A week ago tonight I sat here and write about why I don’t want to touch on the Memphis Grizzlies getting into a verbal argument with Shannon Sharpe during the Los Angeles game Lakers. The purpose of that article was to illustrate why it’s important to stay up to date on the issues that really matter. Case and problem, that same Grizzlies team spent this Friday night not battling with FS1 personalities, but fighting for motivation to play against Minnesota amid everything going on in Memphis with Tire Nichols.
Ja Morant and Co. lose again, draw 0 on their five-game tour and anyone trying to find solace in other sports senseless death of a black man at the hands of the police precious not found. Looking to athletes and pop culture icons for guidance was the breakthrough and culture change of the ’60s and ’70s. You know, before the novelty wore off.
Now, players and organizations speak out is as normal as police brutality and public carnage. California Saw three mass shootings in 44 hours this week that killed 19 peopleincluding one in Oakland, where the Golden State Warriors played.
It’s not clear if they’ll hold a minute of silence before the game, but if so, is that pause to honor Nichols or the victims of the shooting? Teams The Twitter account retweeted the NBA’s statement about Nichols, and to be honest, I’m so tired of following up on bereavement responses.
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Warriors talk gun reform
Steve Kerr and the Dubs visited the White House recently, and the coach, who has been a level above outspoken about gun violence, and the team took the opportunity to push President Joe Biden to reform guns. We’ve reached a point where athletes are over-exercising.
I’m not saying they should shut up and shut up and dribble. What I’m trying to overcome is that it’s hard not to become sensitized to things. Social media discourse is so controversial that by the time we’ve finished debating who responded appropriately, we’ve stepped into the next tragedy.
The outpouring of support for families and communities is equally heartbreaking and touching. However, how many times can you touch those nerves before you go numb?
Taylor Jenkins’ reaction
And that brings me back to Memphis, and coach Taylor Jenkins, who did and said everything right in his pre-match media.
He’s not the only coach, and Memphis isn’t the only organization with an outspoken response.
You can scroll through countless poignant words that will evoke all of the above emotions Plutchik’s wheeland no matter how pointless, make it frustrating or stressful, that shouldn’t stop you from trying to help.
Most tweets, posts and stories on Insta are sent to ether, never to be remembered or mentioned again. But, you never know. Your words can go through the right feed. While you can’t always inspire the Arab Spring or March in Washington, it can help someone. Not everyone is as tired as a blogger surfing the surface of the internet, hoping not to skip again, but to plunge to the bottom and hide from all the bullshit.
And though I’m ending at that point, when it comes to writing about Nichols, or anything else tonight, I didn’t hesitate. Don’t, not for a second, lose your voice. It has become increasingly the only source of hope we have left.
