Weekly Replay 06.08

NFL Players Demand Change – 

Last week several Black NFL players came together and released a video in which they asked the NFL when they will be heard, “What will it take…for one of us to be murdered by police brutality?”  They made the NFL and all of its fans check themselves when they posed the question, “What if George Floyd was me?”  They each take turns passionately stating I AM George Floyd along with the names of other black people who have been killed by police officers or white neighbors assuming they were armed criminals.

The video ends with power as the players say they will not be silenced and demand that the NFL:

  1. Condemns racism and the systemic oppression of black people
  2. Admits that it was wrong in silencing our players from peacefully protesting
  3. Expresses that it believes black lives matter 

Audible on Social Justice – 

The night following the players video, the NFL posted a video on Twitter of Commissioner Roger Goodell responding to the players and social justice.  He acknowledged racism and admitted that the League was wrong in the way it handled players’ protesting in the past.

“We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all players to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the National Football League, believe that black lives matter.

The leader of the most popular American sport said that he supported the players and would protest with them recognizing “without Black players there is no National Football League.”    

This is a big change from statements regarding protesting police brutality over the last few years.  After Colin Kaepernick started peacefully protesting by kneeling during the singing of the American National Anthem, the League implemented a policy in 2018 requiring all team and league personnel on the field to stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.

So does this mean that teams will no longer be fined for players kneeling?  Does Kaepernick get an apology?

Get Off the Bench –

Now it’s time for the owners to speak up.  The group of 32 have not said anything publicly since Goodell announced his commitment to help bring “much needed change” to the silencing, inequality and oppression of Black people.  Are the owners Team Black Live Matters?

NBA Goes to Disney – 

The NBA is planning to resume its season next month.  The plan is to let 22 of the 30 teams finish out the regular season.  This group includes the 16 teams that are in playoff position plus the six teams that are six games or fewer behind the eighth seed.  At the end of the regular season, if the No. 8 seed is only four or fewer games ahead of the No. 9 seed, those teams will play in a best of two tournament to determine the final 8 spot.  If not, the playoffs will be played as usual.

The season is scheduled to Re-Tip-Off on July 31.  All games and practices will be played at Walt Disney World Resort. Players would be housed there for the remainder of the season.

Get ready for the controversy.  The teams will not play an equal number of games this year.  It will vary between 71 – 75 games per team.  The Dallas Mavericks would have played the most total games (75) and the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers would have played the least (71).

NBA teams returning this season.

Eastern Conference

  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Boston Celtics
  • Miami Heat
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Orlando Magic
  • Washington Wizards

Western Conference

  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Utah Jazz
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Houston Rockets
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Phoenix Suns

Catch up on your team and get ready for the NBA’s return.

Game On,

Shavannia

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