'Pivotal moment': NASCAR's Confederate flag ban and athletes refusing to stick to sports
We *finally* got a fresh taste of live sports with golf's return, but we're still largely missing our favorite pastimes. That doesn't mean the news took a break. Plenty from this week for us to tackle in Good Sports, so let's dive in:
Finally gone
NASCAR banned the Confederate flag from all of its races and properties. It's about time.
Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver in NASCAR's Cup Series, called the ban a "huge, pivotal moment," and that fan reaction has been "more good than bad."
We'll soon find out, Dan Wolken says, what mattered more to the subsection of NASCAR fans who view this as a bad thing: was it the racing they liked, or the racism?
Why we fell in love with sports
As the return of team sports in on the horizon, we've been thinking about what it is about sports that made us fall in love with them in the first place.
- Mike Jones on how Doug Williams' legendary Super Bowl performance impacted his family forever.
- Tom Schad on his first "game story."
- Reader Bryce Waller on sports helping revive memories of his late brother.
The other must-read stories from last week:
- MORE THAN A VOTE: LeBron James and other athletes team up to form a voting rights organization to support African Americans.
- AUDIBLE: ‘We’ve got to do something’: NFL QBs drastically shift tone on racial justice after George Floyd’s death
- GOLF IS BACK! The PGA Tour returned with a safe and exciting tournament.
- SPECIAL DELIVERY: New York Yankees prospect T.J. Sikkema is spending his summer delivering groceries and food.
- LEFTY AT 50: Tour players share their favorite Phil Mickelson memories.
- NOT STICKING TO SPORTS: NBA All-Star Trae Young is more than OK losing fans for protesting racial inequality.
- MLB DRAFT: The shortened MLB draft began with Arizona State star Spencer Torkelson being selected No. 1 overall pick – and he's a perfect fit for the Tigers.
- CHRISTYN WILLIAMS: How the UConn women's basketball star's simple Black Lives Matter message went viral.
- AHMAUD ARBERY: Lions DB Justin Coleman on how his old friend wanted to "change the world."
- LONNIE WALKER IV: The Spurs player details how he used hairstyles as a 'cloaking device' to battle trauma of childhood sexual abuse.
- TEXAS ATHLETES: A group of UT athletes joined to ask for a series of changes that would radically alter UT’s racial landscape.
Videos of the week:
Steelers RB James Conner surprised his dad with a new truck, while Stephania Ergemlidze brought her basketball hoop to Black Lives Matter protests in Philadelphia to help alleviate tensions between protestors and the police.
The rest of the notable sports stories from the week that was:
- Mystics star becomes first female basketball player to sign with Converse since it's basketball relaunch.
- Michael Jordan speaks out against racial injustice.
- Manning. Bonds. Griffey. Ranking the best children of athletes.
- Reds' Joey Votto vows to wake up to his white privilege.
- Looking back at the most electrifying plays of Reggie Bush's USC career.
- Lamar Jackson took a scary tumble over a jet ski during a beach football game.
- Michael Irvin II is transferring out of Miami.
- Minnesota Twins owners pledge $25 million toward racial justice initiatives.
- Nikola Jokic appears to have gotten in great shape during the NBA's pause.
- Matt James, the new "Bachelor," played wide receiver for Wake Forest.
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