South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Spoelstra reacts: ‘It’s really about standing up for what’s right versus what’s wrong’
The initial reaction was “horrified and disgusted.”
Then, “deflated” and “deeply saddened.” Because, “everything that has happened is just not right.”
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke out Saturday about the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the ensuing unrest and protest.
“I mean we just simply can’t stand for the systemic racism, social injustice and police brutality against the black community anymore,” he said in a phone conversation with three members of the South Flor
ida media, including the Sun Sentinel. “And it’s really about standing up for what’s right versus what’s wrong.”
Requesting the opportunity to speak about issues previously addressed with his players, Spoelstra said a call to action is the only acceptable action.
“When [wife] Nikki and I first saw the visuals, we were horrified and disgusted. Then we got really deflated and deeply saddened that this was still happening in our country in the year 2020,” Spoelstra said in a measuredbut-emphatic tone. “In the last 10 days or so, I’ve really spent the time listening, educating myself, trying to gain more perspective and really reflecting on everything that’s been happening.
“It’s really about standing up for what’s right versus what’s wrong. And the other thing is that it really is a call to action. We have an opportunity to be part of a movement to finally impact change. My family and I are all in on this fight. The Miami Heat are all in on this fight. This is not a time to be silent or stand on the sidelines.”
A Heat employee for a quarter century and head coach for the last 12 seasons, Spoelstra said all of the actions of the past two weeks need to be filtered through the prosper prism.
“I think it’s gonna take a sincere empathy and compassion for people of all races, to really reflect and process on the true history of the black community in this country,” he said. “The history has been filled with incredible oppression and we really have to acknowledge that, to start to change the lens of how we see true equality. My wife and I have been really taking this opportunity to really have these conversations, talk to our friends, and really reflect deeply on all of this.”
He praised those who already have acted, citing Heat captain Udonis Haslem for his community activism and passionate speech last weekend in the wake of unrest in Miami-Dade.
“I think more people are understanding that silence is not acceptable,” Spoelstra said. “And the platform our players have is truly an opportunity to move people into action.
“Everything that’s happened is just not right and it’s going to take people getting uncomfortable.”
The unease from within, Spoelstra said, is palpable.
“Our players are grieving,” he said. “They’re hurting and trying to heal through this. It was raw. But are our guys also are extremely motivated to do something together, to change something, not try, to change something. And that’s inspiring. Guys talked about unity and doing things together to make people notice and to force change.”
For the Heat and for society, this is a similar moment in time to the shooting of unarmed Trayvon Martin and ensuing unrest and protest in February 2012, a moment when the Heat came together in solidarity against such racial profiling, heads bowed while wearing hooded sweatshirts similar to that worn by Martin when he was shot.
“Every time something has happened, your heart breaks,” Spoelstra said. “Our community and our players have been so incredible in using their voices and platforms previously. With Trayvon Martin, we all thought when our players took that iconic photo and the players had the idea of doing that on their own to really bring it to light to everybody that this is wrong. We all thought that was going to move the needle, and it didn’t, and it broke your heart.
“Then when it happens over and over and over, what this is going to require is not even trying to evaluate. It’s just put your head down and get into this fight and make it happen this time. There is momentum. I’m inspired by — what are we going on? — 12 straight days of protest and the protests are becoming with the younger generation. They are uniting and inspiring and they’re becoming less violent. The voices and the conversations and the subject, it can’t go away. We have to keep on pushing it forward.”