The Heat: Solidarity for Trayvon

The Miami Heat are still being praised in some circles for the stand they took last week before a road game at Detroit. The team, led by LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, took a photo with

the entire team wearing hoods in support of slain teenager Trayvon Martin.  This show of support was refreshing to see — millionaire athletes in today’s day and age with something to say. They let the world know about their support to the cause to bring to justice the man who gunned down Martin on the street of a gated community in Sanford last month.

Martin’s grieving father commented on how moved he was by the show of support. Wade simply talked about how, “As a father, this hits home.” The same can be said for this writer because my son shared the same barber with Trayvon and his dad. What a powerful message the photo sent to the world.  Too often we see situations in our communities where athletes have a platform to express their views but chose to remain neutral or silent. There was a time in this nation’s history when athletes used their celebrity status to be heard. Folks like Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith, John Carlos, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jim Brown are just a few examples. The Heat players like the heroes before them took a stand and did not worry about losing endorsements or sponsors. They made a powerful statement and let the world know that not all athletes are selfish, self-centered, shallow — well you get the point.

Other big name players soon followed suit: Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudamire all donned “hoodies” at games, posting themselves wearing “hoodies” or both. CNN political analyst Roland Martin had questioned via Twitter why NBA players had not lent their support to Trayvon’s cause. Whether the players actions were in

response to his call is unknown. What is known is that this may be the boldest statement outside the sports arena that Wade and James have ever made. In this case, perhaps it is wrong to compare James to that basketball great who wore the famous number ” 23.” Today’s kids do not want to be “Like Mike” they want to be “Like LeBron” and that’s not such a bad thing after all.

By The Sports Brothers
Ed Freeman
Jeff Fox