Boycott bows out of BBC’S TMS citing virus concerns

Michael Jordan said on Friday he is making a record $100 million donation to groups fighting for racial equality and social justice amid a wave of protests across the United States.

The NBA legend said in a statement his Jordan Brand would distribute the money over 10 years to different organisations in a bid to stamp out “ingrained racism.”

The pledge is believed to be the largest financial contribution to non-profit groups ever made by a figure from the sports world.

“It’s 2020 and our family now includes anyone who aspires to our way of life,” a joint statement from Jordan and his Jordan Brand said.

“Yet as much as things have changed the worst remains the same. Black lives matter. This isn’t a controversial statement. Until the ingrained racism that allows our country’s institutions to fail is completely eradicated, we will remain committed to protecting and improving the lives of Black people,” the statement added.

“Today we are announcing that Michael Jordan of $2.1 billion, had already issued a passionate statement decrying Floyd’s killing.

“I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry,” Jordan, 57, said last Sunday. “We have had enough.”

Jordan’s donation and impassioned recent statements followed criticism during his playing career over his reluctance to take a more prominent role in activist causes.

In the recent “The Last Dance” documentary, he addressed his infamous quip that he had steered clear of politics because “Republicans buy sneakers too.” Jordan said the remark had been a flippant comment made as a joke.

Jordan added that he never saw himself as an activist athlete in the vein of former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali.

“I do commend Muhammad Ali for standing up for what he believed in,” Jordan said.

“But I never thought of myself as an activist. I thought of myself as a basketball player.”

LONDON: England great Geoffrey Boycott announced on Friday that his lengthy run as a commentator on BBC Radio’s Test Match Special had come to an end.

The 79-year-old Boycott, who was left off a list of on-air talent published by the BBC ahead of the rescheduled Test series at home to the West Indies, said he would have been interested in continuing.

But he explained the coronavirus had made the decision for him following a recent quadruple heart by-pass.

“I would like to thank @bbctms @Bbcsport for a wonderful 14 years,” Boycott told his Twitter followers.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed it and just love cricket with a passion. I also wish to thank all those that have said how much they have enjoyed my commentary and for those that haven’t -- too bad.”

The former Yorkshire and England opening batsman added: “My contract with BBC finished end of last summer. I would loved to continue but need to be realistic & honest with myself.

“COVID-19 has made the decision for both of us.” Boycott also explained he was the “wrong age” to be working in confined spaces at a time of social-distancing regulations.

Boycott was knighted last year. He had previously been criticised for saying he would been more likely to receive the award had he “blacked up” while claiming honours were given to West Indian cricketers “like confetti”.

He started his second spell at TMS in 2005. He had lost previous commentary roles with both the BBC and Sky Sports following a 1998 conviction in France for assaulting his then-girlfriend Margaret Moore.

An often outspoken analyst, Boycott’s broadcast career divided opinion much like his playing days did. And there was a typically mixed reaction to news of his BBC departure on Friday, with one Twitter user posting: “White, male, straight, Tory (a supporter of Britain’s governing Conservative Party) and knows about cricket.

“Surprised he lasted this long at the BBC.” Boycott retweeted the post, writing: “Absolutely right.” He has since deleted the tweet.

But he also hinted that he could still make guest appearances on the programme.

Boycott is one of a select group of cricketers to have scored 100 first-class hundreds. For England, he scored more than 8,000 runs in 108 Tests at an average of nearly 48.