NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league was wrong for not listening to players fighting for racial equality and encouraged them to peacefully protest. He made his strongest statement on the issues many players passionately support, one day after 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes (mah-HOHMZ’) and several of his peers released a video demanding the league condemn racism. George Floyd’s death has ignited nationwide protests over racial injustice and police brutality, issues former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began speaking out against in 2016 when he started taking a knee during the national anthem.
NEW YORK (AP) — Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes (mah-HOHMZ’) is among more than a dozen NFL stars who united to send a passionate video message to the league about racial inequality. The 70-second video was released on social media platforms Thursday night and includes Saquon Barkley, Michael Thomas, Odell Beckham Jr., Deshaun Watson, Ezekiel Elliott, Jamal Adams, Stephon Gilmore and DeAndre Hopkins, among others. The video closes with the players demanding the NFL state that it condemns “racism and the systemic oppression of black people,” and that the league “admit wrong in silencing” players from peacefully protesting.
NEW YORK (AP) — Major league players accused teams of “depriving America of baseball games” as part of a money fight created by the coronavirus pandemic. They raised the possibility baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred might push ahead with a shortened season over the union’s objection. Union chief negotiator Bruce Meyer has sent a letter to Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem threatening that an attempt to play without an agreement could lead players to block any attempt to expand the playoffs and deny consent to neutral-site games in the postseason.
NEW YORK (AP) — Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant says he won’t play if the season resumes, telling The Undefeated, “My season is over.” Durant ruptured an Achilles tendon a year ago for Golden State in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against Toronto. He says it was decided after the injury that he would wait until the following season to return to action. He also had COVID-19 this year. The Nets currently hold the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas announced has reached a $2.55 million settlement with David Beaty. The former football coach had filed a lawsuit against the school alleging athletic department officials were trying to circumvent terms of his contract. The two sides had been in a legal battle since shortly after Kansas fired Beaty near the end of the 2018 season. His contract called for a $3 million buyout, but the school refused to pay it after discovering potential NCAA infractions during routine end-of-season interviews with Beaty's coaching staff.
