Local former professional athletes weigh in on athlete activism
Social justice has been front and center in the sports world. Multiple games and practices across sports leagues, like the NBA, MLB, NFL and MLS, have been canceled or boycotted by players over the past two days, to focus on the ongoing conversation surrounding social justice. This comes days after the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Wisconsin.
There were questions as to whether the NBA would continue with its playoffs. Thursday morning, NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the players voted to continue with the season.
College of the Desert assistant basketball coach, Jerome "Pooh" Richardson, who played 10 seasons in the NBA, said he believes the players sent a powerful message and agrees with the season continuing.
“Just by them doing that, that one time, I think is significant enough. Then at this point, you’ve got to go on and play, continue to use your platform to inform people,” Richardson said.
It’s something he doesn’t think would’ve happened while he was playing. Richardson encourages players to educate themselves and speak up for injustice, not just in the Black community, but for all marginalized groups.
“When they speak about those issues, sometimes, it’ll take you to just sit down and think about, you know, why do they feel this way,” he said.
Sports bring people of all different backgrounds together, which is why Richardson believes it’s a great place to have these types of conversations.
“When you’re in that locker room, color don’t exist,” he said.
On the other hand, former NFL player Fred “The Hammer” Williamson believes sports should stay just that.
“Stay in your lane. Getting into politics is not an athlete's lane. I can’t imagine that every player believes that them not playing is going to help the situation at all,” Williamson said.
Both former players believe that higher salaries give current players more power to use their voices. Williamson doesn’t necessarily see it as a good thing.
“I didn’t care how much money I was making, I was proud to be a professional. That pride has left sports. Sports is now all about money. Money has changed the game and the attitude of the players, they’re untouchable. They can do what they want, and get away with it,” he said.
In his day, kneeling during the National Anthem was not acceptable. Williamson still does not condone it.
“I’m a former marine. You’re going to kneel in front of me? There is no way I’m not going to say anything to you or accept what you’re doing. If you want to kneel, go far away where I can’t see you,” he said.
