targets of a lot of hate. Rivers wants to see it all end.

“Equality and justice, everybody should want that,” he continued. “It shouldn’t matter what side of the aisle you’re on. That’s what I struggle with. When you see one person being treated poorly or one race being treated poorly. We’ve been going in cycles in our country lately. First, it was the Blacks, then we started with the Chinese, then we went to the Jewish people right now. Can we just treat everybody the right way? I mean, how hard is that. I think everybody should want that.”

Equality and justice are elements proponents say the George Floyd bill can offer. Rivers just wants to see everybody treated the same whether one is a police officer or not.

“There are bad cops out there, and it protects us against them,” he finished. “It’s just a really good bill. It’s a solid bill. It’s a fair bill, and I’m just hoping that every single person can call their senator. I’m a Democrat, I’ve called all my Republican friends, and I have a lot of them, to tell them that this is a bill that should be passed. It should be bipartisan. It should have nothing to do with what side of the aisle you’re on.”

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This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

Panthers great Steve Smith elaborates on his criticism of Brett Favre

Panthers great Steve Smith elaborates on his criticism of Brett Favre

Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith didn’t really have to explain himself following his objection to Brett Favre’s dull comments on the killing of George Floyd. But he had time this week, 29 minutes and 45 seconds, in fact.

In a newly-released bonus episode of his podcast, Cut To It featuring Steve Smith Sr., the franchise great expanded on last Thursday’s criticism of the Hall-of-Fame quarterback. Smith elaborated on why he called out Favre for his “out-of-pocket” commentary and, as an extra treat, addressed those who took to social media to, in turn, bash him for using the word “privilege.”

Favre, a day following the guilty conviction of ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, irresponsibly theorized Floyd’s death was accidental. Smith, who implored Favre to “STFU,” didn’t back down from his initial backlash on Tuesday, noting that while he still respects the player, he “knows nothing about being a Black man.”

(For the full audio of Smith’s response, click this link.)

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WATCH: Cedric Maxwell on George Floyd, growing up in Jim Crow south

Maxwell has plenty to say on a lot more than just Celtics basketball itself.

Most younger Boston Celtics fans think of CLNS podcast host and NBA broadcaster Cedric Maxwell as exactly that, a media figure. But Maxwell is also a champion alumnus of the Celtics whose prime was in an era that is both very different from and in some ways analogous regarding race relations in sports.

The former NBA Finals MVP recently made an appearance on the CLNS Media “Double M” podcast to talk about his experience growing up in the Jim Crow south, and how things have changed — and haven’t — in the league since those days. An outspoken champion for racial justice in his own right, Maxwell has plenty to say on a critical topic in a moment of unfortunately added relevance.

Watch the podcast embedded below to hear all the North Carolina native has to share on this vital topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbGykL5VzEM

It may not be a pleasant listen at times, but it’s an important one.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Danny Green, Doc Rivers give thoughts on the Derek Chauvin verdict

The Philadelphia 76ers give their thoughts on the Derek Chauvin conviction.

On Tuesday, the verdict for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was announced as he was found guilty of all three charges he was on trial for in the death of George Floyd in May of 2020. It was seen as a victory for the social justice movement over the summer after the events took place.

The Philadelphia 76ers involved themselves in that movement as Tobias Harris and Matisse Thybulle took their fight to the streets joining in protests and the Sixers organization made a number of commitments to help in the fight for racial equality in the country.

Once the verdict was announced, NBA players from across the league sounded off on the outcome. The Sixers spoke about the verdict as a group, according to veteran Danny Green.

“Doc (Rivers) has lived a good amount of it. He knows what it was like back then, and went through it and he said, which is sad, that if it happened back then, there probably wouldn’t even been a trial, which is crazy, but it’s a win,” Green said. “It’s a big one is huge. I think more so instead of people being excited about it, I think more people feel like, it’s about damn time type of situation.”

Rivers has been outspoken on racial injustices before as he has seen a lot of it in his life, unfortunately. He had some mixed feelings after hearing of the guilty verdict.

“My reaction is a little mixed,” Rivers stated. “The fact that we are celebrating a man who committed murder that he was going to jail, I thought about that, and I’m not so sure if we’ve come a long way, or if we have a long way to go. You can think of that either way, but the right thing happened, obviously, and so I was excited about that.”

It is rare to see a police officer convicted in this manner so the world still has a long way to go, but it is a step in the right direction.

“It’s a move in the right direction, we know we have a lot more to go and a lot of ways to improve on, on our country, but it’s a win,” Green added. “We’ll take it, and it’s a good start since it’s going in the right direction and get in progress, but it just goes to show you how much more we have to go to improve to be better, but it’s a good change.”

“Blacks have been dehumanized for a long time,” Rivers finished. “To see a man go to jail for killing a Black man should not be significant, but it is. I guess in that way, we’re coming a long way, but we still have a long way to go.”

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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