Los Angeles Lakers fully back up NFL regarding notion of player protests
As a result of President Donald Trump’s recent slew of controversial comments, the Lakers are teaming up with the rest of sports regarding the sticky subject matter.
The idea of sports and politics intersecting seems quirky. However, their connection has been established for more than a little while now. As a result, the Los Angeles Lakers have not held back in speaking up about the current issues society faces.
Just a few days back, President Donald Trump cursed at NFL players that have been peacefully protesting for the sake of matters like racial equality. During his rant, the man went insofar as to assert that NFL owners should fire such players.
Comments along those lines are bound to draw a plethora of scrutiny. Former Los Angeles shooting guard Kobe Bryant showed that he is no exception via a tweet he posted Saturday.
A #POTUS whose name alone creates division and anger. Whose words inspire dissension and hatred can't possibly "Make America Great Again"
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) September 23, 2017
While this tweet throws shade at America’s present leader, it is curious for one reason. Throughout his Presidential campaign, Trump’s marketing slogan was the abovementioned. Certainly, times like these demonstrate that more division has been produced than unity, though.
It is why players like Kobe have decided to express their respective opinions. Simply too much separation and hatred is in the air. It has caused some to wonder whether there is an end in sight.
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In terms of the latter remark, answering it is quite the challenge. For starters, though, addressing said challenge comes when absolute silence goes away.
Superstars Stephen Curry and LeBron James have abided by this in recent days as well. By courageously sharing their perspectives on the commander in chief, a domino effect has ensued.
On that note, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson unleashed his thoughts on the subject on Monday. As transcribed by Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, the former NBA point guard argued the following.
"What I’m disappointed at is the fact that these young men who are saying hey there’s problems in our community in urban America and nobody’s looking to address these issues and problems. That’s what Colin [Kaepernick] was not standing up for the national anthem for. Because he wanted the shootings in our community [to stop], he wanted better books and computers in our schools."
Johnson’s call to action is relevant to not only the L.A. Lakers family or the NBA but to everyone in the nation.
It is not to invalidate the significance of the first amendment. However, words only carry so much meaning when there are tangible problems. Violence and the lack of funds some schools are receiving merely scratch the surface.
Indubitably, other issues exist outside of those couple examples. With that in mind, it makes Kobe’s previously stated social media post stimulating.
The head honcho of a country should be using his words to cultivate positive change. Words of comfort and solace are needed in a world chock full of enough chaos. Added chaos is not what the doctor ordered.
Chaos does not equate to making America a better place. Given that the U.S. has been looked up to for generations, too, such comments not only make Trump look bad—they make America look the same way.
Bona fides examples have to be set in stone in an effort to inspire growth. At the time being, this is not happening and it sheds light on why athletes are acting in the fashions they are (regardless of whether such behavior appears to be controversial).
Shahan Ahmed of NBC Los Angeles further reflected on the hoopla revolving around this topic. In his article, Ahmed brings up what head coach Luke Walton thinks of the dilemma going on between politics and sports.
"Now, we’ll discuss as a team what, if any of our guys want to do, during the national anthem or anything like that. Individually, obviously, they’re allowed to think and say what they feel. It’s a sensitive subject, and I think it’s been great to see how much unity and how this has brought a lot of the sports world, at least, together in trying to make our country a better place."
In his analysis of the matter at hand, Walton alludes to something rather crucial: togetherness. Certain things (as crazy as it sounds) are much, much bigger than sports and demand ample consideration. This is one of those cases.
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That has always been a beautiful aspect about sports. Albeit competition on the playing confines will always be there, sports consistently brings people closer.
Right now, yes, there is great divide with respect to the national anthem protests. That debate could go on all day along.
On the other hand, most folks seem to concur with the notion that comments of such an appalling nature have no place in society. There are too many problems as it is and this does not help out whatsoever.
It is about high time larger scale problems begin to be attacked in lieu of people who are simply displaying their fundamental rights.
That is precisely why the sports world is joining forces. Granted the specific actions taken may spur dispute, it is fair to claim that they are being executed by virtue of the fact that not enough action is being taken in this day and age.
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Too much gunk is out there, and it is time for said gunk to be cleaned up.