Trump’s Comments Overshadow Sports, Von Miller’s Playful Mistake, Wade & Carmelo Moving
All sporting events this weekend were overshadowed by President Trump’s comments Friday night in Alabama where he criticized any player who kneels for the National Anthem. He said he wants fans to boycott and owners to respond by saying, “Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, he’s fired. He’s fired!” Trump’s comments caused an eruption this weekend, with many NFL players linking arms, kneeling or sitting during the anthem. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks went even further by choosing not to even take the field during the anthem. It wasn’t just NFL either, a high school football team in Seattle took a knee and singer Stevie Wonder sank to two knees at a music festival in New York. Â And, in a first in baseball, Bruce Maxwell, the Oakland A’s catcher took a knee.
Many fans expressed their disappointment in how the players are expressing their anger. One fan, Derek Zumbahlem, told CNN, “(It’s a) show of disrespect, not only for those who have fought and died for our country but for those serving,”
Trump didn’t just upset the football world, he took on one of the most popular basketball players in the world right now, Steph Curry. In response to Curry’s deliberations on whether or not to attend a White House ceremony celebrating their championship win, Trump rescinded the invite and caused a firestorm of players to respond including LeBron James who said, “U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going! So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!”
In other NFL news, one particular game talked about this weekend was the controversial “unsportsmanlike” call against Denver Broncos’ Von Miller. With 8 minutes left to play, Von Miller playfully taunted his friend Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor on a big defensive play. Both players were laughing, but the official called a very costly “unsportsmanlike conduct” penalty on Von Miller costing the Broncos the game. Bills 26, Broncos 16.
For wrap-ups on all games, click here.
BASEKBALL
Dwayne Wade is on his way out of Chicago after the Bulls bought him out of his contract. Wade and LeBron are buddies, so many think the Cleveland Cavaliers are favorites to pick him up.
After months of speculation, Carmelo Anthony is finally leaving the NY Knicks and heading to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
