Welcome to the Basketball Hangover.
Washington Mystics sat in solidarity as they protested the shooting of Jacob Blake on Wednesday.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images.)
As much as I would love to talk about basketball right now, it doesn’t feel appropriate. After the recent events that happened. Yes, I have the luxury of doing this because this is my own site and I can do whatever I want with it.
Even as the WNBA players admirably played basketball through all of this, they even know this isn’t “business as usual.” The message has been loud and clear for them since they started: stop killing black people. The murderers that killed Breonna Taylor are still roaming free. And we can go forever with this. George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Elijah McClain. It’s an endless list that was completely avoidable but because there are people who are incredibly evil and full of hatred, the list keeps adding innocent people.
Also, the WNBA doesn’t get enough credit for their activism. In 2016, the Minnesota Lynx players wore shirts that said Black Lives Matter in honor of black men killed by police, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Other teams like the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, and the Indiana Fever followed suit. The teams and players were initially fined by the league before they were rescinded as the players’ voices grew louder.
The Los Angeles Sparks were not on the court for the national anthem before Game 1 of the 2017 WNBA Finals while the Lynx locked arms with each other.
Lynx locked arms. Sparks are not on the court for the national anthem. #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/YWGVROk4ly
— 𝘙𝘦𝘺-𝘙𝘦𝘺 🤞🏾✌🏾 (@TheNoLookPass) September 24, 2017
We all know the WNBA has dedicated their season to the unjustly-killed Breonna Taylor. Then before the games were suspended on Wednesday, the Washington Mystics came into the arena with shirts that had seven bullet holes to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake, who was shot seven times in the back by police.
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 26, 2020
And we all know the story of Maya Moore, one of the greatest basketball players ever. She is currently sitting out her second season to keep pushing criminal justice reform. Moore wanted to overturn the conviction of Jonathan Irons, who was wrongfully serving a 50-year sentence. In July, Irons was a free man.
So what we’re saying is that while the NBA is applauded for their walkout and their push for change (and they rightfully deserve it), the WNBA has been in the forefront for a long time now. And they will continue to fight for the justice these people deserve.
Another reason it feels so strange to talk about basketball? Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther himself, has died at the age of 43 due to colon cancer. Boseman is an icon, a hero, and legend to Black America. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 yet he kept making movies during that time. And it’s not lost on me that the actor of 42 (he played Jackie Robinson) died on the day Major League Baseball had Jackie Robinson Day.
And Boseman was in attendance during 2018 All-Star Weekend. He helped Victor Oladipo during the dunk contest.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
We lost a true superhero on Friday. Rest in peace, Chadwick Boseman. Your legend will live forever.
Wakanda Forever.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.)
If you must have your basketball scores and play, here they are. But remember that these players all played with a heavy heart. Have some empathy.
Double U Scoreboard
MIN 88 (10-4) v ATL 79 (3-12)
LA 80 (11-3) v CON 76 (6-9)
WAS 72 (4-10) v PHX 94 (8-7)
Watch This Play
Chelsea Grey fools the defenders and goes to the hoop untouched.
.@cgray209 gets fancy with the handles 😎
The @LASparks lead the @ConnecticutSun 79-74 with 1:12 left in Q4!
📺 @CBSSportsNet | #BradentonArea pic.twitter.com/WUcCXCwaNN
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 29, 2020
Everyone, please take care of yourselves.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.