Mixed messages: Sports owners not fully committed to players' social justice fight

Jace Evans | Paste BN

Mixed messages?

Athletes across all sports have taken on a larger role in the fight for social justice in 2020. And many professionals have called on the owners of the sports teams they play for to commit to help influence real political change surrounding these topics.

Owners (183 of them) from 161 teams across MLB, MLS, the NBA, the NFL, the NHL and the WNBA have been spending – $14.6 million to federal candidates during the 2019-20 election cycle so far. It just happens that many are donating to politicians or causes that stand in contrast to their players' efforts.

The words of the owners are not matching up with their deeds, Jarrett Bell writes.

QUICK LOOK: Which team owners have donated most to political causes

The must-read stories from the week that was:

Where we stand: The Lakers took Game 1 and Game 2 of the NBA Finals, but the Heat got back into the series Sunday night with an all-time masterpiece from Jimmy Butler.
RIP to an icon: Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson, one of the most feared – and respected – players in the baseball history, died Friday at the age of 84.
'I had to keep moving': College wrestler in Iowa saves co-worker's life at Walmart.
Redeem Team: After getting swept in the first round in 2019, the Tampa Bay Lightning found redemption – getting some inspiration from a surprising source – by winning the franchise's second Stanley Cup. Watching the players celebrate in a fan-less arena in Edmonton, Alberta, was definitely strange, though.
'I honor their memory every day': Fifty years after the Wichita State football team's plane crash, survivors remember teammates who died.
Not impressed? "To me, it's pickup basketball," Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen said of the games taking place in the bubble.
'People are there for you': Titans coach Mike Vrabel determined to keep suicide prevention message going.
This seems impossible: The Astros advanced to the ALDS by sweeping the Twins in the two-game wild card series, extending Minnesota's postseason losing streak to 18(!!) games.
Moving on: The exciting Padres earned the franchise's first playoff series win since 1998.
XFL back?!?: "It's an uphill battle," but the spring football league will aim to return in 2022, according to new owner Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Quick hits:

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is trying to help former NBA player Delonte West through his mental health struggles.
LaMelo Ball distanced himself from father LaVar's comments about what NBA team would be the best fit for him.
This Packers fan made his yard a shrine to the team.
Patrick Mahomes is going to be a father.
Clemson QB finds humor in NFL fans' talking about 'Tanking for Trevor.'
Former President Barack Obama was a virtual fan for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Swiss Skydiver became the sixth filly to win the Preakness.
Iowa State beat Oklahoma at home for the first time in 60 years.

From our friends around the Network

Detroit Free Press: An All-Pro dad and a superstar son: Inside the life of Antonio Gates Jr.
Reno Gazette Journal: From the field to business school to medical school: Former Nevada linebacker tells his story

Best buys from Reviewed.com

Watch this from our friends at SportsKind

After Dan Schoenthal was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he decided now is the time to finally accomplish a lifelong goal of hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Your inbox would approve!

Want more content like this in your inbox? Sign up for Paste BN Sports' daily sports newsletter, where you'll get the biggest news and trending topics delivered each morning. And we also have an exclusive NFL newsletter (4th & Monday) to satisfy your inbox's appetite.

See you on social

And for more great sports stories from across the Paste BN Network, check out sports.usatoday.com daily. And don't forget to follow Paste BN Sports on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Facebook Twitter Email