Sports & Politics Intersect: Shooting at 'Madden' esports tourney becomes latest statistic on violence

• John McCain remembered by the sports world - Homage to the longtime U.S. senator and former presidential candidate, John McCain, went beyond the political world upon his passing. At a memorial service in McCain’s native Arizona, Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald gave a moving tribute to the man who befriended him during his third season in the NFL back in 2006. McCain was well-known for his passionate sports fandom and advocacy, which inspired the respect paid to him from the sports community in Arizona and beyond.

• Tiger Woods on Trump: “Respect the office”  - During the Northern Trust Open, Tiger Woods was asked about his friendship with President Trump, which goes back some years. His response was an attempt to be apolitical, but it predictably did not sit well with some commentators . The president — as well as football legend Jim Brown, one of Trump’s few black supporters from the sports world — clearly appreciated Tiger’s comments. Golfing icon Jack Nicklaus shared the same sentiments as Woods.

• FIFA prez goes to Washington, Trump "red cards" media  - FIFA president Gianni Infantino and U.S. Soccer Federation boss Carlos Cordeiro met President Trump at the White House about the 2026 Men’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico. Upon receiving gifts of a referee’s rulebook and penalty cards, the president jokingly ejected the invited press with a red card.

• Ohio State trustee resigned after Meyer suspension - Upset that head coach Urban Meyer’s three-game suspension should have been “more profound,” Jeffrey Wadsworth stepped down from Ohio State’s board of trustees. Wadsworth claimed that he advocated for stricter discipline and was the lone voice of dissent behind closed doors.

• New book on NFL reveals circus similar to politics - Mark Leibovich, a veteran magazine scribe who has written profiles of the high-powered, spoke about his new book , “Big Game,” which pulled back the curtain on the ego stroking and pettiness of NFL franchise owners. Peter King, who is as embedded in the league culture as any writer, learned a few new things from the book. Two blaring findings from book excerpts: Bob McNair (Texans) thinks commissioner Roger Goodell is overpaid , and Arthur Blank (Falcons) was mad at Robert Kraft (Patriots) about President Trump.

• Cornet’s shirt change another stain on tennis’ fashion problem - Upon returning from a 10-minute heat break during her match at the US Open, Alize Cornet realized that she was wearing her shirt backward, and she proceeded to take it off and change it along the baseline. (She was still wearing her sports bra.) The change led to a code violation on the court, and though the infraction was minor, the outrage was major on all fronts. Cries about double standards and sexism were loud, especially in wake of the French Open’s decision on outfits such as Serena Williams’ “catsuit.” Surprised by the discussion over the wardrobe malfunction, Cornet said the reaction of Williams’ attire is “10,000 times worse.”

• Former coach denies Nassar-related charges - Kathie Klages, the former gymnastics coach at Michigan State, believes that politics led to her being charged for allegedly lying to authorities about any knowledge of Larry Nassar’s crimes. Klages was suspended in 2017 before resigning from her position.

• NCAA clears Michigan State in inquiries - Michigan State was cleared of any wrongdoing by the NCAA for not only its role in the Nassar criminal investigation, but also for sexual assault inquiries regarding the school’s football and men’s basketball programs. While not considered a formal investigation, the governing body plans to monitor the school going forward.

• WNBA players targeted with fake quotes about pay gap - As WNBA players push for better pay stateside, fake quotes on Instagram and Twitter where they allegedly “blast” NBA players about their salaries and skills have been attributed to them. Meanwhile, newly minted league MVP Breanna Stewart continues to speak out against sexual abuse months after revealing she was a victim of such acts as a child.

• Daniel Murphy trade approved by openly gay co-owner   - When Daniel Murphy was traded to the Chicago Cubs by Washington, many LGBTQ fans of the Cubs were upset, to say the least, in light of his past comments condemning homosexuality. However, Laura Ricketts, one of the team’s co-owners and one of the few openly gay owners in pro sports, was consulted by the team brass before executing the trade. Ricketts said Murphy’s 2015 comments were considered by all involved in the transaction.

• “NBA 2K19” made change to microtransactions - 2K Games, which produces “NBA 2K19,” removed elements of the game’s MyTeam packs in accordance with new gambling laws in Belgium and the Netherlands. The changes exist only in these countries.

• Former No. 1 pick, now homeless, reminder that NHL needs to curb violence - Joe Murphy was the top overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 1986, playing for several NHL clubs through 2001. Murphy is now homeless in Ontario, as a new documentary reveals. He was also part of an unsuccessful class action lawsuit filed against the league over brain trauma, and though he can pursue a case on his own, Murphy’s descent is a reminder of the pains some players endured to stay in the league.

• Jerry Bruckheimer to bring Hollywood to NHL Seattle bid - Famed TV and film producer Jerry Bruckheimer is hoping to bring some of his Hollywood bona fides to Seattle’s bid for an NHL expansion franchise. (Just go ahead and envision “Bad Boys 3” on ice. You know you wanna.)

• Schumer pitching federal frameworks for sports betting - Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has suggested new guidelines for legalized sports gambling in the United States, with assistance from sportsbooks and sports leagues themselves. The suggestions more or less fall in line with what some leagues have asked for after the recent Supreme Court ruling. Meanwhile, CBS said gambling will not be mentioned on the network’s NFL broadcasts.

• Few showed up for hearing on Elon Musk’s Dodger Stadium tunnel - City officials in Los Angeles held a public hearing about the proposed high-speed tunnel futurist Elon Musk wants to build that would take fans to Dodger Stadium from the city’s Metro in four minutes. Blame the 405?

• Critical primary vote on Rays’ future stadium  - There’s no question that the Tampa Bay Rays — and Major League Baseball — want out of Tropicana Field, but their hopes to finally build a new stadium in the Ybor City section of Tampa hinge on a recent primary vote.

This week in sports and politics history: Kaepernick’s protests against police violence in minority communities reaches the national stage. 

"This is not something that I am going to run by anybody. I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. ... If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right." - Colin Kaepernick

The message was clear: Colin Kaepernick wanted his country to do better in its relationship with people of color. In the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement and on the heels of the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Kaepernick sat during the national anthem of a preseason game to protest the oppression and murders of unarmed black men by those sworn to serve and protect these very people. 

Considering all that’s transpired over the course of the last two years, the fact is that Kaepernick’s original, unwavering message still continues to get lost in the discourse. From the jump, Kaepernick made it clear that this had nothing to do with disrespecting the flag or the nation’s military, and he stayed on message throughout the entire line of questioning he sat through following the first time the story was reported back in August 2016.

Since Kaepernick began sitting  — then kneeling  — during the national anthem to protest the systemic injustices that inversely affect people of color more than non-minority counterparts, the movement began spreading to teammates and other players throughout the league. 

Unfortunately, the idea of protesting the national anthem is what has remained a national story since the 2016 preseason. It’s a political play for the current administration while the NFL and its owners are doing almost anything possible to stop players from carrying on what Kaepernick started. 

Kaepernick, on the other hand, hasn’t found a job since being released by the 49ers at the end of the 2016-17 season and filed a collusion case against the NFL in the fall of 2017. 

Earlier this week, an arbitrator decided to send Kaepernick’s case to trial, which was ostensibly a huge blow to the NFL as the league hoped for a summary judgment. Safety Eric Reid has filed a similar grievance against the NFL in a case that is still pending. 

Kaepernick wanted to stand (well, sit) for what he believed what was right. He’s stuck to his guns the entire way despite it essentially costing him his football career. As he said, though, this is bigger than football. His legacy will be, too.