Anthem singer kneels during her performance at Heat game
New York Post
MIAMI — A woman performing the national anthem before an NBA preseason game in Miami on Friday night did so while kneeling at midcourt, and opening her jacket to show a shirt with the phrase “Black Lives Matter.”
The singer was identified by the Heat as Denasia Lawrence. It was unclear if she remained in the arena after the performance, and messages left for her were not immediately returned.
Heat players and coaches stood side-by-side for the anthem, all with their arms linked as has been their custom during the preseason. Many had their heads down as Lawrence sang, and the team released a statement saying it had no advance knowledge that she planned to kneel.
“We felt as a basketball team that we would do something united, so that was our focus,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Throughout all of this, I think the most important thing that has come out is the very poignant, thoughtful dialogue. We’ve had great dialogue within our walls here and hopefully this will lead to action.”
The anthem issue has been a major topic in the sports world in recent months, starting with the decision by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to not stand for its playing.
Kaepernick cited racial injustice and police brutality among the reasons for his protest, and athletes from many sports — and many levels, from youth all the way to professional — have followed his lead in various ways.
“All I can say is what we’ve seen in multiple preseason games so far is our players standing for the national anthem,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in New York earlier Friday, at a news conference following the league’s board of governors meetings. “It would be my hope that they would continue to stand for the national anthem. I think that is the appropriate thing to do.”
The NBA has a rule calling for players and coaches to stand during the anthem.
Heat guard Wayne Ellington often speaks about the need to curb gun violence, after his father was shot and killed two years ago. He had his eyes closed for most of the anthem Friday, as per his own custom, though was aware of Lawrence’s actions.
“At the end of the day, to each his own,” Ellington said. “If she feels like that’s the way she wants to stand for it, then more power to her.”
Making a statement in the manner that Lawrence did Friday is rare, but not unheard of in recent weeks.
When the Sacramento Kings played their first home preseason game earlier this month, anthem singer Leah Tysse dropped to one knee as she finished singing the song.
Tysse is white. Lawrence is black.
“I love and honor my country as deeply as anyone yet it is my responsibility as an American to speak up against injustice as it affects my fellow Americans,” Tysse wrote on Facebook. “I have sung the anthem before but this time taking a knee felt like the most patriotic thing I could do. I cannot idly stand by as black people are unlawfully profiled, harassed and killed by our law enforcement over and over and without a drop of accountability.”
(Stop and think about this for a moment. The person hired to sing the Anthem to show respect for America has to make a gesture of disrespect by kneeling. If you truly feel that way then why are you singing. It is not a paid gig. It is an honor. A way to honor America. So she decides to shit on it.
Anybody that spends a dollar on the NBA or the NFL is shitting on America. At least until they stop this in its tracks. Which they won't. They believe in it. They encourage it. This is Obama's legacy. The racial healing. The respect for our country and the people who have sacrificed their lives that are represented by our flag.
Imagine that. The anthem singer shitting on the anthem while she is singing it. I have to confess I just can't believe it.)
8 comments:
The NBA has been weird ever since they made Larry O'Brien commissioner.
I haven't watched any brotha dominated sport for decades. And the earth keeps spinning on its axis. Really.
As Long as she's down there she should do a tribute to Al Jolson's Mammy.
The answer is to keep shunning the sport and the people who watch it. I've done this for years. Starve the beast of dollars.
Its easy to ignore the NBA, 82 meaningless games. Then they play for another two months in the playoffs.
And while its different in person, on TV it can almost hypnotic - dribble down court, shoot, dribble down court, shoot, dribble down court, shoot. And now the GS warriors have turned it into a 3 point shooting contest. It makes me yearn for the days when the NY Knicks and Detroit Piston would send crybaby Scottie Pippen to floor.
And 30 teams all playing the same way, its hard to keep straight who is who.
I really stopped caring when MJ, the mailman, Barkley, and all those guy retired.
I was wondering why the NBA players haven't joined the kneel during the Anthem nonsense, then I remember that NBA players are a SD above Football players in IQ.
Did you realize there's a correlation between height, hand-eye coordination and IQ? Well, there is. So, most NBA players are smart enough to figure out that if you want to support BLM, the smart way is to NOT DISRESPECT the National anthem.
Kaepernick is a bit of a dummy. Plus, (like Obama) he was raised by and left-wing oddball white family. No wonder he's an idiot. If the man had been raised by a normal African-American family he'd probably support BLM but otherwise be normal.
BTW, yesterday I was talking to a black co-worker and he mentioned his friend who wouldn't watch a film unless it had a black actor in it.
We both laughed about it, but I can kinda of understand. If you watch an NBA game with 8 random black dudes, its hard to care.
This brings up another problem. The college players are going direct to the NBA after 1-2 years in college. So, they get there and who are they? Just some random black dude.
Back in the old day, you knew who MJ or Barkley or Magic was before they went to the NBA. You had an emotional investment.
ampersand @ 5:02 Lol
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