In light of LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s racist comments towards his team, women and minorities, players came together and showed a sign of camaraderie Saturday night, as they turned their shirts inside out and wore jerseys without the team logo.
The team’s silent protest is just another example of athletes taking a stand for what they believe in. To some, the motion to not play at all would have been a grander gesture, but the move made by the Clippers inspired other teams in the NBA to follow suit.
In their playoff game against the Bobcats, the Miami Heat left their warm up jackets at center court, donned black socks and hid their teams logo as well. The Portland Blazers and the Houston Rockets showed their support for the Clippers with the same gestures.
Actor Michael K. Williams also showed his support to the Clippers in his intro for the Brooklyn Nets by stating, “There is no room in the NBA for Donald Sterling.”
So to celebrate that solidarity, let’s take a trip back in time to some of the most legendary protests in the history of sports.
1960: Taiwanese Athletes Protest Name Change at the Olympics
When communist officials in China made the Taiwanese players change their name at the 1960 Olympics, the players wanted to drop out of the games. Instead, they came together to march in the Opening Ceremony with a sign that read, “Under Protest.” The players continued in the Olympics as the Republic of China and won their first ever Olympic medal. Sadly, this wouldn’t be the only time Taiwanese players had to fight during the Olympics. Read more here.
1967: Muhammad Ali Refuses to Fight in The Vietnam War
At the height of his popularity, Muhammad Ali was drafted. Ali’s Muslim background and opposition to the war played huge parts in the legendary boxer’s decision not to join the army. He was later arrested and found guilty of draft evasion. Ali was also stripped of his medals and wasn’t able to fight for three years. The government had a change of heart later on and overruled his conviction.
1968: Tommie Smith & John Carlos Perform the Black Power Salute at Olympics
Tommie Smith and John Carlos stood up for racial injustice during the Civil Rights movement with one powerful gesture. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Smith came in first in the 200 meter race, with Carlos placing third. When the men received their respective medals, they decided to raise their fists and perform the Black Power Salute instead of put their hands over their hearts for “The Star Spangled Banner.” The men were expelled from the Games and later played in the NFL. To this day, the iconic image is celebrated by all, as the men stood strong and opposed the injustices with blacks during the most pivotal moment in history.
1996: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Protests “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Former NBA player Chris Wayne Johnson converted to Islam and changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. During his time with the Denver Nuggets, the player refused to stand and sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Rauf claimed the flag represented chaos and tyranny in the US, rather than peace. David Stern, the commissioner at the time, suspended Rauf for one game. After his suspension, the player was able to recite his own Muslim prayer with his team as they sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
2001: Shawn Green Refuses To Play On Yom Kippur
Shawn Green played an important part in baseball, as he was one of the very few Jewish players on the field. With the holiday Yom Kippur falling in the middle of baseball season, Green refused to play, staying strong to his religious beliefs.
2004: Carlos Delgado Refuses to Stand For “God Bless America”
All star baseball player Carlos Delgado stood up for his views on the “War on Terrorism” when he refused to sing “God Bless America” in 2004. During his run with the Toronto Blue Jays, the player staged a silent protest by remaining in the dugout while his team sang the song. Delgado later explained that the song represented a war he couldn’t agree with:
“It’s a very terrible thing that happened on September 11th It’s (also) a terrible thing that happened in Afghanistan and Iraq, … I just feel so sad for the families that lost relatives and loved ones in the war. But I think it’s the stupidest war ever,” he said.
2009: Elgin Baylor Sues Donald Sterling for Employment Discrimination
Donald Sterling’s history of racism and ignorant comments got him taken to court in 2009 by Elgin Baylor. The former General Manager and Hall of Famer sued Sterling for spewing racial comments at him, instructing Baylor to run the Clippers like a plantation. Sterling also noted that the team consisted of “poor black boys from the South” in need of a white coach. The NBA great claimed he suffered mental anguish and economic distress after working for the team for 22 years. Strangely in 2011, the LA County jury rejected the lawsuit in a 12-0 vote.
2010: Phoenix Suns Protest Immigration Law By Rocking ‘Los Sons’ Jerseys
In 2010, officials in Arizona passed an anti-immigration law that left its citizens in an uproar. Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver believed that the bill was racially insensitive. In retaliation, the team wore jerseys with the name “Los Suns,” to prove their opposition.
SOURCE: Bleacher Report | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty | VIDEO CREDIT: YouTube, News Inc.
