Advertisement

Here is what Lebron James had to say about Donald Trump's victory

By The Sports Xchange
Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James takes a selfie as the he waits for U.S. President Barack Obama to honor the NBA 2016 champions Cleveland Cavaliers on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on November 10, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI
1 of 3 | Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James takes a selfie as the he waits for U.S. President Barack Obama to honor the NBA 2016 champions Cleveland Cavaliers on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on November 10, 2016. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

Donald Trump's election to the Presidency of the United States sent shockwaves throughout America, including the sports world.

The reactions of players and coaches to Trump's stunning victory over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on Tuesday have been wide-ranging.

Advertisement

Trump was the subject of scorn for his comments about Mexicans, Muslims and women throughout his campaign.

LeBron James, seen by most as the face of the league, preached a message of hopefulness.

"Parents and leaders of our children please let them know they can still change the world for the better," the Cleveland Cavaliers forward said on his Instagram account. "Don't lose a bit of faith! They're our future and we must remain stronger than ever!!

"Yes we all wanna lace up the boots, put on the hard hats and strike but that's not the answer. Love, genuine LOVE and FAITH will be the only thing that can get us through this."

Advertisement

James campaigned alongside Clinton at a rally in Cleveland before the election.

James introduces Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at a campaign rally in Cleveland, Ohio on November 6, 2016. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony echoed James' sentiment.

"Now it's our responsibility as men and women, take it into our own hands, be role models and be our own leaders at this point, regardless of kind of who's the commander in chief," Anthony told ESPN.

"I think we have more of a responsibility now, especially with the youth and kind of educating them. I've talked to youth, I've talked to kids today, this morning, my family. You could just hear kind of the nervousness. They're afraid. They don't know what to think. People don't know what to do at this point.

"So I think it's up to us as individuals to kind of just take that responsibility and lead, everybody got to lead in their own way. We can't rely on a system or one person. We got to move on from that."

Advertisement

Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy emerged as perhaps Trump's harshest critic.

"I don't think anybody can deny this guy is openly and brazenly racist and misogynistic and ethnic-centric, and say, 'That's OK with us, we're going to vote for him anyway.'" Van Gundy told reporters Wednesday.

"We have just thrown a good part of our population under the bus, and I have problems with thinking that this is where we are as a country."

Across the country, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said "there was nothing wrong" with people protesting Trump's election.

Protests formed throughout the country Wednesday night, including in New York City where protestors marched to Trump Tower, where Trump resides.

However, Rivers also believes people should give Trump a chance.

"The election didn't go the way I wanted it to go," Rivers told ESPN. "I personally know Donald Trump. I've golfed with him and I know him. I don't think there's anyone who runs for president that wants to do bad."

"My take on it: Let's give him a chance and see what he can do. That's the only way anyway now. So, let's go with that."

Advertisement

In the NFL, the most outspoken critic of social injustice in this country today, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, said he did not vote in the election or pay attention to the results.

"I've been very disconnected from the systematic oppression as a whole," Kaepernick told ESPN. "So, for me, it's another face that's going to be the face of that system of oppression."

Kaepernick drew a national spotlight on himself this season with his ongoing decision to kneel during the national anthem before games. He previously voiced his displeasure with both Trump and Clinton.

New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall was more gracious than most in his analysis of Trump.

"The good thing about it is we have a flawed man in office leading our country who's had some really public, nasty things go on," Marshall told reporters. "I think that's a good thing because we put certain people and certain positions on a pedestal and we expect perfection. And that's not the case. And I think if we all look in the mirror, we will all see someone who also has their own issues."

Advertisement

At the college level, Alabama football coach Nick Saban claims he didn't even know the election was happening.

"It was so important to me that I didn't even know it was happening. We're focused on other things here," Saban told reporters Wednesday, adding he "(doesn't) really make political comments."

On the diamond, Chicago Cubs star pitcher Jake Arrieta sent out a tweet directed at Hollywood stars who said they would leave the country if Trump won the election.

"Time for Hollywood to pony up and head for the border," Arrieta wrote, adding hashtags saying he would help them pack and to "beat it."

Latest Headlines