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How the Boycott can affect Sports long term

Courtesy of CNN

Courtesy of CNN

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After the shooting of Jacob Blake the NBA decided to boycott 3 playoff games, which encouraged other sports to follow suit. Fox Sports NBA Analyst Chris Broussaud reported  his thoughts on the impact the boycott has had on the NBA. Broussaud states, “Things will get back to normal in this new normal, within the next few days.” However, the WNBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, MLB & MLS all stood with the NBA in boycotting their games or practices this past week. 

With football season starting within the next week it is unclear what the future holds for future games. Quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, Russell Wilson stated, “If games were rescheduled for this weekend, he and his teammates would be sitting out…” he said in an interview with NBC sports. Lead running back Saquon Barkley and  his teammate Sterling Shepaard for the New York Giants did a Zoom interview Thursday evening with ESPN regarding how NFL teams should go about boycotting future games. Barkley stated, “I cant speak on behalf of the whole league…. this is something we will have to discuss as a whole team.” Shepard stated, “That is something we will have to discuss as a team, and I will not speak on it until we decide.”

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(Matthew Swensen/New York Football Giants)(left to right Sterling Shepard & Saquon Barkley)

With the players on high alert from the racial injustice that has occurred throughout this year many players have had enough. Broussand said, “ I think one thing that has been achieved by the players is that the owners, corporate sponsors, networks and commissioners are on notice… We will Boycott.” If this is a call that needs to be made in the future the players do not have a problem pulling that card. There have been many upset fans that have complained and stated that if basketball goes away they don’t care, along with many other sports that have decided to do so, However,  that may not be the response for that of NFL. Broussand calls the NFL the “Grandfather of  all sports.”

As we all recall Colin Kaepernick was the first to bring racial injustice to the forefront back in 2016. In response to his kneeling during the national anthem former NFL champ Joe Theismann did an interview in 2017 with Fox Business  to give his take on what was going on.  He states, “The kneeling for the national anthem which many people are opposed such as myself, I think it is disrespectful to the men and women that have fought…”  Theismann also states that there is a “Catch-22”, when it comes to the owners of these teams stating, “If you kneel you don’t play.” Back in 2017 after the  Dallas Cowboys lost their game to the Green Bay Packers, owner Jerry Jones stated in an interview, “ That anyone who disrespects the flag won’t be allowed to play.” At the beginning of August Jones released a statement saying “Everyone knows where I stand when it comes to the flag, everyone also knows that I stand for backing my players.” as his first public comment as it relates to the George Floyd incident back in May. 

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The Dallas Cowboys, led by owner Jerry Jones, center, take a knee prior to the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (Matt York/Associated Press)

    The owners have a huge amount of power to help the players assist them in what is going on. In 2018, Robert Kraft who is the owner of the New England Patriots paid a visit to rapper Meek Mill while in prison. As many know black celebrities such as Jay-Z, Kevin Hart and many more advocated for 5 months to let Mill free. Michel Ruben and Kraft were able to get him out of prison in two weeks.         

    The power that these owners have over who to contact when issues such as Blake’s arise explains why the players are asking for help. Just as quickly as they got Mill out of jail the same way the officer in Blake’s case could be arrested. What is truly stopping these owners from stepping up and standing with their players to help stop the racial injustice that is going on.  

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