LeBron delivers rebuke of Trump
LeBron James made a statement during an NBA game with his shoes — one black, one white, with the word “equality” in capital gold letters on the back of each. Then, after the game, James made a statement about President Trump, saying: “This is a beautiful country and we’re never going to let one person dictate how beautiful and how powerful we are.”
The four-time MVP was asked about his choice of footwear for the first half of his Cavaliers’ 106-99 victory over the Wizards on Sunday night at an arena about a mile from the White House. “Obviously, we know where we are right now,” James began. “And we know who’s at the helm here.” He continued, speaking about the importance of “having equal rights and being able to stand for something and speak for something and keeping the conversation going.”
James then referred to his past discussions of Trump, saying: “Obviously, I’ve been ... very outspoken and well-spoken about the situation that’s going on at the helm here . ... Equality is all about understanding our rights, understanding what we stand for and how powerful we are as men and as women, black or white or Hispanic. It doesn’t matter your race.”
At halftime, he changed into other sneakers. James finished the game with 20 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds as Cleveland won for the 18th time in 19 games. “I didn’t play well in the first half, and I’m very superstitious, so I took ’em off,” James explained, before joking: “I didn’t play well in the second half, either, so if there was a third half, I would have took those off.”
CABRERAS WIN CHALLENGE
Angel Cabrera and Angel Cabrera Jr. closed with a 12-under 60 for a three-shot victory in their debut at the PNC Father-Son Challenge in Orlando. The Cabreras opened with a 59 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and were challenged briefly by the defending champions, David Duval and Nick Karavites, in the scramble format Sunday. The Argentines went out in 30, and they had a two-shot lead when Cabrera’s son came within an inch of chipping in for eagle on the final hole. They finished at 25-under 199 for a three-shot victory over Duval and Karavites, and Bernhard Langer and Jason Langer.
STRASBURG THINKS TWICE
Nationals righthander Stephen Strasburg says he might skip All-Star Games in the future because he thinks the change in routine for that event contributed to an injury last season. The Nationals are slated to host the 2018 Midsummer Classic. Strasburg said Sunday at the team’s annual fan festival that going to the AllStar Game in Miami this year “pushed me back a bit” and “started making my arm hurt.” He left his second start after the All-Star break after only two innings and went on the disabled list with a nerve issue in his pitching elbow.