Sixers, Warriors, Spurs Up 2-1, Yankees Replace Smith’s Version of “God Bless America”
BASKETBALL
The Philadelphia 76ers blew away the Brooklyn Nets, thanks to a career-high 31 points from Ben Simmons. Joel Embiid sat out the game with a sore left knee, but with Simmons on fire and another 29 points from Tobias Harris, the Sixers take a 2-1 lead over the Nets. Philadelphia 131, Brooklyn 115
Next up, Keven Durant was on fire with 38 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to an easy win over the LA Clippers. Steph Curry added 21 points, and the Warriors take a 2-1 lead in the series. Golden State 132, LA 105
Rounding out the night, the Spurs’ Derrick White posted a career-high 36 points and DeMar DeRozan added 25 points (19 in the 3rd quarter), to help the team overcome a sloppy first half and emerge with a 2-1 lead over the Denver Nuggets. San Antonio 118, Denver 108
BASEBALL
According to the New York Daily News, the New York Yankees replaced their version of “God Bless America” this season with other versions of the song when it was revealed to them that Kate Smith, whose rendition they had been using for 18 years during the seventh-inning stretch, had recorded other songs with racist lyrics. Smith’s top hits in the 1930s were “That’s Why Darkies Were Born” and “Pickanniny Heaven”. A spokesman for the team said, “The Yankees have been aware of a recording that had been previously unknown to us and decided to immediately and carefully review this new information. The Yankees take social, racial and cultural insensitivities very seriously. And while no final conclusions have been made, we are erring on the side of sensitivity.â€
