The rumblings of the NBA this time overtook Twitter and Instagram. Almost everywhere in the United States, since the death of George Floyd, professional basketball players have joined the demonstrators. In the streets of Oakland, triple NBA champions Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors) chanted the name of the victim of police violence in Minneapolis. Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics) drove a fifteen hour drive to Atlanta, the historic city of racial segregation, to be part of the procession. By his side: Malcolm Brogdon (Indiana Pacers) or Justin Anderson (Brooklyn Nets).
“Beside the plaque”
Actions relayed and supported in the community. “The biggest impact Jaylen will have [Brown], as strong as it is in basketball, will not be on a field “, swears Brad Stevens, the Celtics’ coach. At the San Antonio Spurs, the highly respected coach Gregg Popovich, a claimed slayer of Donald Trump, once again attacked the head of state, qualified as“Disturbed idiot”. If we put aside the New York Knicks, whose owner James Dolan (Trump support) felt that they were not “No more qualified than anyone else to give [leur] opinion on social issues “, the franchises took up position as soon as the affair broke out, under the watchful eye of the NBA, which did not fail to react via a note from the boss, Adam Silver, to the employees of the league.
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Among the major federations that make up the American sports landscape, the NBA is indeed considered to be the most progressive and the most ahead in the fight against racial discrimination: from Martin Luther King Day, erected as the flagship day of the season, to the creation of the “NBA Voices” platform. Ditto when to crack down. In 2014, Adam Silver banished owner Donald Sterling for life for racist comments, forcing him to sell his Los Angeles Clippers franchise. Seeing Michael Jordan – criticized in the past for his lack of commitment – today donating $ 100 million (over ten years) to anti-racist associations, is indicative of the shock wave following the death of Floyd.
More surprising: when you look at this little game of reactions, the “Grande Ligue” was beaten by the NFL (American football), usually not very quick to react. Especially since his disastrous handling of the Colin Kaepernick case, this ex-San Francisco 49ers player who put a knee on the ground during the American anthem before a meeting in 2016, in protest against racist police violence. Insulted by Trump, banished from the league, his career still tarnishes four years later the new image that the NFL wishes to give itself. Even if it has recently implemented a policy, the “Rooney Rule”, to promote the access of candidates from visible minorities to coaching positions.
NFL boss Roger Goodell says much remains to be done “Both at country and league level”. Especially since, behind the willingly peaceful message, harmony cracks fairly quickly, as shown by the controversy around the words of Vic Fangio, coach of the Denver Broncos, on Tuesday: “I don’t see racism in the NFL at all. I do not see discrimination. We live in a superb atmosphere ”, he dared during a videoconference. Before adding: “If society reflected what an NFL team is, it would be great.” Immediate outcry, and back pedaling the next day: “After thinking about my comments yesterday and listening to the players this morning, I realize that what I said about racism and discrimination in the NFL was not correct.” A few days later, New Orleans Saints star player Drew Brees recognized “To be beside the plate”, after declaring that he would not “Never agree with anyone who does not respect the flag [américain]».
Last to appear, Wednesday, nine days after the death of George Floyd, MLB (baseball) has angered several players and fans, who criticize the lack of reaction of an organization which claims to be at the forefront of these fights. Whereas since the 1980s, the proportion of black players has gone from 19% to 8%. Some observers did not fail to point out the forgetfulness of the expressions “police violence” and “Black Lives Matter” in the MLB press release. Same shyness on the side of the NHL (hockey) or the Soccer Federation (MLS), which contented itself with a statement of four words: “United against racism.”
“The case of too much”
Beyond the United States, the mobilization of figures from the world of sport is gradually spreading to other disciplines and other continents. One of the first to react was six-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton: “No one moves a finger in my sport, which is of course dominated by white people. I’m one of the only people of color there, I’m still alone ”, he wrote on Instagram on May 31. The same weekend in Germany, Mönchengladbach footballer Marcus Thuram, son of the 1998 French world champion Lilian Thuram, put his knees on the ground to celebrate a goal. He was imitated on Sunday by players from four Bundesliga teams. The day before, those from Bayern Munich and Dortmund had warmed up with T-shirts evoking the protest movement.
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In France, if speaking out remains rare, particularly on the issue of police violence, more and more athletes are expressing themselves. “It’s too much business”, rage tennis player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who admitted, on France Info, to be “Regularly confronted with racism”. In the Team, rugby player Mathieu Bastareaud also spoke on Sunday of the attacks on him when he was younger. “Honestly, what hurts and saddens the most are those who are close and close their eyes or pretend not to see, who do not react, because we really feel alone in the face of these kinds of attacks . ” He also talks about his report to the police: “I lived in a city and it was enough to leave it to be controlled. […] The reflex, when there were the cops, was to run. ”
Roman Métairie
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