Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo Credit: ABC7

During the Golden State Warriors’ media day Warriors point guard Steph Curry was asked whether he and his team would visit the White House to celebrate winning their 2017 NBA Championship with current U.S. President Donald Trump.

Curry was adamant in expressing his disinterest in visiting the White House:

“I don’t want to go,” said Curry . “That’s kind of the nucleus of my belief…(But) it’s not just me going to the White House. If it was, this would be a pretty short conversation.”

When pressed further the Warriors All Star stated:

“We don’t stand for basically what our President has – the things that he’s said and the things that he hasn’t said in the right times, that we won’t stand for it,” Curry said. “And by acting and not going, hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to. It’s not just the act of not going there. There are things you have to do on the back end to actually push that message into motion.”

Well, this morning President Trump let Curry know via Twitter that he wasn’t invited:

 “Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!”

Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James ran to Curry’s aide stating: ‘U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going! So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!’

LeBron James responds to President Donald Trump’s tweets about Steph Curry

ESPN Sports Center anchor Jemele Hill who recently faced ridicule for her stance via social media on the President weighed in herself in a series of tweets.

ESPN anchor Jemele Hill weighs in on Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Retired NBA player Craig Hodges weighed in on the Warriors’ decision on Scoop B Radio. Hodges was blackballed by the NBA after he handed a letter to former U.S. President George H.W. Bush during the Bulls’ championship visit to the White House. The contents of the letter, according to Hodges made President Bush aware of  the mistreatment of poor people and people of color in the United States.

“When I look at what the Warriors have decided to do, I guess not to go and because of Trump, I am somewhat dismayed,”  Craig Hodges told me on Scoop B Radio.     

“I feel like every American should get a chance to go to the White House. Because this is what you pay taxes for. You know, so you get a chance to see it and at the same time, I feel like it is a chance for you to go and air your grievances with the top man.”

Check out Craig Hodges Chat With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson On The Warriors, Colin Kaepernick and more on Scoop B Radio.

 

Added Hodges:

“So I think there is a couple ways to be handling and you know, everyone has to do it their own personal way, but I feel like it is not an opportunity for every citizen of this country to get to do it and as a champion, it is something special to do. But at the same time I can understand the political slam as far as not going.”

Steph Curry is hardly the first member of the Warriors to voice his displeasure with President Trump and his administration. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has been vocal as is Curry’s teammate Kevin Durant. When asked whether he’d visit the White House, Durant stated his claim also.   “I don’t respect who’s in office right now,” Durant told the press over the summer.

“I don’t agree with what he agrees with, so my voice is going to be heard by not doing that. That’s just me personally, but if I know my guys well enough, they’ll all agree with me.”

Curry nor Durant are the first athletes to elect not to visit the White House.

Former New England Patriot Martellus Bennett and even Tom Brady were noticeably missing in D.C. when the Patriots stopped by the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl win.

In the past, NBA Hall of Famer and current Charlotte Hornets owner, Michael Jordan skipped the ritual in 1991 when George H.W. Bush was president. It’s been said that after the Chicago Bulls won their first championship, Jordan said: ‘F*** Bush I didn’t vote for him.’

Craig Hodges and Michael Jordan. Photo Courtesy of The Odyssey Online

“See that’s the part that MJ understood,” said Craig Hodges, Jordan’s former teammate in Chicago.

“You know, MJ is not publicly political but he can handle his affairs where he can make a political statement and when he didn’t come to the White House, it was a statement. But once again, there was no push back from any of his sponsors or any of that because he is who he is and he is the golden goose for a lot of marketers and endorsement companies. So it’s not a surprise that it didn’t come back. But I understood where he was coming from and that Bush wasn’t his homie but when Clinton was in office he hung out with Clinton and golfed with him so that let them know.”

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Colin Kaepernick. Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Inside The 49ers

2-Time NBA Champ Craig Hodges Appeared On Scoop B Radio With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson To Discuss His Career, Colin Kaepernick & More

News today out of Indianapolis is that Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will not play in week one NFL action. Luck is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and is currently on the physically unable to perform list. Scott Tolzien, the Colts’ No. 2 quarterback listed on the depth chart will get the nod.

Worth noting: Tolzien, a former undrafted free agent has made only three career starts in five years in the NFL.

Colin Kaepernick is available.

Kaepernick has had an interesting summer since becoming an NFL free agent.

Last NFL season, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback refused to stand during the playing of the U.S. national anthem to acknowledge wrongdoings of African Americans and minorities like Eric Garner, Philando Castile who have been brutally murdered by police officers.”I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL network’s Steve Wyche during the NFL’s preseason last year.

“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Kaepernick would later kneel instead of not participating at all while the national anthem was played during NFL games.

The Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins are said to have had interest, but they’ve since moved on.News over the weekend indicated that the Jacksonville Jaguars took a look at Kaepernick during the offseason.

According to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, the Jaguars were not heavily interested. “We did the study, the research, and we weren’t interested,” Jaguars executive VP of football operations, Tom Coughlin said of Kaepernick.

Kaepernick led the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII and NFL. It seems that NFL GMs are simply not looking for the media scrutiny and constant attention.

So will Colin Kaepernick play this season?

Craig Hodges, a 2-time NBA Champion with the Chicago Bulls told me earlier this summer that if Kaepernick doesn’t make it into somebody’s training camp, Kaepernick won’t play again.

Former NBA player Craig Hodges guarded by NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. Hodges appeared on Scoop B Radio and talked Colin Kaepernick. Photo Credit: VICE Sports

Hodges if you recall, was blackballed by the NBA after he handed a letter to former U.S. President George H.W. Bush during the Bulls’ championship visit to the White House. The contents of the letter, according to Hodges made President Bush aware of  the mistreatment of poor people and people of color in the United States.

“I don’t think he will play again in the NFL because out of sight out of mind, Craig Hodges told me on Scoop B Radio.

“In the sport, unlike basketball where you might be able to sit out twelve months and still be able to come back and play, but the question becomes in that twelve months: “Is anybody even going to mess with you anymore?” Because they already said you are obsolete because you have been twelve months away from the game.”

So if Colin Kaepernick were to be picked up by an NFL team, would he kneel during the national anthem again? “I’m pretty sure Colin Kaepernick isn’t going to take a knee anymore,” said Hodges.

“There isn’t a need to take a knee anymore. I think now it’s just a  matter of him wanting to play football. If he gets a chance to play football he is going to play football and do what he is capable of doing. Hopefully he gets that opportunity.”

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The post Craig Hodges On Colin Kaepernick:  “I don’t think he will play again in the NFL” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant says he will skip all celebratory championship festivities at U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House. Photo Credit: Know Your Meme

Yesterday, Golden State Warriors forward and NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant told the press that he will not visit the White House to celebrate the Warriors’ championship with current U.S. President Donald Trump.

That visit, is a ritual for teams who come off of winning a championship the previous season.

“Nah, I won’t do that,” said Durant.  “I don’t respect who’s in office right now.”

Added Durant:

“I don’t agree with what he agrees with, so my voice is going to be heard by not doing that,” said Durant, who said it wasn’t an organizational decision. “That’s just me personally, but if I know my guys well enough, they’ll all agree with me.”

 

U.S. President Donald Trump, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft. Photo Credit: The Hill

Durant is hardly the first athlete to skip a visit to the White House.

Recently, members of the New England Patriots like Martellus Bennett and even Tom Brady were noticeable missing in D.C. 

In the past, NBA Hall of Famer and current Charlotte Hornets owner, Michael Jordan skipped the ritual in 1991 when George H.W. Bush was president. It’s been said that after the Chicago Bulls won their first championship, Jordan said: ‘F*** Bush I didn’t vote for him.’

“See that’s the part that MJ understood,” said Craig Hodges, Jordan’s former teamate in Chicago.

“You know, MJ is not publicly political but he can handle his affairs where he can make a political statement and when he didn’t come to the White House, it was a statement. But once again, there was no push back from any of his sponsors or any of that because he is who he is and he is the golden goose for a lot of marketers and endorsement companies. So it’s not a surprise that it didn’t come back. But I understood where he was coming from and that Bush wasn’t his homie but when Clinton was in office he hung out with Clinton and golfed with him so that let them know.”

Check Out Craig Hodges & Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson‘s Chat On Scoop B Radio 

Craig Hodges and Michael Jordan. Photo Courtesy of The Odyssey Online

When asked whether he could remember any other instances where Jordan took a political stance, Hodges cited the infamous time Jordan was asked who he was voting for in an election and Jordan told a reporter that ‘Republicans wear gym shoes too.’ “That shows your opinion,” said Hodges.

“You can do that because you control that mechanism that says: ‘no I am going to endorse or I am not going to endorse.’” 

Hodges if you recall, was blackballed by the NBA after he handed a letter to former U.S. President George H.W. Bush during the Bulls’ championship visit to the White House. The contents of the letter, according to Hodges made President Bush aware of the mistreatment of poor people and people of color in the United States.

When asked about the Warriors’ stance on not going to the White House, Hodges was diplomatic.

“Well for me, I tell people it was one of the coolest days in my life man,” Craig Hodges told me on Scoop B Radio. “I have always looked at the place that the White House is and understanding the power that it holds. But also that it is a museum and I am a historian.”

Hodges was also firm, stating:

“When I look at what the Warriors have decided to do, I guess not to go and because of Trump, I am somewhat dismayed that you, I feel like every American should get a chance to go to the White House,because this is what you pay taxes for. You know, so you get a chance to see it and at the same time, I feel like it is a chance for you to go and air your grievances with the top man. So I think there is a couple ways to be handling and you know, everyone has to do it their own personal way, but I feel like it is not an opportunity for every citizen of this country to get to do it and as a champion, it is something special to do. But at the same time I can understand the political slam as far as not going.”

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The post Craig Hodges on Durant, Warriors Not Wanting To Visit Trump White House: “I can understand the political slam as far as not going” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Colin Kaepernick and Craig Hodges. Photo Courtesy of: Houston Forward Times

It doesn’t matter if you’re walking into a grocery store, Jewish synagogue, local gym, Muslim mosque, Baptist church, or flipping your television from ESPN’s First Take to Fox Sports 1’s Undisputed to catch NBA free agency, the same question is repeated over and over again: Will Colin Kaepernick play in the NFL this season?

For those tardy to the party, Last NFL season, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback refused to stand during the playing of the U.S. national anthem to acknowledge wrongdoings of African Americans and minorities like Eric Garner, Philando Castile who have been brutally murdered by police officers.”I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL network’s Steve Wyche during the NFL’s preseason last year.

“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Kaepernick would later kneel instead of not participating at all while the national anthem was played during NFL games.

Kaepernick’s refusal triggered other athletes like the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, Houston Rockets’ Chris Paul, New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony and Chicago Bulls’ Dwyane Wade and WNBA players to become vocal about police brutality of minorities.

Kaepernick, who led the San Francisco 49ers to an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII, was in a contract year when took that public stance last season. Now an NFL free agent, it seems that nobody is willing to take a chance on him as even a backup in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins are said to have had interest, but they’ve since moved on.

Craig Hodges and Michael Jordan. Photo Courtesy of The Odyssey Online

So will Colin Kaepernick play this season? Craig Hodges, a 2-time NBA Champion with the Chicago Bulls says it’s iffy. “He might get an opportunity, but if he is not in somebody’s training camp I don’t think he will play again in the NFL because out of sight out of mind, Hodges told me on Scoop B Radio.  

“And in the sport, unlike basketball where you might be able to sit out twelve months and still be able to come back and play, but the question becomes in that twelve months: “Is anybody even going to mess with you anymore?” Because they already said you are obsolete because you have been twelve months away from the game.”

Hodges if you recall, was blackballed by the NBA after he handed a letter to former U.S. President George H.W. Bush during the Bulls’ championship visit to the White House. The contents of the letter, according to Hodges made President Bush aware of  the mistreatment of poor people and people of color in the United States. “I did whatever I could to uplift the cause of our people man,” he said.

“And one night, we had the chance to go the White House right after we won our first championship. I had been writing letters to our congress people and to our senators to the mayor when I was a little boy and all the way through high school and it was just a continuous of that and a continuous  knowing that I part of the fabric and the fiber of human rights and people standing up for human rights.”

 

 

Check Out Craig Hodges On Scoop B Radio with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson

 

While Hodges took a stance after winning a championship with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and coach Phil Jackson in the 90s, another NBA player was vocal in Denver.

FILE – In this March 15, 1996 file photo, Denver Nuggets guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf stands with his teammates and prays during the national anthem before an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago. This was Abdul-Rauf’s first game back since he was suspended by the NBA on March 12, 1996, for refusing to participate in the national anthem pre-game ceremony. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision this week to refuse to stand during the playing of the national anthem as a way of protesting police killings of unarmed black men has drawn support and scorn far beyond sports. Through the years, “The Star-Spangled Banner” has become a symbol of both patriotism and politics. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

Former Denver Nuggets guard, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was nationally villafied after he refused to acknowledge the U.S. flag. Abdul-Rauf, who  converting to Islam, refused to acknowledge the flag in protest. He would not rise while the U.S. national anthem was played and as a result, ABC’s 20/20 and other television shows and networks drew national attention to Abdul Rauf’s public stance. As a result, Abdul-Rauf was suspended by the NBA and when he returned, he, the NBA and the Nuggets reached an agreement that he’d pray while the national anthem was played before games.

While Kaepernick is without a job in the NFL, Hodges believes that Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf had it worse off than he or Kaepernick. Hodges indicated on Scoop B Radio that he told Abdul-Rauf as such when the two he met in Chicago while Abdul-Rauf was playing in Ice Cube’s Big 3 Basketball tournament. “Colin Kaepernick has gotten to get a portion of what he is suppose to get salary wise,” said Hodges.

“Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was cut off from possibly being the greatest scorer in NBA history, that is the part that hurt me about him.”

Abdul-Rauf was ultra talented. The fiery guard out of LSU who went by the name Chris Jackson before his conversion to Islam was nasty! His scoring ability was unmatched and his jumper was deadly.

In his rookie season in the NBA he averaged 14 points per game and averaged a shade over three assists per game during the 1990-91 NBA season. Abdul-Rauf’s best year in the league was the 1992-93 NBA season. He’d average a smidge under 20 points and 4 assists per contest. He was lightning quick and his first step in his prime could genuinely compare with the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry.

Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson Discusses Colin Kaepernick on Another Thing with Larry Medte and Fox News Political Expert Lt. Steven Rogers

On Abdul-Rauf, Craig Hodges added:

“I’m saying he is Islam and he understands all of that, but that is power for why that all went on. But at the same time, his potential in the game was so much farther than myself and I say even Colin for where he is in his career right now. But as far as what he was able to do for the game, I feel like Mahmoud felt it more than anybody.”

Shifting back to the gridiron, the ongoing saga Kaepernick saga is reminiscent of Michael Vick’s return to football after his conviction of running a dogfighting business in his home. The only difference is that Kaepernick has not broken any laws.

So here’s the million and seven dollar question: If Colin Kaepernick were to be picked up by an NFL team, would he kneel during the national anthem again?

“See once again, I’m pretty sure Colin Kaepernick isn’t going to take a knee anymore,” said Hodges.

“There isn’t a need to take a knee anymore. I think now it’s just a  matter of him wanting to play football. If he gets a chance to play football he is going to play football and do what he is capable of doing. Hopefully he gets that opportunity.”

Speaking of Michael Vick. In the past month, both he and Ray Lewis were vocal about Kaepernick’s decision and how the free agent could re-enter the program. Essentially, they both felt that he should either cut his hair or keep his political views to himself. “Often times we can be pressured into making comments on behalf of the larger enforcer,” said Hodges.

“That’s where we have to ask ourselves: if there really is a God in these situations whose side is he on? You know what I am saying? Then when brother’s make the decisions to say like: ‘Michael Vick, how stupid is that?’ So you are telling me that his hair as something to do with throwing the football? This man’s words are throwing footballs, Ray Lewis? So tone down your civil rights. So you’re telling me allow people to be murdered and maimed and it’s cool as long as I play football? Hell no man! How much more of a 2017 slave mentality is that? Let’s cut to the chase we have some slave garbage.”

Speaking of hair, r&b singer India Arie did explain to you in her song that she was not her hair!

Taking a cursory look at the NFL, there are others who have defining hair: the Houston Texans’ Brian Cushing has sported an array of styles, as have former Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polamalu. Hodges deducts that corporate America is afraid of athletes like Kaepernick being unapologetically black. “Absolutely,” he said.

“Because when that happens you have no fear. Fear then is the key to the power structure. Scare the hell out of people and they aren’t going to move. So many of our movements have been penalized just because of the inaction and fear.”

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The post Former NBA Champ Craig Hodges: “Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was cut off from possibly being the greatest scorer in NBA history” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.