This week has been the toughest week in my early career to write. Anyone who ever had a writing block knows that there is no direct remedy and knows that the cause has to eventually dwindle. This week I can point to the exact reason and cause that has blocked me from writing any article. The only thing on my mind, and the only thing that is on many people’s minds, is what happened Wednesday afternoon and what subsequently happened throughout the following days.
After the Jacob Blake shooting, our country looked to be in the continuous cycle of grieve, speak and then resume to normalcy. The Milwaulkee Bucks made a historical and loud statement when they refused to take the court for game five of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Orlando Magic. The players made it clear that the violence and cruelty in our justice system could not continue and we as a nation don’t deserve the game of basketball unless systemic change is implemented. The rest of the NBA followed suit and cancelled the full slate of Wednesday’s games, this followed with all the major sports across North America either cancelling or postponing games throughout the week.
While I think about the Milwaulkee Bucks and their action that will be forever remembered as it forced action and conversation, I think about those that aren’t able to speak out and weren’t able to take action. The Bucks and the NBA were able to speak for those that weren’t given the same opportunity, for those that weren’t given the same narrative. One doesn’t need to look far to remember how the NFL acted for players that spoke on valuable topics of conversation, and it goes beyond Colin Kaepernick.
We all know what happened with Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick initially sat as the national anthem was played because he could stand for a country he wasn’t proud of. After realizing that it was deemed too disrespectful for the flag, he took a knee, showing that he respected this country but wasn’t proud of the country. The protest was peaceful and made a point (clearly not big enough of a point) but the league didn’t care at the time. The 49ers parted ways with him in the off-season and the rest of the league refused to sign him (it became clear that the move was on purpose when teams started paying backup quarterbacks and quarterbacks that clearly weren’t as good as Kaepenick). Colin Kaepernick is still out of the league, a career cut short by a league that deemed him a “distraction”.
While the topic wasn’t as important (as a social issue), Eugene Monroe saw the same treatment. Eugene Monroe was a starting Offensive Tackle for the Baltimore Ravens and an established veteran in the NFL. Monroe became an activist for the legalization of marijuana and since his retirement, has been active and vocal about how the substance can help NFL players with anxiety, concussions, healing from injuries, and other benefits. The Baltimore Ravens tried to trade him when they heard of his involvement in cannabis and despite denying that they parted with Monroe over the issue, they released him days later.
Many know Michael Oher for the movie The Blindside, a story about his improbable path to the NFL, from homelessness to starting Left Tackle. What many don’t know is the career that followed for Oher. Michael Oher played for three teams in the course of his career and had his peaks and valleys as many players do. In the twilight of his career, he posted a picture on Instagram of the daily intake of painkillers he takes as a professional football player, the photo that showed numerous bottles has since been removed from his account. The Carolina Panthers released him a few days later.
The NBA has given a voice where for athletes where many have been silenced or non-coincidentally released from their teams after trying to bring to the conversation a controversial topic. The league has been able to provide a safe and effective manner for speaking out, one that has shown more action than months of peaceful protests on streets. The manner made it clear to the public that we need to start listening to narratives and voices that aren’t ours, we are forced to pay attention to sensitive topics. The NBA and the sports that canceled their games are the voice for those that have been silent.
