Doc Rivers' Plea Should Be Shared By Everyone: Unchecked

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers had a message that should be shared by everyone.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers had a message that should be shared by everyone.

“It’s amazing to me why we keep loving this country and this country does not love us back.”

Doc Rivers delivers an emotional message on the police shooting of Jacob Blake. pic.twitter.com/A0T26OfsDG

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 26, 2020

I don’t know how anyone can watch those powerful words from Rivers and not be affected as Doc made an incredibly thoughtful plea while clearly in pain.

Proud to know you @DocRivers. Sometimes we don’t know what to say every time this hurt happens. We Need Change! There is so much Truth in every Every word of this. Y’all wake up. https://t.co/PsK4FSnqzh

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) August 26, 2020

It is great the NBA has so many like Rivers who are willing to put themselves out there, however, I can’t help but think that it is really unfair how we continue to turn to sports figures for answers when it comes to incidents like the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

"We are scared as Black people in America."

LeBron James calls for justice following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin and encourages people to vote for change in November's election. https://t.co/BJBsC8QW4A pic.twitter.com/CpAp9rmEZF

— CNN (@CNN) August 25, 2020

As questions are asked like what are NBA players going to say and do about it? Well, I have a question, what are we going to do about it? Because that burden shouldn’t fall on athletes, it should fall on society. We all need to share it.

If you somehow missed this last night, here's every word of Doc Rivers' speech from last night. pic.twitter.com/B7yoh8QbgF

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) August 26, 2020

We can’t keep watching human beings hurting and say that’s too bad and move on to the next thing or just put a microphone in someone else’s face to see what they think. 

Fred VanVleet was asked how he felt about everything going on. Instead of answering - he asked the reporter how HE felt.

Followed up after by saying that although mics are in their faces and they lend their voice - the burden of fixing oppression should be on the oppressor.

— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) August 25, 2020

What happened to Blake, and has happened to so many others, shouldn’t happen to anyone. Everyone should feel just as passionately about that, regardless of what they look like. And personally I’m tired of people talking about whether such statements by professional athletes are a turn off to viewers or have impacted ratings as if any of that matters more than a person’s life. 

Thank you @DocRivers for your words of wisdom and keeping this at the forefront. Proud to see the men in the bubble using their voices to try to enact real change! @NBAonTNT thank you for talking from your heart and trying to educate others by giving your experiences @NBA

— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) August 26, 2020

So let’s do more than just share Doc’s words, let’s share the burden.