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What Had Happened Was

What Had Happened Was: 7/21/16

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    Screen Shot 2016-07-21 at 9.35.59 AM
    By Ryan Cortes Rhiannon Walker

    GAME. BLOUSES.

    Because of so many recent shootings both by police officers and against police officers, a large number of WNBA players have recently taken to wearing shirts in support. At first, players donned a shirt that had the phrase “Change starts with us. Justice and accountability” on the front, while the back of the shirts featured the names of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, the Dallas Police Department shield and at the bottom “Black Lives Matter.” Despite mentioning both BLM and fallen Dallas police officers, undercover cops balked at the shirt and refused to work.

    So they compromised.

    The New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever have all since worn a different shirt, which, mind you, is just a plain black T-shirt made by Adidas (the official outfitter of the league), meant to show the same kind of support while not upsetting anybody. Even that didn’t work.

    The WNBA has now fined the Liberty, Mercury and Fever each $5,000, in addition to fining every player who wore the black shirts $500 each. “We are proud of WNBA players’ engagement and passionate advocacy for nonviolent solutions to difficult social issues but expect them to comply with the league’s uniform guidelines,” WNBA President Lisa Borders said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

    It’s interesting that the WNBA would choose this route at a time where NBA star after NBA star (Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, etc.) is using his platform in a bold, courageous way, calling for change. Interesting and inconsistent. Just ask Mistie Bass of the Phoenix Mercury.

    SOCIAL STATUS

    Last season, Jeremy Lin debuted new hairstyle after new hairstyle, finally revealing that he and a group of buddies were all growing their hair out together. Well, on Wednesday, the newly signed Brooklyn Nets guard revealed yet another new look. We’re, uh, just going to leave this right here.

    https://twitter.com/danecarbaugh/status/755808065715249152

    https://twitter.com/RealLifeKaz/status/755831068201250816

    You know what that means. It’s poll time!

    BLESSINGS!

    It’s here, you guys. Michelle Obama. Carpool karaoke.

    Yup.

    SOUL-SNATCHING

    FOR THE CULTURE

    After sending his Twitter followers into comedian/actress Leslie Jones’ mentions to troll her, Twitter has permanently banned Breitbart‘s Milo Yiannopoulos.

    A 16-year-old Compton, California, native just flew 8,000 miles in a historic two-week trip around the U.S.

    When she started in theater, a Bristol, Connecticut, student wrote that one of her teachers told her there is “no space for black theatre makers.” Now that student is selling out the Bristol Old Vic with plays she wrote for little black girls and said teacher is paying to seeing her perform.

    TOP THREE TWEETS

    Every morning we’ll hit you here with the best of what we saw on social media the previous night. Why? Why not?

    1. YOU SERIOUS, THOUGH?

    2. CABLE, NOT DIRECTV, SCOTT

    3. THE REALEST

    #ICYMI

    Wednesday marked 40 years since Hank Aaron crushed his 755th and final home run. Our own Rhiannon Walker remembers the historic day:

    It was a beautiful 73 degrees in Milwaukee on July 20, 1976. In their sixth season in the city, the Milwaukee Brewers played host to the California Angels for a night game. Only 10,134 spectators – 21 percent capacity – were in County Stadium that day to witness designated hitter Hank Aaron’s 755th and final home run, a record that stood for 31 years. Hammerin’ Hank was 42 when he entered his 23rd and final season in the majors. Going into that game, the future Hall of Famer was batting .246 and had only nine home runs.

    PICTURE PERFECT

    Ryan Cortes is a staff writer for The Undefeated. Lemon pepper his wings.

    Rhiannon Walker is an associate editor at The Undefeated. She is a drinker of Sassy Cow Creamery chocolate milk, an owner of an extensive Disney VHS collection, and she might have a heart attack if Frank Ocean doesn't drop his second album.

    This Story Tagged: What Had Happened Was Jeremy Lin WNBA Michelle Obama