On March 20th, former NBA All-Star Chris Webber declared: “I Don’t Give A Damn About Sports” before dedicating nearly his entire radio show to the case of Trayvon Martin. Webber’s retired voice barely caused a ripple in sports media, but when a few days later, Lebron James organized the Miami Heat in a team hoodie tribute to Trayvon Martin, it not only opened doors and dominoes for other sports stars to step up, but it also gave Trayvon’s family “a warm feeling”.
At best, it helped bring continued attention that lead to the arrest of George Zimmerman, and at worst, it helped keep the Trayvon case and the criminal justice system a topic of national discussion while increasing the chances for potential justice and reform. Below is a recap of 25 sports star voices. They include:
1. Chris Webber: “I Don’t Give A Damn About Sports”
2. Lebron, James, Wade, & Heat: “We Want Justice”
3. Etan Thomas @ HuffPost: “It’s Disturbing on So Many Levels”
4 -5. Carmelo Anthony & Amare Stoudemire: “I am Trayvon Martin” and “Stand Up“
6. Dwayne Wade: “I’m speaking up because”
7. Steve Nash: Puts His Hoodie On and Signs Petition
8. NBA Players Association: Sanford Police Dept. Silence is “Reprehensible”
9. Earl Watson (little Big Man): “It’s a Stance for Human Rights“
10. Kevin Durant Puts his Hoodie On
11. Gary Sheffield: “I was almost in tears“
12. Elton Brand: “That could be my son. It’s heart-wrenching“
13 -14. Alonzo Mourning & Isiah Thomas Speak at Sanford Rally
15. Jim Brown is Proud of Lebron James
16-20: Dr. Harry Edwards, John Thompson, John Chaney, George Raveling, & Nolan Richardson Issue Unified Statement to Eric Holder
21+: Atlanta Hawks Hoodie Shoot and more words from Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Kirk Hinrich
Joe Johnson
Kirk Hinrich
Josh Smith
Marvin Williams
Zaza Pachulia
Tracy McGrady
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