Sports & Politics Intersect: US Open leads to international volley over racism

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• Alex Cora: Trump’s tweets about Maria death toll “disrespectful” - Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora spoke about President Trump’s tweets regarding the reported death toll in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria last year. Cora, who is from Puerto Rico, lamented that for Trump "to be tweeting about 3,000 people and being efficient, it's actually disrespectful for my country."

• Lawsuit alleges another horrific act by Nassar - A newly filed federal lawsuit claims that former doctor Larry Nassar drugged, raped and impregnated Erika Davis, a then-17-year-old field hockey player at Michigan State in 1992. It goes further, alleging a cover-up by the school. Meanwhile, survivors of Nassar’s abuse hesitate to speak with a law firm investigating the roles of the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics.

• Cindy McCain an honorary captain for Cardinals - In her first public appearance since the passing of Senator John McCain, his widow, Cindy McCain, served as an honorary captain of the Arizona Cardinals for their Week 1 opener. Joined by team captains, including Larry Fitzgerald, McCain watched the pregame coin flip, which the home team Cardinals won.

• Bush, Pence attend funeral for late Magic owner - Former President George W. Bush attended the private funeral in Grand Rapids for Rich DeVos, the co-founder of Amway and the owner of the Orlando Magic. (DeVos was the father-in-law of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.) Vice President Mike Pence also visited with the family after he made a speech on tax reform.

• Mayor rescinds Nike ban after backlash - In response to Nike’s recent campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick, who was the first NFL player to protest during the national anthem, Ben Zahn, the mayor of Kenner, Louisiana, ordered a ban on the use of Nike apparel by local booster clubs in the town’s public spaces. The ban was rescinded a few days later, but not before New Orleans Saints players Cameron Jordan and Terron Armstead joined town residents in protesting the order.

• Goodell, Players Coalition members on “listening” tour - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell joined several players from the New Orleans Saints on the Players Coalition’s “Listen and Learn Tour,” where they heard from lawyers from the Orleans Public Defenders office. The visit is one of several planned around the country as part of the combined coalition and league efforts to engage in social justice issues.

• NHL in mediation over concussion lawsuit - The NHL is entering mediation with former players currently suing the league over its handling of concussions, but commissioner Gary Bettman stated that the league is just complying with the judge’s orders. The league still believes the suit doesn’t have merit.

• Cleveland Indians shelved “Chief Wahoo” for Toronto series - In Toronto, the Cleveland Indians wore road uniforms without the controversial “Chief Wahoo” logo on the sleeve. It’s the result of a human rights complaint filed by indigenous activist Douglas Cardinal during the 2016 playoff tilt between Cleveland and the Blue Jays. The team said it was an organizational decision, not MLB’s, and Cardinal’s lawyer was pleased with the development.

• Senator Pacquiao gets OK for combat sports commission - In the Philippines, the nation’s senate gave the green light to form the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission, the pet project of sitting senator and future Hall of Fame boxer Manny Pacquiao. The group aims to support combat athletes with health benefits, greater emergency medical services and more.

• Bills’ stadium plans put on hold - Kim Pegula, co-owner of the Buffalo Bills, said  the team will wait until after November's gubernatorial elections to begin discussions with New York state officials on either renovating New Era Field or pursuing a new stadium. Incumbent governor Andrew Cuomo, who won his Democratic primary, negotiated terms on the last lease of the former Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2012.

• Survey reveals some golfers like/tolerate Trump - In an anonymous survey of nearly 60 pro golfers, about 56 percent of them voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 42 percent said they would vote for him again. One of the respondents said, “He’s made me some money. That’s all I care about.” These are the only "anomanoussss" people the president may like.

• High school football game marred by racism allegations - In Orange County, California, a football game between rival schools became another highlight of overt racial tensions stoked in the Trump era. Students of the mostly white Aliso Niguel High allegedly used racial animus to upset the visitors from Santa Ana High School, which is predominantly Latinx. 

• Louisville Slugger being eyed by Chinese manufacturer - Anta Sports Products Limited, a Chinese company, has offered $5.5 billion to buy Finland-based Amer Sports Oyj. Why is this notable? One, Amer Sports Oyj owns Louisville Slugger, which has made baseball bats in the U.S. for over 130 years. Two, it’s the latest company caught up in President Trump’s trade war.

• Petition formed to free LSU mascot - Close to 35,000 people signed a petition asking for LSU to release live mascot Mike the Tiger and no longer use live animals for mascots. On the school’s use of Mike, Care2 said that “even treated very kindly, it’s easier to see them as mere entertainment, disposable props for football … We’re trying to stop that message completely.”

• Breanna Stewart’s best year ever - Seattle Storm star Breanna Stewart was named WNBA MVP and WNBA Finals MVP after helping her team bring home its third league title. Yet, in going public earlier this year about a childhood trauma of being molested by a family friend, her honesty and vulnerability endeared her to even more fans while freeing the person she is on the court.

• World Cup protester may have been poisoned - Pyotr Verzilov, an activist who also helped launch the band Pussy Riot, was recently hospitalized after a suspected poisoning. The band is infamous for its criticism of Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and staged an on-field protest in Moscow during the men’s World Cup, which Verzilov participated in.

This week in sports and politics history: Sport Aid falls flat in 1988 event 

"CARE makes it possible, and all you need is a pair of running shoes." -  Madonna 

This week marks the 30th anniversary of 1988's Sport Aid, the ugly, neglected and often-forgotten stepchild of the massive worldwide charity fundraising events organized by Bob Geldof.

The first Sport Aid actually took place in 1986 and served as a follow-up to 1985's Live Aid, the benefit concert simultaneously held in London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's JFK Stadium that featured performances by the likes of Elvis Costello, Queen, David Bowie, The Beach Boys and Bob Dylan. The dual concerts were also broadcast via satellite across the world. By the time it was over, organizers had raised more than £130 million (close to $200 million in today's dollars). 

The 1986 version of Sport Aid was a multi-day campaign that ended with a worldwide 10k race,  dubbed "Race Against Time," held in 89 different countries. Sport Aid even had a theme song, a reworked version of Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" that was redubbed "Everybody Wants to Run the World.”

Though not as successful as Live Aid, Sport Aid still managed to raise a significant amount of money for UNICEF — estimates range between $37 million to $100 million.

Sport Aid 1986 also had the misfortune of coinciding with "Hands Across America," which certainly affected participation in the United States. 

Setbacks aside, organizers felt Sport Aid was enough of a success that they tried to do it again in 1988. It failed miserably despite being promoted by a young Madonna. Part of the problem? A severe lack of sponsorship and merchandising. To Sport Aid 1988's credit, however, it did yield a lot of great musically curious performances, which you can listen to at your own leisure here, perhaps while running a 10k race for charity.