The NBA engenders an climate of open dialogue that’s made basketball players more willing to speak on social issues – and it’s more important now than everThe NFL and NBA have roughly the same racial profile with African Americans comprising 68 to 74% of their rosters. They have long been leagues dominated by athletes of color and should be places where essential social issues involving race are discussed. And yet when it comes to the actual expression of their players’ voices the two sports are worlds apart.While NFL players like Colin Kaepernick have spoken out about racial inequalities and police shootings in recent years, their voices are lonelier on those issues than in basketball, where stars feel emboldened to address the problems...
When teams such as the Warriors have depth throughout their roster, the chances of someone like Anthony Davis dragging his team to the Finals diminishI have very little hope for the upcoming Donald Trump presidency. I know, I’m really out on a limb with this one. Don’t worry, folks. The rest of this column won’t be nearly as controversial. A xenophobic, racist Batman vigilante figure chasing women around the Oval Office like a billionaire Benny Hill sounds particularly odious to me and about 45 million other people in this country.But one thing I do know about Donald Trump that could work out in our favor is that he is a sports fan. Sure, he’s the type of sports fan that...
This week’s roundup also features Barry Davies’ finest commentary moments, Juninho Permanbucano’s 75 free-kick goals and a scarcely believable squash rally1) England v Scotland is the oldest game in international football, older even than the tradition of embroidering poppies on to football shirts. Here’s Barry Davies talking us through the 1921 altercation, played at Hampden Park and won 3-0 by the home side. Seven years later, Scotland arrived at Wembley to field a curious, controversial team, whereupon a dazzlingly technical and imaginative performance devastated England to the tune of 5-1, making the Wembley Wizards immortal. But they were rivalled in 1967 when England, protecting an unbeaten run stretching back 19 games, were despatched 3-2 by a team inspired by the...
For those in a rush to bury the Warriors after Monday’s lopsided loss to the Spurs, it’s worth remembering how difficult it can be to integrate a new starCome with me, if you will, to a time not too long ago; a simpler, more civilized time before the NBA arms race went positively nuclear. 31 October 2014, to be exact. The Cleveland Cavaliers were playing the New York Knicks, not unlike this very year. Just like this year, the Cavs were heavily favored, and the Knicks were predicted to lay down and play dead because, well, they’re the Knicks. It was a festive atmosphere in Cleveland then, too. LeBron James was playing in his first game as a Cav since...
Will anyone stop the Warriors? Who will be named Most Valuable Player? Guardian writers give their takes on what’s coming up this seasonHow teams deal with the Warriors. Or how the Warriors deal with themselves. I’ll go with both. Seeing teams try to defend a lineup that has Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will be fascinating. As will seeing how the Warriors keep everyone happy in an offense that features Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. DG Continue reading...