The Rush: NASCAR takes down the Confederate flag
Two days after driver Bubba Wallace called for the Confederate flag to be removed from races, NASCAR banned the Confederate flag from all events and properties. Wallace finished the 500 laps in Martinsville in 11th place, in his #43 Black Lives Matter car. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Gregg Popovich were three of 1,400 athletes, coaches, and executives from the NFL, NBA, and MLB that signed a letter which The Players Coalition submitted to Congress, urging them to pass an act that would make it easier to hold police officers and government officials accountable for their actions. Meanwhile Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe participated in the “Share the Mic Now” campaign on Instagram to “center black voices” in discussions about race, equality and justice. The NBA and NBPA are reportedly finalizing terms on a return-to-play plan, but several players have several concerns with the plan to play in the Orlando bubble.
Video Transcript
BUBBA WALLACE: Props to NASCAR and everybody involved, you know. This has been a stressful couple weeks. And this is, no doubt, the biggest race of my career tonight.
JARED QUAY: That was Bubba Wallace, the only black driver in NASCAR's top three circuits. And last night's race in Martinsville, Virginia became the biggest race in Bubba's career. Because just a few hours before they dropped the green flag, NASCAR released this statement, banning the Confederate flag from all of its races and property.
BUBBA WALLACE: That was a huge, pivotal moment for the sport-- a lot of backlash. But it creates doors that allows the community to come together as one. And that's what the real mission is here. So I'm excited about that.
JARED QUAY: The move from NASCAR came just two days after Wallace called for the Confederate flag to be removed. Let's hope that the artwork on Wallace's number 43 Black Lives Matter car can take place of the banned symbol. As for the race, Wallace finished 11th. And Martin Truex Jr. took home the checkered flag.
The positive changes continue to happen way from the track as well. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Gregg Popovich were among 1,400 players, coaches, and executives from the NFL, NBA, and MLB to sign a letter in which the Players Coalition sent to Congress on Wednesday, urging them to pass an act to hold police officers and government officials accountable for their actions. No word if Alex Bregman and other Astros who signed the letter are ready to be held accountable for their actions, but we coming for you after this. We going get y'all. Meanwhile, Alex Morgan, Meg Rapinoe, and other women from US Women's National Soccer team participated in the Share The Mic Now campaign to center black voices in discussion about race, inequality, and justice.
White celebrities and athletes with huge followings on Instagram handed their accounts to black women, so that their voices, so often left behind, are finally heard. And I think the men should do this too. Because I would love to get access to Nick Bosa's account, all right. We would change the whole meaning of MAGA. It would be make African-Americans get attention when they're being mistreated.
We would have to add some other letters to it too. To the court now-- according to the latest Woj bomb, the NBA and the NBPA are finalizing terms on a return-to-work plan. However, as Matt Barnes shared with Yahoo Sports' Dunk Bait last week, there continues to be a group of players discussing rather restarting the season in the Orlando bubble is actually a good idea. According to the report, both sides are expected to agree to a provision that would not require players to restart the season, as some players have brought up several issues, including family concerns, coronavirus, and social justice. Don't get me wrong, all those things are important.
But I'm scared, guys. Is this going to be the year the final match-up is going to be between a bunch of G League guys and and one mixtapes? We ain't going know nobody on the court, man. LeBron, look, you could hold out. Honestly, I think you should hold out.
But just one game, all right. Give us the whole finals. Lakers need a new championship. We need do it for Kobe.
We need to do it for you. And what better way to help social justice and beat coronavirus than you winning a championship? LeBron, do it for us.
- LeBron James.
