A Grip on Sports: Athletes once again take center stage by speaking out, though this time they do it by not playing

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Where were we? Oh, yes. In the midst of the craziest year punctuated by a defining day in sports history.

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• We weren’t around April 15, 1947, when Jackie Robinson first stepped on a major league baseball field. Nor were we particularly engaged 20 years later when Muhammad Ali refused induction into the Army. But we’ve been around to see Colin Kaepernick kneel and, now, to experience what happened in sports Wednesday.

Slowly, surely, change is coming to race relations in this nation. Don’t let anyone tell you athletes don’t play a role.

They do – and always have.

When Charles Barkley said years ago he wasn’t a role model, he was wrong. Just not in, maybe, a way even he would have expected.

What athletes do, what they say, how they act, all those things propel change. Before Robinson played for the Dodgers, and endured the slings and arrows of the ignorant, much of America had no problem ignoring Black people and their plight. After he and those who followed changed the national pastime, it was impossible to ignore them.

When Ali spoke out, giving up what he held most dear in an act of conscience, it once again made it harder to ignore the circumstances motivating his actions. The same can be said for Kaepernick, who saw something and sacrificed a career to force others to see it as well.

In 2020, race relations and social justice have forced their way into the public sphere in a way unseen since the 1960s, when Black athletes like Ali, Jim Brown and Bill Russell led the way for change in ways large and small. What happened yesterday is just the next generation of activists taking action in a way which Ali, Brown, Russell and many others would be proud.

A natural progression in thought and deed.

The thought process is simple. A death or shooting of an unarmed Black man happens, the nation explodes in revulsion and, yet, nothing changes. What can I do? For athletes, the choice is obvious.

Make a statement. Yesterday was one. Many, actually, statements from a group of people using their bully pulpit to attempt to initiate change. Professional sports almost ground to a stop in a time when every sports fan, starved for action in the time of the virus, was focused on the games. No NBA. No WNBA. MLS and baseball games postponed.

Take those away, and the focus changes. Enough to cause lasting change? No, not immediately. But awareness sparks evolution in public opinion. When Ali refused to enter the Army, he was reviled. When he died a few years back, he was revered. He didn’t change. Everyone else did.

Yesterday, the sports world, to a great degree, stood still. It didn’t happen because of a lack of power. Quite the contrary. It happened because the athletes within have realized their voices have electricity. They can spark transformation, feed it, encourage it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but their actions can supply an impetus to help this nation’s racial justice problems evolve.

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020 was a day in sports unlike any other. And, yet, a day with roots reaching back generations. As it should be.

• Theo Lawson gathered comments concerning yesterday’s events from many local sources, including Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth. He put them together in this story.

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WSU: Around the Pac-12, the biggest news came out of the conference offices in San Francisco, where many folks were either laid off or furloughed. Jon Wilner looked at the nuts and bolts of the cuts, while the Oregonian’s John Canzano assigns blame. Guess who earned it? Yep, Larry Scott. There have been some odd financial decisions made under Scott’s supervision. … In more financial news, UCLA has sued Under Armour for breach of contract. The Bruins want more than $200 million. … Washington picked up a solid commitment from a former USC signee. … An Oregon State player is dealing with a heart tumor. … One Colorado player is still waiting his turn to play. … Britain Covey has been playing at Utah for seemingly forever. … UCLA has lost a player to Baylor. … USC paused workouts in football and water polo due to positive coronavirus tests. … Should college athletes have a say in whether seasons continue or not? … In basketball news, Utah’s players should know each other well. … Finally, two guys from Arizona who were run out of college basketball for NCAA violations got together this week and supported each other. What a world we live in.

Gonzaga: No matter the circumstances, recruiting goes on. Earlier this week, the Zags officially offered a scholarship to one of the more sought-after bigs on the West Coast, Clackamas High’s Ben Gregg. Justin Reed has all the particulars in this story. … Laura Stockton Is ready to start her injury-delayed professional career. Connor Gilbert delves into her recent signing with a German team. … Justin also joined Larry Weir on Monday for a Press Box podcast.

EWU and Idaho: Though the Big Sky has postponed football until after the first of the year, others are moving forward. Larry spoke with Craig Haley about the upcoming start on the latest Press Box podcast.

Mariners: The M’s, with more Black players than any other major league team, were in the middle of yesterday’s postponements.

Seahawks: Will the boycotts and postponements eventually find their way to the NFL? Could be, according to Pete Carroll. It is the year of protests. He would also be fine with it, saying yesterday he’s pushed conversations around social justice issues. … The Hawks played a second mock game Wednesday and the defense seems to be better. More speed, more athleticism, according to Carroll. … The offensive line might even be better. … A couple of former Hawks may rejoin the roster.

Sounders: Seattle was scheduled to play the LA Galaxy last night, but that was one of five matches called off due to player protests.  

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• Much of what we covered today focused upon change. It’s inevitable. Ask Vin Scully. The former Dodger announcer is auctioning off his life’s collection of, well, things. Like the rest of us, he’s collected items over the years. Unlike the rest of us, other people are probably interested in owning some of them. I know I am. Until later …