All three networks on Thursday touted NBA stars at the ESPY awards making a “call to action" on guns, but only CBS highlighted former Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade demanding a stop to the “shoot-to-kill” of African Americans. Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos opened the show by announcing, “Demanding action at the ESPYs.”
Reporter T.J. Holmes recapped, “What we saw last night on the biggest night in sports was four NBA superstars take the stage standing side by side and calling out their fellow athletes for not saying enough and doing enough when it comes to gun violence and race in this country.”
Over on CBS This Morning, Jim Axelrod highlighted, “There was no getting away from the headlines that have been dominating the news in this country. And some of the biggest names from the sports world used their high profile platform to call for action.”
Only CBS included this quote from Wade: “The racial profiling has to stop. The shoot-to-kill mentality has to stop. Not seeing the value of black and brown bodies has to stop. But also the retaliation has to stop.”
NBC’s Today offered less coverage with Carson Daly explaining, “Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and, yes, LeBron James, they opened the show advocating for change.”
The ESPYs also featured Steph Curry on the show. Curry is part of the pro-gun control Everytown.
A transcript of the CBS This Morning segment is below:
CBS This Morning
7/14/16
7:16GAYLE KING: Some of the biggest NBA stars are speaking out against racism and gun violence. Their powerful words came at last night’s ESPY awards, honoring this year’s top athletes. Big names from sports, entertainment and politics all voiced concerns about the issues pressing this country. Jim Axelrod shows us the most moving moments of the evening. Jim, good morning.
JIM AEXELROD: Good morning the ESPY’s recognize achievements in the world of sports. But last night, there was no getting away from the headlines that have been dominating the news in this country. And some of the biggest names from the sports world used their high profile platform to call for action.
[Video Footage from ESPY’s]
CHRIS PAUL: Laquan McDonald. Alton Sterling. Philando Castile.
AXELROD: NBA stars Chris Paul, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony opened the show with a plea.
DWAYNE WADE: The racial profiling has to stop. The shoot-to-kill mentality has to stop. Not seeing the value of black and brown bodies has to stop. But also the retaliation has to stop.
LEBRON JAMES: It's time to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, what are we doing to create change?
AXELROD: The calls to curb gun violence continued as Zenobia Dobson accepted the Arthur Ashe courage award on behalf of her son, Zaevion. The fifteen-year-old football player was shot and killed from Tennessee was shot and killed last year while protecting others from gunfire.
ZENOBIA DOBSON: Think tonight about why he died and what you can do tomorrow to prevent the next innocent young man or woman from being lost as well.
AXELROD: Vice President Joe Biden presented the Jimmy V award, named after the college basketball coach Jim Valvano whose public battle with cancer became an inspiration.
VP JOE BIDEN: Like Jimmy V, my son, Beau, never let cancer touch his heart or his soul. He lived his entire life by my father's code, which was, never explain, never complain, just get up.
AXELROD: This year's recipient was side line reporter Craig Sager who has spent the last year-and-a-half battling leukemia.
CRAIG SAGER: I want you to know that your will to live and to fight cancer to make all the difference in the world. I will live my life full of love and full of fun. It's the only way I know how.
AXELROD: The ESPY’s also paid tribute to some of the iconic sports figures who died this year, including Pat Summit and Muhammad Ali.
KING: It was a moving program last night. And Craig Sager, it's always good seeing him looking so great. Everybody is pulling for him. Thank you Jim.
