Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr on SI’s latest cover
Golden State Warriors’ star Stephen Curry and head coach Steve Kerr land on Sports Illustrated’s new, controversial cover.
The Golden State Warriors have been making headlines, which normally isn’t surprising. This time, it wasn’t for their play on the basketball court or any uniforms being unveiled. Rather, it was for speaking up for social justice.
Stephen Curry received the “honor” of being called out by Donald Trump on Twitter. After Curry announced that he wouldn’t be going to the White House. Many of the Warriors, including Kevin Durant, echoed that same sentiment. Head coach Steve Kerr also expressed his frustration and disappointment with the current administration and the injustices happening in the country, as he has before.
In the aftermath of Trump uninviting Curry, someone who wasn’t even going to visit the White House, Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James tweeted in support of his colleague. James has constantly spoken out about racism and the destructive and divisive rhetoric of the current administration. He campaigned against Trump, urging Americans to vote for Hillary Clinton, and called Trump a “bum” in his tweet.
Curry and James followed in Colin Kaepernick’s lead and energized athletes across multiple sports to stand up and speak out. With the world’s eyes on them, both NBA superstars continued to speak their minds and their truths as black men in America. Others, like San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, also gave very powerful thoughts.
NFL teams protested in a variety of ways. Some were genuine. Others, clearly were just a result of social pressures, namely when the owners got involved. Still, all eyes were on the sports world as NBA, WNBA, NFL, and even MLB players all took a knee or spoke out.
All media has covered this. It’s impossible to escape and for good reason. There are pressing issues that need to be addressed, regardless of who it makes uncomfortable. Things need to change.
Sports Illustrated has unveiled a special cover. It features major sports figures who have been in the news lately. Across the front, in a red banner, the white text reads “A Nation Divided/Sports United.”
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James, Curry, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell are in the front row. Behind them, from left to right, stand Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, Kerr, WNBA star Candace Parker, and MLB catcher Bruce Maxwell. In the back row stand Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan, and Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett.
It’s an interesting cover that tries to grasp the events of the past week.