Two days before the polls open in the US for the most crucial election battle in decades, the NBA is exorcising evil, starring the usual suspects. The grumpy owners of several professional teams support Trump, but the sleepless LeBron James took them by storm with a video tsunami, not caring about lost souls in his popularity (160 million followers): “What exactly are we talking about? When we talk about the future of our children, the choice is clear. VOTE FOR KAMALA HARIS!’
In the early hours of Saturday, Trump launched a racist attack against Giannis Antetokounmpo, even from the Greek superstar’s place of work, the Fiserv Forum of Milwaukee: “The Greek you have is really very good. But tell me, who has more Greek in you, him or me? I think we are the same”!
Giannis’ answer 24 hours later was disappointing, but at the same time he reflected the fear that Trump and his supporters have spread around him: “I came to America to play basketball. I keep politics to myself and my family. I wish both candidates the best of luck.” Giannis Antetokounmpo, who pioneered the movement Black Lives Matterof course he has no right to vote. Wisconsin, where Milwaukee is located, is one of the 7 bipartisan states that will decide the outcome.
“Sad and Hurt”
One who never minced his words is the flamboyant Gregg Popovich, who is occasionally suggested by neutral observers even as a Democratic vice-presidential candidate. When reporters opened up to political discussion, the coach of the San Antonio Spurs (who reside in deeply conservative Texas) appeared as though he had been prepared for some time and responded with a 13-minute tirade.
“Trump is a sad and damaged subject,” Popovich said. “A petty person who tries to bring others down to his level in order to feel inferior. I wonder why educated college kids are voting for him. He seems powerful to them, but he is the biggest whiner ever born on the planet. Behind the illusions lies a threat. I am more concerned about those who choose the season. Trump is a classic example of a fifth grade bully. Would you like your children to behave in this way?’
Steve Kerr, owner of four NBA titles on the bench of the Golden State Warriors, spoke at the recent Democratic convention conveying the blessings of Steph Curry. “Vice President Harris will win,” he concluded in his speech. “As Steph says, ‘goodnight, goodnight!'” Kerr was idolized by Harris herself, who hails from Oakland and is a self-proclaimed Warriors fan.
Longtime teammates on the US national teams, Popovich and Kerr – both white – are neither minorities nor typical Democratic voters. Popovich studied at the US Air Force Academy (and later coached its basketball team for six years), while Kerr is the son of an American ambassador, who was actually assassinated by jihadists in 1984 in Beirut.
LeBron James publicly defended gymnast Simone Biles when she was attacked online by Donald Trump in the days leading up to the Olympics. He has previously called Trump a “bum” and, like Curry, refused to visit him with his teammates at the White House.
LeBron pioneered the More than a Vote foundation, which passionately defends women’s right to self-determination. However, More than a Vote’s posts avoid placing themselves in the electoral dilemma. Trump’s chosen justices undermined the Roe v Wade law that legalized abortion in 1973. US women vote for Kamala Harris by close to 60%, but white men prefer Trump.
“The Definition of Fascism”
Magic Johnson chairs the Athletes for Kamala Harris movement alongside Kerr, Chris Paul, the WNBA’s Candace Parker and Dawn Staley and Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers. Rivers called Trump’s recent, racially-charged rally in New York (hosted by Knicks owner James Dolan) “horrific.” “He messed with black people, with women, with Latinos, with Puerto Ricans, with everybody,” Rivers said. “Oh my god, what was that?” Giannis Antetokounmpo, who spearheaded the Black Lives Matter movement, has not been nominated for tomorrow’s election, where he naturally does not have the right to vote. Wisconsin, where Milwaukee is located, is one of seven swing states that will decide the outcome.
Mark Cuban, the eccentric billionaire who led the Dallas Mavericks to the top of the NBA, lashes out at Trump without mincing words: “His behavior is the definition of fascism. Who does a politician who talks about group deportations and threatens to use the army against the “internal enemy” remind you of?
However, the woman who bought the Mavericks from Cuban last January, Miriam Adelson, donated $92 million to the Republican campaign. The owners of many teams have bankrolled both parties, but Ms. Adelson’s gallantry was a kiss of hope for Mr. Trump.
Read also
US Election: When will we know if Harris or Trump won – What happens in case of a… tie
PREMIA informs us that the Mall was given to AADE cheaply – Not a word about Mitsotakis’s people on the Board
The golden business of Pitsilis, the rigged competition and the people of Kyriakos
James Van Der Beek: Battling colon cancer – Dawson’s Creek star’s message
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘
fbq(‘init’, ‘726515947549353’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
#Election #Basketball #Stands #Trump #NBA #Backing #Harris
