Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

You got to read about Sam Jones' views of racial bias , and here are some quotes from Marcus Smart on bias and the police.  As a kid back home in Texas, I was followed by sales associates in stores and called derogatory names more times than I can count. When I was a sophomore at Oklahoma State, a fan decided that it was perfectly O.K. for him to call me the n-word after I fell into the seats during a game. When I got to the league in 2014, the racism didn’t stop. “I can’t believe that guy (Colin Kaepernick) would actually kneel like that during the anthem,” he (cop) tells me. “Can you believe that? I’m just really glad you’re not like that guy. Right? You’re not one of them.” A year or so later, I got pulled over for speeding and it was just ... more of the same. “Nice ride. Are you a rapper or something?” I was pulling out of the arena parking lot when I saw a white woman with her five- or six-year-old son crossing against the light right as the cars were starting to come at the...

  Sam Jones and Marcus Smart may be two generations apart, but they share a view of racial bias and perhaps memories of negative encounters with police officers. My readers already know of the respect I hold for both of these men, So, as a white man who has spent 20 years in law enforcement and another 57 years in civilian life, I listen to what they have to say. Here are some comments from Sam when I spoke with him during a phone interview: "The League should have done more about racial bigotry (in the 60's)". "We never should have stayed (in hotels) that segregated us from each other", "In Kentucky, we (black players) could stay in the hotel but couldn't eat in the hotel restaurant". "You have to stand up for what is right". "You gotta walk in my shoes". NOTE: Sam was getting quite intense at this point. "When I can put on my (Army) uniform. When I can die for the people of the United States of America, but they won't...