NHL
Now hockey faces the dilemma of a White House visit
Washington Capitals owner struggles as two of team’s stars say they won’t go
5:48 PMThe tradition in hockey is for the winner of the Stanley Cup to visit the White House to celebrate the title. But if two of your team’s best players have said they won’t go, what do you do?
This is an especially wrenching question in a sport often extolled as the ultimate team game. Is it truly all for one and one for all? This conundrum now confronts Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, whose team ended decades of frustration by capturing its first Stanley Cup last season.
Normally, winning the Cup touches off a long celebration capped by a White House visit. But the once-routine championship visits to the White House have become anything but routine since Donald Trump took office nearly two years ago.
Many athletes, citing what they see as the president’s divisive politics and racially charged rhetoric, have refused to go. Entire teams, including the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, have been disinvited. In June, the White House nixed a planned visit by the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles after a large number of players said they would not attend. Instead of honoring the champions, the White House hosted what it called “A Celebration of America.” The entire exercise is seen by many as a litmus test of how a team and its owner view the president.
None of this seems to be lost on Leonsis, who has the look of a man caught in the middle. Two of his team’s forwards, Devante Smith-Pelly, a Canadian and one of a handful of black players in the NHL, and Brett Connolly, who is also Canadian, said they won’t be attending.
“I don’t think it’s the right thing to do,” Connolly has told reporters. Asked about his intentions in June, Smith-Pelly was even more pointed. “The things that he spews are straight-up racist and sexist,” Canada’s Postmedia quoted Smith-Pelly as saying.
At the same time, news reports have suggested that most Capitals players would be willing to go to the White House if the team were invited.
The competing opinions of his players have left Leonsis ducking for cover. “What I have said is, we’re in Washington, D.C., and the players and the coaching staff have to decide. I’m not going to influence, and if we go to the White House, I will go to the White House,” he told The Washington Post this week. “But they haven’t made it to that conversation and a vote yet — and appropriately so. It’s like, why have to address that and get deep into that discussion when we’re putting up the banner? I’m sure at some point, as the season gets started, there’ll be a team meeting and they’ll talk about it and come out and tell us what to do.”
So far, the Capitals have yet to be officially invited to the White House. Their biggest star, Alex Ovechkin, is Russian, and the president has made a point of trying for more friendly relations with the Putin government. Could that mean a warm welcome at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., even if a couple of stars elect not to attend?
HBCU Football
Severe head injury hospitalizes Tennessee State football player
Linebacker Christion Abercrombie remains in critical condition after suffering injury Sept. 29
3:31 PMIt was a routine play.
Even hours after the game, upon further review of the play that sent Tennessee State middle linebacker Christion Abercrombie out of the matchup against Vanderbilt University on Sept. 29, coaches determined there was nothing foul about the hit that took place shortly before halftime.
“It was just a football play,” TSU coach Rod Reed said Sunday morning on a radio show, according to The Tennessean. “He was taking on a block and it wasn’t anything malicious or dirty or anything like that. Just an unfortunate situation.”
Yet, after the play, Abercrombie made his way to the sidelines and complained to trainers about a headache. While being assisted to the locker room, Abercrombie collapsed. Medics took over to help him, and Abercrombie was soon rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery for the head injury suffered during the play.
Christion Abercrombie played linebacker for the University of Illinois walks before transferring to Tennessee State.
Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire
Abercrombie remained in critical condition Wednesday but is said to be showing signs of improvement daily, according to his uncle, Kevin Richardson.
“It’s been a hard time, but we’re going to get through it,” Richardson told The Tennessean. “God is here with us and Christion. He knows it, and he’s going to be just fine. He is improving daily, and we’re looking forward to seeing more from him.”
Since Sept. 29, the Tennessee State community has rallied around Abercrombie. On Tuesday, hundreds of supporters gathered at a vigil organized by student leaders to pray for him. There, TSU president Glenda Glover also added information about Abercrombie’s improving condition.
“First [Abercrombie] made it through the surgery,” Glover said, according to The Tennessean. “And then he made it through Saturday night. Then he made it through the 24 hours. And then through 48 hours. So as each day [goes by] he continues to show just small signs of improvement. He’s fighting. Christion is a fighter and each day when we see him raise his hand or do any little thing that shows a sign of improvement, we’re grateful.”
A second prayer vigil has already been scheduled for Monday at Abercrombie’s alma mater, Westlake High School, in his native Atlanta. A GoFundMe page has also been set up for the injured player with a goal of $250,000. As of Wednesday afternoon, the account had raised $34,212.
Before transferring to Tennessee State his sophomore year, Abercrombie played in 11 games and made 11 tackles as a redshirt freshman at the University of Illinois in 2017. This season, Abercrombie had established himself as the second-leading tackler on the Tigers’ roster.
NBA
Knicks sign another HBCU player, Morgan State’s Phillip Carr
But Morehouse’s Tyrius Walker was waived to make room on roster
10:29 AMThese days the New York Knicks are doing things differently in the front office, and it’s showing in how they are building the team. They signed former Morgan State star Phillip Carr to a deal, showing once again they can recognize NBA talent from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
The Brooklyn, New York, native was a standout playing at Morgan, averaging nearly a double-double in his career besides being the team’s best defensive player.
All I ever needed was a chance and I’m thankful for this one. Thank you to the @nyknicks And @wcknicks Organization for believing in me. It’s up to me how far I go from here. #formotivationalpurposesonly #FMPO pic.twitter.com/OOp7Zb79C8
— Phil Carr (@PhilippeChow_) October 2, 2018
Earlier in the summer, Carr landed a workout from the Washington Wizards along with his former teammate Tiwian Kendley, but only Kendley was chosen to play for their summer league team and eventually was signed to a deal.
Carr continued to train and look at other opportunities, such as playing overseas, before another chance at the NBA opened up.
Last month the Knicks contacted Carr for workouts, and after a couple of weeks the team saw what they needed to make an offer.
“First of all, it’s just an honor to play for the New York Knicks,” said Carr. “To be from New York and play for New York is crazy.”
The Knicks signed the undrafted rookie to a deal that will most likely move him to the team’s G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, as the regular season is right around the corner.
“Even them considering me just to be on the team affiliate is crazy to think about,” said Carr.
In the same day, the Knicks waived another former HBCU player, Morehouse guard Tyrius Walker, who signed to the Knicks in July. That move made room for Carr.
The Knicks have shown love to HBCU players in the past, and Carr now has the chance to become the next standout HBCU player whose game translated to the next level.
Marvin Webster, for example, played with the Knicks from 1979-84, and like Carr he played at Morgan State. Webster also helped Morgan State win an NCAA Division II national championship along with a national Player of the Year award. Charles Oakley played 10 years with the Knicks and played college ball at Virginia Union University.
More recently, Norfolk State alum Kyle O’Quinn played for the Knicks from 2015-17 and also like Carr was a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Going into the season, the Knicks have one of the NBA’s most diverse front offices. They have six African-Americans in leadership positions, including president Steve Mills, general manager Scott Perry and head coach David Fizdale.
WNBA
WNBA president Lisa Borders leaves post to become president and CEO of Time’s Up
Borders will continue to lead the charge for equality and justice for working women
1:55 PMWNBA president Lisa Borders is stepping down from her current post to become the first president and CEO of Time’s Up.
Borders’ decision to step down as WNBA president comes after three seasons of continuous growth in the league. Since announcing Borders as its new president in 2016, the WNBA has seen its highest regular-season attendance in years, and 2018 was the most watched season in four years. Borders helped to establish player recognition and engagement by livestreaming games on social media platforms such as Twitter, and, for the first time, the popular NBA Live 18 video game included a full roster of WNBA players and teams, according to a press release.
Deputy commissioner Mark Tatum will step in on an interim basis to oversee WNBA operations as the league searches for a new president.
“It has been an honor and my absolute privilege leading the WNBA and being part of what it stands for,” Borders said in a statement. “I want to thank [NBA commissioner] Adam [Silver] for giving me the opportunity and support to help grow this league. I am most proud of the W players for their amazing talents on the court and their dedication to making an impact in their communities. I look forward to continuing my support for the W in my new role with Time’s Up. I will always be the W’s biggest advocate and fan.”
Before joining the WNBA, Borders was vice president of global community affairs at The Coca-Cola Co. and managed and maintained relationships in Mayor Shirley Franklin’s administration during her time as vice mayor of Atlanta. Borders continues to serve on the advisory board of the Association of National Advertisers’ #SeeHer initiative, which was created to eliminate bias against all women from advertising and media. The campaign seeks to increase the accurate portrayals of women and girls in U.S. advertising and media by 20 percent by 2020.
Borders’ new role will allow her to continue the fight for the equality of working women on an even larger platform.
The Time’s Up organization, created in January by women in the entertainment industry to address systemic inequality, sexual assault and harassment in the workplace, has gained traction from celebrity supporters and has raised more than $20 million for its legal defense fund. Since February, more than 20,000 donors and 200 lawyers have volunteered their services to support the movement. And now, with Borders leading the efforts to ensure equality for women in the workplace, the organization is establishing its longevity and proving its dedication to the cause.
“The pursuit of safe, dignified and equal treatment in the workplace as a solution to the abuse of power is a mission that can be fulfilled. With Lisa’s skills and leadership, Time’s Up is now in the best position to achieve what we all started — to create a more positive future for workplace culture and a more powerful network for working women of all kinds,” said television producer and Time’s Up seed funder Shonda Rhimes.