Victories should be celebrated unless they’re an example of an overdue act that had been preventing equality and fairness. Fifty-five years after the Voting Rights Act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to prohibit racial discrimination in voting, Black people and people of color are still dealing with voter suppression. The NCAA was a participant in that suppression until Wednesday, when they announced that they would be forcing every Division I program in the country to give college athletes Election Day off so that they could go vote. From now on, practices and competitions can’t happen on Election Day. Why it took so long for the organization that regulates student-athletes to make this happen at “institutions of higher learning” is a question that only has one answer. Control. Because this country has a very long history of trying to control “certain people” from not going to the polls. First, it was women. Then, it was Black people and other communities of color. And if you haven’t been paying attention, Black people and people of color are still dealing with obstacles when it comes to voting. Case in point, Georgia. The roughly 38,000 students that attend the University of Georgia were not going to be allowed to vote on campus at their student center this year “due to COVID-19.” However, the school has bent over backward making sure that crowds of up to 23,000 can show up to watch football games in the coming weeks. Money always trumps voting in a place like Athens. By Thursday, the school had reversed course and decided on an alternate location on campus where students can cast ballots. It’s another example of why this decision from the NCAA was so needed, while also pointing to how infuriating it is, as it was long overdue. There’s a new documentary out called “ All In: The Fight For Democracy” about former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, and how the 2018 election was stolen from her by her opponent, and current Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, through strategic and unethical voter suppression tactics. Kemp is native of Athens and a UGA alumnus. See how this is all connected? Former NBA player and Georgia Tech star Chris Bosh played a part in pushing the NCAA to do this, as he recently penned a letter detailing the importance of why college athletes needed the opportunity to take part in such an important civic responsibility. “The reality is, as a college athlete … you’re pretty much out of luck if you’re looking to exercise your right to vote or to engage in the electoral process on election day,” Bosh wrote. “You’re basically working two full-time jobs. And with respect to both of them, you’re being held to the highest of standards. There’s no margin for error. It’s not like you can just be like, “Hey Coach, you know what? I’d love to join you guys at this practice … but I gotta run out and vote for the county commissioner right now.” In June, the Atlanta Hawks, another Georgia connection, became the first team in the NBA to receive approval to turn their home arena into a large voting station for upcoming elections. So far, 20 NBA arenas and facilities have been approved as polling and voting centers. A report from earlier this month disclosed that possibly only about 20 percent of eligible NBA players voted in the last election. Which means that after their recent strike, the onus is now on NBA players to get registered and hit the polls. College athletes, you now share that onus. Because if you can fight for your rights to unionize, to make money off your name, image, and likeness, and put the pressure on the powers to be to let you play football during a global pandemic, then the least you can do is vote. Besides, the outcome of this election will affect your generation more than any other. Relatedfootball betfree nfl betting sitesbetting on college football onlineonline nba betsonline mlb betsnhl betsbetting sites for ufcsoccer sportsbookcopa america sportsbooks
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The Premier League is back in our lives once again this weekend after a short and sweet break, courtesy of the quick turnaround due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All 20 teams have been making preparations ahead of what looks set to be a very competitive league campaign, and today, we re going to be previewing the clash between West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City. The home side will try and avoid relegation after their return to the top flight, whereas the visitors will try and prove that they re still an elite club after their capitulation last season.
West Brom
Slaven Bilic knows what it s like to compete at this level as a manager and he recognised that his side needed to make crucial changes in the summer t…
Andriy Yarmolenko rescued a point for Borussia Dortmund with the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against 10-man Bayer Leverkusen that might earn head coach Peter Bosz a stay of execution.
Dortmund went into the game with Bosz under intense pressure after a run of six games without a win, but his side fell behind after half an hour.
Kevin Volland s opening goal came after a defensive howler from Neven Subotic, but Leverkusen then had Brazilian full-back Wendell sent off just before half-time.
Against 10 men, the visitors dominated the second half possession but failed to break down Heiko Herrlich s well-drilled outfit until Andre Schurrle teed up Yarmolenko for his third league goal of the season.
Despite salvaging a point, the laboured nature of Dortmund s perfor…
A host of Premier League clubs have been linked with a summer move to sign Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, .
The Mexico international is currently on a season-long loan with European Champions Real Madrid, though he has started just five games in all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Now Stoke City, Everton, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur are all set for a battle to secure the 26 year old’s services, with a future at Old Trafford looking unlikely.
Hernandez moved to Manchester in the summer of 2010, and has racked up one hundred and fifty-nine appearances for the club, scoring fifty-nine goals and was part of the squads that won the Premier League title in both 2011 and 2013.
Internationally, he has thirty-eight goals …
UAE outfit Al Nasr are interested in signing Palermo striker Fabrizio Miccoli, according to reports from the Middle East.
The Dubai club, who are coached by former Palermo boss Walter Zenga, have already held talks with the Sicilian outfit according to Sport360.
Al Nasr are expected to release Luca Toni after he struggled to make a significant impact at the club having joined in January and Miccoli is seen as his replacement.
The 32-year-old 10-time Italy international has long been linked with a move to the Middle East and recently admitted his future with Palermo was 50-50 . Miccoli has one year to run of his current contract with the Sicilians.
Miccoli and Zenga know each other well, with the former Italian goalkeeper coaching Palermo in 2009 and 2010…
Southampton F.C. have completed the signing of midfielder Oriol Romeu from Chelsea for a fee believed to be in the region of £5 million.
Romeu becomes the Saints seventh summer recruit following the arrivals of Cédric Soares (Sporting CP), Cuco Martina (FC Twente), Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Juanmi (Málaga), Maarten Stekelenburg (on loan from Fulham) and Steven Caulker (on loan from Queens Park Rangers).
The former Spain Under-21 international, who joined Chelsea from Barcelona for €5 million in the summer of 2011, has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at St Mary s.
It s very good to be a part of this club, Romeu said.
I was looking for a good club and for something new in my career. After spending two years on loan, I needed …
Zenit St Petersburg manager Luciano Spalletti has backed Pep Guardiola to become the new Russian manager.
The Football Union of Russia published a 13-strong list of candidates deemed to be worthy successors to Dick Advocaat, including stellar names such as the former Barcelona coach, Marcelo Bielsa and Fabio Capello.
And Spalletti, who has been in charge of Zenit since departing Roma in 2009, believes Guardiola is the best man to take the nation forward.
From my point of view, the best of all the coaches to take over would be Guardiola, he told Zenit s official website.
It would be nice, because I feel a little Russian, if our team is coached by him.
However, the Italian also earmarked his veteran midfielder Sergey Semak as a future Russia co…
Angel Di Maria soaked up the love and adoration of the Paris Saint-Germain faithful as his brilliant brace inspired a rampant 4-0 Champions League triumph over Barcelona.
PSG were knocked out of the competition by Barcelona in 2013 and 2015 but Luis Enrique s side now require a comeback unprecedented in Champions League history having been put to the sword in the French capital.
Di Maria, celebrating his 29th birthday, dispatched a free-kick that rewarded PSG s dominant start and Unai Emery s men never relinquished their grip on the first leg of the last-16 tie.
Former Sevilla boss Emery had only beaten Barcelona once in 23 previous attempts but he was well on his way to number two when Julian Draxler scored on his Champions League debut for PSG, as he did in Li…
Former UEFA president Lennart Johansson says he was never informed of the alleged payment made by Sepp Blatter to Michel Platini that lies at the heart of the latest FIFA corruption scandal.
Outgoing FIFA president Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Platini were provisionally suspended by the Ethics Committee of world football s governing body for 90 days on Thursday.
Blatter is the subject of a criminal investigation from the Swiss attorney general into an alleged disloyal payment made to Platini in 2011, widely reported to be £1.35m relating to work the former France captain undertook for FIFA between 1999 and 2002.
Johansson, who was UEFA president between 1990 and 2007 and stood unsuccessfully against Blatter for the top job at FIFA in 1998, told InsideWor…
Since Jurgen Klopp has been Liverpool boss in 2015, his team have received criticism for the number of goals they concede. His side were always very good going forward and at scoring goals.
However, at times they left holes in the backline, which has really cost the Reds a chance of realistically challenging for the Premier League title. The criticisms of the Merseysiders defence are justified.
Defensive displays improving
Things look to be on the up at the minute when it comes to the Reds defensive displays. Liverpool’s goalless draw against Porto on Tuesday night in the Champions League last 16 second leg was the fifth time in seven games that Klopp’s side have kept a clean sheet.
In those seven games in all competitions, Liverpool have conceded ju…
Burnley manager Sean Dyche says it is not rocket science to work out there are big clubs interested in signing defender Michael Keane.
Manchester United are reportedly frontrunners to re-sign the centre-back, who left Old Trafford two seasons ago, while Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool are also said to be in the hunt.
Burnley will reportedly demand £25million for Keane, but Dyche insists the England international, who is under contract to 2018, remains focused on his current club.
It is not rocket science to work out there s a few interested, Dyche told reporters.
It is the usual chit-chat. He certainly doesn t seem like he has [had his head turned].
Dyche warned potential suitors that Burnley do not have a financial need to sell the 24-year-old…