By William Hathaway
The sports world shut down last week, as the NBA, WNBA and even the NHL postponed games due to the shooting of 25-year-old Black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who was left paralyzed by a White cop in a police shooting. The call for social justice also led to postponements in Major League Baseball.
After returning to the court, the Milwaukee Bucks, who started the protest that shut down sports, quickly finished off the Orlando Magic. However, they would go on to lose Game 1 of their series with the Miami Heat 115-110.
While basketball, hockey, and baseball have resumed, much of the remaining sports world is still on pause due to COVID-19. However, there was a college football played on TV. Austin Peay defeated Central Arkansas 24-17, on a day that saw no major conferences take to the field due to pandemic concerns.
Despite Wimbledon being scrapped (they had pandemic insurance), the U.S. Open is being played, for the first time with no fans in attendance. While Coco Gauff took a tough loss against Anastasija Sevastova, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the women’s draw, men’s favorite Novak Djokovic took an easy win over Damir Dzumhur, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1. Women’s favorite and former U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka made a social justice statement by wearing a Breonna Taylor mask.
In NFL news, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach are on the verge of signing six-year contract extensions to remain with the defending Super Bowl champions. Also, in stunning news, the Jacksonville Jaguars have released star running back Leonard Fournette.
Finally, former Georgetown University head basketball coach John Thompson passed away on Aug. 31 at the age of 78. Thompson, who was the first African American head coach to win an NCAA title, mentored the likes of Hall of Famers like Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, and Allen Iverson. This news came two days after former NBA All-Star Cliff “Uncle Cliffy” Robinson died at the age of 53.
