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Get Up! Debates Realities Of NBA Players Threatening Not To Play

“Remember, players have until June 24 to decide whether or not they will participate in the restart.”

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As the NBA unveiled their health and safety protocol handbook on Tuesday, one of the major storylines around the league is whether or not some players are going to return to the league due to wanting to keep awareness of the social injustice in this country. 

A group of players led by Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets and Avery Bradley of the Los Angeles Lakers have met and discussed changes they want to see happen in the NBA that are important to them. Here is what Bradley had to say to ESPN

“I agree (the) Orlando (restart) will give the players checks to contribute back into their communities,” Bradley said. “But how much of that bubble check are players actually able to contribute? Why (is) all of the responsibility being put on the players?”

There was an interesting segment on Get Up on Wednesday with Stephen A. Smith, former NBA player Matt Barnes, and ESPN analyst and former Vice President of the NFL Players Association Executive Committee and Chief Operating Officer of the NBAPA Dominique Foxworth about the NBA restart and the group thinking about sitting out games due to raising awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement. Remember, players have until June 24 to decide whether or not they will participate in the restart. Barnes mentioned that he has spoke to players that are close to the movement.

“In regard to the Black Lives Matter movement, the players have to understand the moment… We have to be able to seize the moment. I am not against players sitting out, but I am against players sitting out without a plan…just to sit out without a plan is counterproductive,” said Barnes. 

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime situation if we think back about it. When did the world shut down? When the NBA stopped playing. I think everyone is looking to the NBA to set the tone again and I think this would be a tremendous mistake If players don’t play and then pass this on to football and baseball. Although those sports have players that feel like we feel, they don’t really have the platform and the voices like we do,” added Barnes. 

Smith voiced his frustration with Irving, saying if there is no action, it makes sitting out counterproductive.

“I can disagree with Kyrie Irving simply expressing himself without a plan. I applaud what he’s doing in terms of where his heart lies. If it doesn’t come with productivity moving forward, then what have you accomplished? This is not just a moment to me, this is a time, this is our time. It is an opportunity to take the bull by the horn and make it happen.”

Dominique Foxworth added another opinion towards the end of the conversation about why players might think that sitting out might be the way to go to keep the conversations going. 

“You have to be ready to hold out. I think it is admirable,” Foxworth said. “I don’t agree with Kyrie as the messenger, but I think it is admirable what they are doing in this moment no matter the timing. What they are doing is using the leverage they have because as soon as they show up, the leverage is gone.” 

In addition, he mentioned how playing games does create a way for some people to avoid any uncomfortable conversations about what is happening in America right now.

“This is about making white people uncomfortable, making them face the uncomfortable reality… They say sports is their refuge. We don’t have a refuge as black people…. ESPN, the past several weeks, we have done social stuff just as much as we have done other sports. As soon as they start playing basketball games, we are going to pay lip service to whatever kneeling or shirts that people are wearing…We can’t deny that it does afford some place to exit the conversation.” 

Smith and Barnes talked about how a plan is needed in order to raise awareness and Foxworth voiced the frustration that some people are probably feeling right now. It was a debate on Get Up that showed both sides of the story as the dialogue in this country continues. 

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Report: NFL to Put Christmas Day Doubleheader Up For Bids

Bidding is expected to start at $50 million among the current NFL media partners but some think the games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

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The NFL will reportedly put its Christmas Day games up for auction, allowing its current media partners to bid for the games. Now, it’s up to CBS, FOX, ESPN, NBC, and Prime Video to pay up for rights to one of these two marquee games.

According to Front Office Sports Michael McCarthy, preference will be given to linear networks, so Prime Video and Peacock may sit this one out. Bidding is expected to start at $50 million but McCarthy and his sources expect that number to rise. John Kosner, the former ESPN executive, thinks the new Christmas Day games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

The NFL announced a Wednesday Christmas Day doubleheader during its annual league meetings. The league originally said it wouldn’t force games on Christmas Day if the holiday fell on an odd day of the week, though as the NFL continues to put games on days outside of Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and sometimes Saturdays, we’re running out of days that don’t feature NFL football.

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Colorado Rockies & DirecTV Reach Agreement to Carry Games on TV

“Colorado sports fans have made DIRECTV the top destination for their favorite local teams. We will continue to work with MLB…so fans can get their games.”

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Colorado Rockies

Breathe easy, Rockies fans — you will be able to watch your club on linear TV this year. At the buzzer, DirecTV and the Colorado Rockies agreed on terms to distribute the team’s games throughout its local service.

Starting today, DirecTV Choice subscribers across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Southern Idaho, Western Nebraska, and Northern New Mexico can now watch the Rockies on a special channel simply titled, “ROCKIES.” The games will be available on DirecTV and DirecTV STREAM via channel 683.

“Colorado sports fans have made DIRECTV the top destination to get all their favorite local teams,” said Rob Thun, chief content officer of DIRECTV. “We will continue to work with MLB, the NBA, NHL, and other top leagues and their local franchises so the most avid fans can get the games they want while other customers have more choice over the content they want to pay to have in their homes.”

Reports just days ago out of Colorado said there were “no guarantees” the Rockies would not find a TV home in time for Opening Day following the sunsetting of AT&T SportsNet. The only other way to watch the team is to use its direct-to-consumer Rockies.tv streaming service, which fans say is too pricey for a team that lost 103 games last season. Luckily, the team was able to secure a TV home for 2024, though the future is still uncertain.

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Erin Andrews Reveals Infertility Journey in Emotional ‘Today Show’ Interview

FOX reporter Erin Andrews sat down with ‘The Today Show’s’ Kristen Welker to discuss her journey, how Welker’s own journey inspired her, and more.

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Erin Andrews

FOX reporter Erin Andrews shared her story of infertility and surrogacy with NBC’s Today Show. Last summer, Andrews and her husband welcomed a baby boy via surrogate after trying for a decade to get pregnant via IVF, during which she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016. Today, she sat down with Kristen Welker to discuss her journey, how Welker’s own journey inspired her, and more.

Andrews says Welker’s announcement on the Today Show made her think a baby could be possible. “I remember Kristin Welker’s announcement on your show,” Andrews said last year, “and I actually watched that the morning Mac was born, because that just hit me.”

When they finally sat down, Welker asked Andrews why her journey resonated with the sports reporter so much:

“Because I see myself in you. Kristen, the video of you moderating debates after you’re waiting on bad news or maybe you just received it, that’s me. I can tell you every stand-up I’ve done at a football game where I’ve gotten the news that it didn’t work. I’d be talking about Tom Brady going for this record and my record is that I still was failing…I would have chest pains every time I was waiting for the call if it worked, and I knew it wouldn’t work.

Erin Andrews on ‘Today’

Andrews knew surrogacy was the only path to having a child. Although her family’s first attempt failed, her second attempt was a success, and she got to hear her child’s heartbeat for the very first time. The pair discuss the complex emotions that come with surrogacy, saying that bonds with their child could be affected because they didn’t carry their child. However, Welker assured Andrews that those feelings go away once you can talk to your child.

Once her son was born in June, who Andrews called, “a miracle,” she then talks about her child glowingly, talking about how he is just like mom — vocal. “He’s all me,” she says.

Andrews supports Baby Quest, a non-profit that grants money to families in need of IVF or surrogacy to have a baby but don’t have the funds to pursue these expensive treatments. Both Andrews and Welker acknowledged how difficult and unattainable their journies are for some families — and Andrews even used the NFL’s “My Cleats, My Cause” initiative to raise awareness for her cause.

“People don’t need to feel embarrassed that they have a surrogate or are looking for other help,” Andrews said.

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