Bill Russell Offers Candid Comments On Protests Following Death Of George Floyd — NESN.com

Bill Russell has spoken. The Boston Celtics legend took to Twitter on Thursday and offered some candid thoughts on the protests that have been ongoing throughout the United States in the wake of the senseless death of George Floyd. Russell revealed he and his wife went to some protests that both were “impactful” and “powerful.”…

Bill Russell Offers Candid Comments On Protests Following Death Of George Floyd — NESN.com
Bill Russell has spoken.
The Boston Celtics legend took to Twitter on Thursday and offered some candid thoughts on the protests that have been ongoing throughout the United States in the wake of the senseless death of George Floyd.
Russell revealed he and his wife went to some protests that both were “impactful” and “powerful.” But for the 86-year-old, he doesn’t think this will cause “enough change.”
“My wife took me to see some of the protests,” Russell tweeted. “She said it was emotional & impactful & asked ‘Can U believe U would live through this again in your lifetime?’ I said ‘Yes, nothing had changed & we will see some change but most likely not enough.’”
He then shared a quote he shared with a newspaper back in the 1960s when he traveled to Mississippi  after civil rights activist Medgar Evers was murdered by a white supremacist. Russell, fresh off third consecutive MVP and the C’s fifth straight championship, was asked if his image potentially could be damaged because he was taking a stand against racism.
Here’s what he said:
“I’m a man. If I have to be a boy to be popular, then I don’t want it. If my popularity depends on a thing like this, I don’t give a damn.”
My wife took me to see some of the #protests she said it was emotional & impactful & asked Can U believe U would live through this again in your lifetime? I said Yes, nothing had changed & we will see some change but most likely not enough #GeorgeFloyd @MSNBC @nba @BostonGlobe pic.twitter.com/ophnSYNfgc
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) June 4, 2020

Powerful then and now.

NBA Rumors: League ‘Paying Close Attention’ To German Basketball Bundesliga’s Return — NESN.com

German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) is set to return to action Saturday for the first time since March 8, something the NBA will be keeping a close eye on. Commissioner Stefan Holz told ESPN the players in the BBL will wear chips that monitor their movement over the course of their 36-game tournament that features 10…

NBA Rumors: League ‘Paying Close Attention’ To German Basketball Bundesliga’s Return — NESN.com

Jets Star Jamal Adams Rejects Apologies From Drew Brees, Jake Fromm — NESN.com

A pair of NFL quarterbacks issued apologies Thursday for controversial comments they made. Jamal Adams is doubting the sincerity of their sentiments. Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints twice publicly expressed regret for speaking out against NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. Buffalo Bills rookie Jake Fromm, meanwhile, apologized for a past text…

Jets Star Jamal Adams Rejects Apologies From Drew Brees, Jake Fromm — NESN.com

MLS Rumors: Kevin Durant Buys Ownership Stake In This Soccer Team — NESN.com

Kevin Durant is checking into the beautiful game. The NBA superstar has bought a small ownership stake in the Philadelphia Union, The Sports Business Journal’s Mark J. Burns reported Thursday, citing a source. Durant will own between one percent and five percent of the Major League Soccer club, although it’s nuclear whether the minority stake…

MLS Rumors: Kevin Durant Buys Ownership Stake In This Soccer Team — NESN.com

Galaxy releases Aleksandar Katai in light of wife’s racist posts — Press Telegram

The Galaxy announced it has released midfielder Aleksandar Katai following racist Instagram posts by his wife. One post by Tea Katai was of a NYPD police cruiser driving into a crowd of protesters with a caption in Serbian that translated to “kill those pieces of (expletive).” The next one showed a lady protester running away…

Galaxy releases Aleksandar Katai in light of wife’s racist posts — Press Telegram

Pittsburgh Penguins Announce Player Has Tested Positive For COVID-19 — NESN.com

Just as the NHL is finalizing its plans to resume its 2019-20 season, COVID-19 has struck the league again. A player for the Pittsburgh Penguins has tested positive for the coronavirus, the team announced Thursday in a statement. The team states the player is not located in Pittsburgh “and has been in isolation at his…

Pittsburgh Penguins Announce Player Has Tested Positive For COVID-19 — NESN.com

TFC captain Michael Bradley slams Trump, saying the U.S. president does not have a “moral bone in his body” — Toronto Sun

An “angry” and “horrified” Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley made an impassioned plea on Thursday to try be “part of the fix” in terms of better understanding the racial inequality and social injustice that has continued to plague the black community. Read More

TFC captain Michael Bradley slams Trump, saying the U.S. president does not have a “moral bone in his body” — Toronto Sun

Blue Jays cut four members of 2019 Fisher Cats — Manchester Ink Link

On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays organization cut 26 minor league players, including four that spent time with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2019.

Blue Jays cut four members of 2019 Fisher Cats — Manchester Ink Link

TORONTO – On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays organization cut 26 minor league players, including four that spent time with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2019.

Perhaps the most famous name on the list is first baseman Kacy Clemens, son of former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens.

Kacy began the season platooning at first base for the Fisher Cats, but went back down to Advanced-A Dunedin after putting up a .145/.247/.169 slash line over 24 games with New Hampshire, collecting just two extra-base hits and seven RBI, with a strikeout to walk rate of nearly 3:1.

Another first baseman, Christian Williams, was also on the list. Williams came to New Hampshire from Dunedin in May, just as Clemens was heading in the opposite direction. During his 79 appearances with the ‘Cats, Williams wasn’t much better offensively (.228/.276/.342)

Whenever the season finally starts, the Fisher Cats will still have options at first base. Nash Knight has played just under half of his five-year minor league career at first (127 games), and can fill in at second even though he’s played mostly at the hot corner.

Cullen Large and Deiferson Bareto could also theoretically step in, with each playing two games each at first during their minor league careers, and Ryan Noda may get a shot after he supplanted Clemens as the primary first baseman in Dunedin last year (.238/.372/.418), leading the team in homers (13), doubles (27) and RBI (74) over 117 games, also collecting 14 stolen bases and 74 walks.

The other two cuts included pitcher Turner Larkins, who threw one inning of relief for the ‘Cats last season and infielder Jake Brodt, who went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts in two games in Manchester in late August.

FC Dallas player tests positive for coronavirus — SBI Soccer

On the same day it was announced that MLS would return to play, it was also revealed that an unidentified player had contracted COVID-19. FC Dallas announced on Wednesday afternoon that one of its players has (…)

FC Dallas player tests positive for coronavirus — SBI Soccer

Lakers’ Danny Green joins Black Lives Matter march through Downtown L.A. — Daily News

Lakers guard Danny Green joined a growing number of NBA players who’ve taken to the streets to protest in the aftermath of George Floyd was killed in police custody on May 25. With thousands of others making their way through Downtown L.A., from City Hall to the Hall of Justice, Green marched Wednesday evening with…

Lakers’ Danny Green joins Black Lives Matter march through Downtown L.A. — Daily News