The Rush: Popovich, Mahomes, Jones and other sports stars call for unity
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich called out the White House for a lack of leadership, while the sports world has provided plenty of examples of unity and peaceful protesting: After taking spray paint away from two youths on Sunday, Jon Jones was back out yesterday helping local businesses. Patrick Mahomes had a simple message of coming together like a locker room does. The EPL club Liverpool posted a photo of the team kneeling with the caption ‘Unity is Strength.’ Trae Young pleaded for us all to come together at a rally in Oklahoma. Coaches like Dawn Staley, Frank Reich, John Calipari, and Gary Patterson voiced their support for change.
Video Transcript
FRANK REICH: I believe that we all have a personal responsibility to speak up and to act in ways that build each other up, not tear each other down.
- That was the Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich with a simple, but powerful message. And he wasn't the only one. spurs head Coach Gregg Popovich has always been a man of few words, and lately, most of them have been about justice and equality for all. So he didn't hold back any punches when speaking out about the current state of America.
He called out the lack of leadership from the White House, saying, we need a president to come out and say simply that black lives matter. Just say those three words. I'll do whatever I can do to help, because that's what leaders do. And the sports world is listening, leading the charge, and preaching unity, and using their platforms to raise awareness. Jon 'Bones' Jones is doing his part. After spending his night apprehending spray cans from two kids in Albuquerque--
Give me the spray can.
- Hey, look, I ain't doing nothing.
- Give me the spray can.
- I ain't doing nothing.
- That's not the way, man.
- Give me the spray can.
- I ain't doing nothing.
- Give me the spray can.
- Here fool.
- The next day, he was lending his muscle to local businesses.
- We're out here to help the community.
- Over on Twitter, Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes released a message, asking in the country to learn from injustice and become more like a locker room, where everyone comes together to accomplish a single goal. And across the pond, Liverpool showed just what it was talking about when they posted this picture with the caption unity is strength. In Norman, Oklahoma, Hawks guard Trae Young spoke at a rally.
TRAE YOUNG: I just think it's important that we all stick together, and we stand up for what's right. And it's not just going to take just me. It's not just going to take just you. It's all of us coming together and doing this as a collective unit.
- And it's not just players speaking out. Head coaches are following Pop's lead and doing their part in speaking out. South Carolina's women's basketball coach Dawn Staley pinned an essay to Players Tribune with actionable advice. "If you're upset, I say keep that anger. Let it feel you at the ballot box in November. Let it drive you towards registering to vote." We'll leave you today with other coaches who have some strong words.
FRANK REICH: It's not enough for a person who looks like me to say, I'm not racist. This kind of talk and thinking, it typically lends itself to a posture of neutrality, indifference, and passivity.
JOHN CALIPARI: It's wrong. It's unacceptable, and we have to do better. We have to demand better.
GARY PATTERSON: I challenge all coaches and leaders to use their platform to create change. We must try to make it possible for all our children to grow up with the possibility to achieve our dreams.
