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Sports & Politics Intersect: Trump casts shadow over U.S. Women's Open
Eric Sucar-USA TODAY Sports

Sports & Politics Intersect: Trump casts shadow over U.S. Women's Open

Front Five: The top stories that shaped both sports & politics this week

“Now people will remember this as Trump’s U.S. Open, and the winner, Sung Hyun Park, will fall in his shadows.”  - Anya Alvarez, LPGA pro, writing for Good Sports

In the week leading up to the U.S. Women’s Open last weekend held at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., many sports pundits beseeched President Donald Trump to skip spending the weekend at his home on the grounds the club as it would unfairly put added pressure and distraction on the players in what the biggest U.S. women’s golf event of the year. While there had been calls to move the event even before last November’s election – including pressure from a few U.S. senators – it was revealed in the run-up to the U.S. Women’s Open that then-candidate Trump had threatened to sue the United States Golf Association in 2015 if they decided to host the event at another course. Even before it was confirmed the president would attend, players were forced to offer “no comments” on the president during press conferences while images of Trump floated above them on monitors. The fears of distraction were not unfounded as course officials were forced to quiet crowds during play when Trump walked through the crowds. 

And while some had hoped having the first president to attend the U.S. Women’s Open would create more awareness of the annual jewel on the women’s golf circuit, ratings were down 40% from last year and attendance, which to some eyeballs seemed smaller, cannot be confirmed due to a ticket scanner malfunction at the club. 

Meanwhile on the West Coast, Trump is having other golf-related issues as a new report has found the Trump National Golf Course in Los Angeles has already seen a significant decline in business as ESPN, the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles United School District along with individual players have shied away from hosting events there.


Seattle Storm on Twitter

“I personally got my first birth control with Planned Parenthood. I think it’s a tremendous asset for women and girls and actually men, too, for some types of services.” - Seattle Storm co-owner Dawn Trudeau 

The Seattle Storm hosted a Planned Parenthood Night on Tuesday, the first of its kind for the healthcare organization and the team, holding a fundraiser, partnering with Seattle-based app Vermouth for further donations, and committing $5 of each ticket sold that night to the group which is currently facing defunding from the federal government under the new administration, raising more than $42,000 along the way. After the game, WNBA legend Sue Bird said, “First and foremost, our owners, our franchise, I just felt incredibly proud when they first told us about this night. I think as a woman you want to support one another, and to be a part of [this initiative] was something that was special, and some of us wanted to be included.”


Ohio State/Collegiate Images/Getty Images

"I had to explain to my kids what was going on, and I told them this: 'In life, doing the right thing is going to be difficult and hard at times, but sitting around when you know you have a chance to make a difference in teammates' lives or peoples' lives, and you choose not to, then that’s cowardly.' And I think this is a fight that is worth fighting." - Chris Spielman, speaking to Eleven Warriors

Fox announcer Chris Spielman filed a federal lawsuit late last Friday against his alma mater Ohio State University and IMG College, the marketing company that represents OSU, for using his and other former players likeness on banners sponsored by Honda and Nike at Ohio Stadium. The case cites Ed O’Bannon’s victory against the NCAA as the basis for the suit as he nor any other players featured on the banners gave permission for their images to be used by the school or any of their partners. Ohio State reportedly tried to reach a settlement with Spielman over the past eight months that would cover both him and the other players on the banners, but a deal could not be reached and Spielman filed suit. Spielman, a four-time NFL Pro Bowler and Ohio State MVP, has said he would donate any money won in the suit back to university.


Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images

“Failure is not an option and we are pursuing all options and we have to make it work. We do not have a choice and are exploring everything and open to anything in the East Valley.” - Andrew Barroway, Arizona Coyotes 

Venue issues dominated the news for both NBA and NHL teams this week as the Arizona Coyotes, New York Islanders and the Los Angeles Clippers look to find new homes for their franchises. In Phoenix, new majority owner Andrew Barroway stated his case for a new arena while recommitting the team to staying in Arizona. While the Coyotes are pressing for a new building, the Suns reiterated their desire to renovate Talking Stick Arena downtown instead of sharing a new venue with the ‘Yotes. 

Back east, legislators from both Nassau and Suffolk counties came together to call on the NHL to return the Islanders to the Coliseum now that the venue has reopened after 20 months of renovations, with officials claiming they would be willing to undertake even more work to bring the back to their previous home. The Islanders, who soon could be arena-less after the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn said they would no longer host the team if they cannot reach a better deal for the venue by January 1, 2018 as they could be making more money hosting other events. The pairing of the two counties is notable as Nassau and Suffolk officials have a long history of battling over who is best suited for the team.  

Madison Square Garden Co., the owners of the Forum in Los Angeles, have filed a claim against the city of Inglewood seeking damages for entering an agreement with the Clippers to possibly build a new home for the team. 


Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

"Obviously his Afro has nothing to do with him being signed, and I wasn't trying to relay that message. It was more so about helping him at the end of the day. In all my interviews, all I have ever tried to do is help him and talk positive." - Michael Vick, apologizing on the Dan Patrick Show for comments he made about Colin Kaepernick’s hair earlier in the week 

The continued controversy over why or why not Colin Kaepernick has not signed with a new team this offseason came to head this week when former NFL quarterback said on Fox Sports’ “Speak for Yourself” how he thought Kaepernick should best represent himself. "First thing we've got to get Colin to do is cut his hair," Vick said. "Listen, I'm not up here to try to be politically correct. Even if he puts cornrows in there, I don't think he should represent himself in that way in terms of just the hairstyle. Just go clean-cut. You know, why not? You're already dealing with a lot of controversy surrounding this issue. The most important thing that he needs to do is just try to be presentable." 

The backlash to Vick’s comments was swift, including from fellow Fox host Shannon Sharpe who retorted on his own show, “What Michael Vick just did was continually perpetuate a stereotype that Blacks that look a certain way, dress a certain way should be judged a certain way. What does Colin Kaepernick's hair have to do with anything? He needs to reform his image for what?" 

Sharpe also reminded Vick that it was he who needed to change his image after his felony dog-fighting conviction, saying “Michael, you went to prison, you are a convicted felon. You needed to change your image. Colin Kaepernick took a knee. He took a knee in protest of Black and brown unarmed men and women being killed at a disproportionately high rate compared to the percentages to which they represent America… someone gave you a second chance and you're saying that Colin Kaepernick needs to cut his hair to change his appearance. For what!? He has never been arrested, he committed no crime, he killed no one, he abused no one. What is the image that he needs to portray?"

For his part Kaepernick offered no comment other than to tweet the definition of Stockholm Syndrome.

Of Note: 

  • The New York Times looks at the benefits and downsides of potential Marlins owner Jorge Mas’ ties to Cuba. A source close to Mas told the Sun-Sentinel earlier this week Mas was considering dropping out of the bidding war if a decision was not made soon, but on Thursday commissioner Rob Manfred said all three groups – including Mas – were still in contention for the team. 

  • Citing a desire to step away from the grind of owning an NBA franchise, Leslie Alexander announced he is putting the Houston Rockets up for sale. While there is no immediate candidate for a potential buyer as of yet, some see the sale of the Rockets a good thing for the city as it opens up the possibility of an NHL franchise coming to town, efforts which Alexander has blocked over the years. 

  • According to a new report, college athletic directors have seen a 30 percent increase in pay over the past five years, leading critics to wonder why pay for student athletes is still forbidden. 

  • Brandon Mebane says that he and other African-American members of the Chargers have encountered issues with securing housing in Orange County near the their new training facility as rental applications are denied despite being told by their real estate agent their applications are “the best application I’ve seen.”

  • A recent study finds that coverage of women’s sports has grown more sexist. 

  • The Philadelphia 76ers opened their 8000 square-foot Sixer Innovation Lab in Camden, N.J. as part their efforts to bring jobs to the area

  • In an interview with Blazers guard C.J. McCollum for The Players’ Tribune, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he believes while it shouldn’t be a league decision, teams and players should attend White House events if invited.  

  • Then, speaking on a panel at the Paley Center this week, Silver stated he believed legal gambling will be coming the NBA soon, especially in light of the recent Supreme Court decision to hear New Jersey’s case against the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 in an upcoming session. 

  • The Tennis Integrity Unit believes three matches in this year’s Wimbledon tournament may have been fixed according to a report; two in the qualifying rounds and one in the main competition

  • A report has found the same external panelling at the heart of the recent Grenfell Tower fire which claimed at least 80 people in London was used in the building of the Cleveland Browns FirstEnergy Stadium. In response, Cleveland officials held a press conference on Friday saying despite the panels there is no danger to fans. 

  • Former NBA, WTA and Adidas executive and PGA board member Sophie Goldschmidt has been named the next CEO of the World Surf League, the first woman to run the WSL, making the league one of the few female-lead sports in the world. 

  • Former Laker star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‏ penned a piece for The Hollywood Reporter on what should go into building a black superhero in the comic book world. 

  • The Raleigh News and Observer examines why former Texas Rangers co-owner Chuck Greenberg is interested in purchasing the Carolina Hurricanes

  • The Ravens are donating $1.5 million to a West Baltimore high school for renovations after the school was nearly shut down in 2015. 

  • While member schools are building teams, the PAC-12 stated they do not consider esports sports… for now

  • Euronews has put together a video of world leaders (well, at least a few of them) demonstrating their sporting prowess

  • New Jersey governor and recent WFAN radio guest host Chris Christie caught a foul ball while enjoying a Mets game at Citi Field earlier this week – and was promptly booed. 

  • Steve Patterson, president and CEO of the Arizona Coyotes, tweeted support for Senator John McCain in light of his recent brain cancer diagnosis from the official team account.

For the record books: This week in sports politics history


Tom Smart/Getty Images

On July 20, 2000 two members of the Salt Lake City Olympic host committee were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, fraud and racketeering relating to more than $1 million in bribes to the International Olympic Committee and their families and the U.S. Olympic Committee to influence voting in their efforts to secure for the 2002 Winter Games bid in 1994 and 1995. When the scandal erupted in 1998, it was discovered similar issues were involved with the bidding for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games, 1998 Nagano Winter Games and the 2000 Summer Games in Australia. The pair were later acquitted

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