LeBron puts Trump to task for racial discriminating comments
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 03 Aug 2018
Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James accused United States President Donald Trump of sowing division among the American people.
Saying he cannot remain silent in the face of President Trump?s discriminating comments, James, who will be playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the coming season, said the US Chief Executive has been intensifying racial divisions in the country.
"I believe our president is kind of trying to divide us," James said in an interview with CNN's Don Lemon on Tuesday.
"He's kind of used sport to... divide us and that's something I can't relate to, because I know that sport was the first time I ever was around someone white. You know?" Bron, also a three-time Finals MVP in gifting the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice) and The Miami Heat NBA championships (once), said.
Bron was referring, among others to Trump?s repeated criticism on National Football League players who kneeled during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, a protest action started by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016.
The 33-year-old James, expressed sympathy with the kneeling players and voiced earlier criticism of Trump.
He told Lemon that he "can't sit back and not say nothing" in the face of Trump's attempts at discord.
The 14-time NBA All Star from 2006 to 2018, who despite changing teams four times in his career has maintained he remains tied to his birth State Ohio.
On Monday, an elementary school for at-risk youngsters he named I Promise opened in his hometown of Akron, through his LeBron James Family Foundation.
James, wearing a grey suit and buttoned-down shirt, argued that even the most successful African-Americans face discriminatory attitudes.
"They always going to let you know that you are the n-word no matter who you are," he said.
"I think it's always been there. But I think the president in charge now has given people -- they don't care now, they throw it to your face."
Asked what he would tell Trump if given a chance to sit with the President, LeBron answered: "I would never sit across from him.
"I'd sit across from Barack, though," he said in reference to Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, the first African-American president.
LeBron helped the U.S.A. win a pair of Olympic gold medals ? in 2008 in Beijing and in 2012 in London -- and a bronze in 2004 in Athens.
He was also a member of the U.S. national team which brought home a bronze medal from the FIBA World Championship, held in 2006 in Japan.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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