Jennifer Cunningham, Senior Editor at Bossip.com, and Todd Johnson, Managing Editor at The Grio, discuss Colin Kaepernick winning Sports Illustrated's Muhammad Ali Legacy Award. Kaepernick was honored for fighting social injustice against African Americans, and his pledge to continue to fight, despite not having an NFL contract.
Cunningham says she applauds Kaepernick for his grievance against the NFL, noting that the league has "explaining to do" for why the athlete has yet to receive an offer, despite his positive record last season. Johnson weighs in on the power of Kaepernick's influence, which spawned a movement across professional sports. Not only did other players across the NFL start demonstrating, but NBA players like Lebron James and Steph Curry were moved to speak out.
NHL players will be allowed to use Pride tape this season after all with the reversal of a ban that sparked a backlash around hockey and among LGBTQ+ advocates in sports.
The NBA’s 78th season starts Tuesday, with a ring ceremony in Denver — the traditional celebration of the reigning champions — highlighting the opening-night celebration. The Nuggets beat Miami last June to become the league’s fifth different champion in the last five years, a run of parity the likes of which the league hasn’t seen in more than 40 years.
The Las Vegas Aces became the first team in 21 years to win back-to-back WNBA championships, getting 24 points and 16 rebounds from A’ja Wilson and a defensive stop in the closing seconds to beat the New York Liberty 70-69 in Game 4 of the Finals.
