Many consider the summer a dead period for sports. While baseball season hits its stride from June to August, the NBA and NHL enter their off-seasons. The NFL begins its training camp and preseason, but real football does not start until the fall. Despite not having games to watch, this summer was filled with major headlines from the world of sports.
1. LeBron James takes his talents to LA:
Arguably the best player in the NBA, James found a new home this off-season in basketball’s glitziest market. He decided to leave his home state’s Cleveland Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers, a team with young, talented players, but also a team lacking playoff experience. Many believe that James’ decision was less motivated by competition and more by his business interests and family. James has invested heavily in different social and financial ventures in LA, and his family holds a soft-spot for the city. Regardless of why he moved there, James is a Laker now, and the purple and gold are relevant again.
2. France wins the World Cup:
On July 15, France defeated Croatia and won their second World Cup title. While established stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar lost earlier in the tournament, younger players like Paul Pogba of France and Harry Kane of England rose to the occasion. Though Croatia ultimately lost, their team enjoyed a Cinderella run to the championship game, defeating talented teams like Denmark and England along the way.
3. The NFL Anthem-Kneeling Saga Continues:
In May the NFL banned players from kneeling on the field during the national anthem. This move was in response to nationwide criticism, led by President Trump. During the 2016 season, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began taking a knee during the pregame national anthem to protest the injustices faced by African-American communities in the country. Several players around the league began to follow his example. Though the move was meant to raise awareness of a major social issue, many criticized Kaepernick and other players for their actions, citing that they were disrespecting the American flag. The debate over kneeling has only grown more controversial, and teams were preparing to enforce heavy punishments for players kneeling. The NFL recently tabled the new rule, saying that they wanted to meet with the NFL Players Association before deciding how to respond to the protests. Whatever the NFL decides, its players have started a national story that is not going away anytime soon.