The NBA has declared that unvaccinated players won’t be paid if they miss matches due to executive orders in place in New York and San Francisco. The ruling could hit stars such as Kyrie Irving and Andrew Wiggins especially hard.
NBA executive vice president of communications Mike Bass confirmed on Wednesday that “any player who elects not to comply with local vaccination mandates will not be paid for games that he misses.”
The statement comes after executive orders were passed in New York and San Francisco which affect local teams the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors respectively.
The NBA just announced it will withhold pay for all unvaccinated players who miss games due to local mandates. Will be very interesting to see what the union has to say about this.
At the Nets’ Barclays Center home, one Covid-19 shot is required to enter; anyone hoping to attend games in the Chase Center in San Francisco – where the Warriors play home games – will have to be fully vaccinated ahead of the new season.
New York’s other NBA team the Knicks are not believed to be affected after saying their entire organization had been fully vaccinated in accordance with local law.
However, Nets star Irving is one person almost certain to be affected, and has been among the most-talked about stars in sport not to get the vaccine.
Irving was absent from the team’s media day in New York earlier this week, and according to recent reports in Rolling Stone, Irving has started following and ‘liking’ conspiracy-themed Instagram posts “which claim that ‘secret societies’ are implanting vaccines in a plot to connect black people to a master computer for ‘a plan of Satan.’”
Wiggins, meanwhile, has said that his vaccination status is “private” but is said to be “hellbent on not getting the vaccine,” according to TMZ.
Earlier this month, the 26-year-old Canadian was denied a request for a vaccine exemption on religious grounds.
“Wiggins will not be able to play in Warriors home games until he fulfills the city’s vaccination requirements,” the NBA said.
TMZ has calculated that unless the two stars change their stance, they are set to miss out on at least 41 home games this season, with Wiggins in line to lose a whopping $15.8 million while Irving will pass up a mammoth $17.5 million.
Elsewhere, Orlando Magic star Jonathan Isaac used his team’s media day this week to give a passionate speech about why he isn’t planning to get vaccinated.
Self-confessed ‘skeptic’ LeBron James revealed that he had taken the step ahead of the new season after “doing his research” on the issue.
A Ukrainian Hockey League player has been hit with a seemingly soft ban after being sent off for racially abusing a black player by making the gesture of peeling an imaginary banana and eating it in a game at the weekend.
Cameras caught Kremenchuk forward Andrei Deniskin making the taunt towards Donbass Donetsk’s new signing Jalen Smereck, who hails from the United States, in the 36th minute of their league clash.
Understandably, the 23-year-old was immediately sent off for the act but he did attempt to cover his tracks post-game by insisting he does not discriminate against people of different backgrounds.
“During the match, I, being of negative emotions, displayed a gesture that could be considered as an insult [relating to] race,” Deniskin said while offering a public apology to Smereck.
“I respect all people regardless of their race or nationality. Emotions in hockey, unfortunately, are different.”
A disgusting gesture in the UHL was made towards American Jalen Smereck… This is embarrassing and pathetic for hockey. @IIHFHockey needs to step up here. pic.twitter.com/cSqxBKVC4k
In their own statement, Donbass condemned “all forms of discrimination” and claimed to be “outraged by the behavior” of Deniskin.
The league had threatened that there could be extra sanctions against the youngster, while Smereck refused to play until Deniskin has been suspended or banned, and has today lived up to its word in a fashion.
Following Deniskin’s ill-advised moment of madness, the league’s disciplinary committee has decided to apply a mandatory three-game ban for the Ukraine international.
However, Deniskin can pay off a further 10-game suspension at a rate of 5,000 hryvnia ($188) per game (to a total of $1,880), in a move that is likely to infuriate those who called for much heavier penalties.
Popular Twitter account the World Hockey Report said that “an appropriate response would be a five-year ban from hockey, plus 500 hours of community service which must be done as a league volunteer. Either that or lifetime ban.”
Would say an appropriate response would be a five year ban from hockey, plus 500 hours of community service which must be done as a league volunteer. Either that or lifetime ban. Would be nice to see @uhlua and @IIHFHockey make a real statement that this will not be tolerated.
They added that it “would be nice to see” the UHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation, “make a real statement that this will not be tolerated”.
The former party has apparently failed to do that, with the latter yet to deal with Deniskin.
Until then, however, Donbass are expected to appeal the unsatisfactory ruling.
The first trainer of Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk has said he expects the world heavyweight champion to return to his Crimean roots and visit a local gym to serve as an inspiration for the youngsters there.
Usyk stunned the world in London on Saturday night as he comprehensively outboxed home favorite Anthony Joshua to become the new WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight champion.
The Ukrainian, 34, became just the third man in history to win world titles at cruiserweight and then heavyweight, having earlier been the undisputed ruler of the 200 lbs ranks.
Usyk has since returned home to Kiev, but there are hopes that the Simferopol-born fighter will head back to Crimea in the near future to see aspiring young sports stars in the region.
“We expect that he’ll come. Within three weeks, not earlier, he’ll come to the gym and visit, I hope,” the star’s first boxing trainer, Sergey Lapin, told TASS.
“He still has his sister and mother-in-law [in Crimea], there is someone to come to visit,” Lapin added.
While Usyk proudly flies the flag for Ukraine in boxing rings around the world, the Olympic gold medalist has not always been showered with full adulation in return.
In particular, some have claimed Usyk has not done enough to bang the anti-Russian drum regarding the return of Crimea to Russia in a landslide referendum in 2014.
Usyk has consistently been asked whether he considers Crimea to be Ukrainian or Russian, but on different occasions has said it is “God’s” or simply replying “Crimea is Crimea”.
The boxer has likewise angered some in Ukraine by appearing in religious videos for a branch of the Orthodox church linked to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Lapin, however, hopes that Usyk will still visit the gym where around 160 young boxers train, and where his picture adorns the walls.
“While the guys are at such an age that they are on their way to becoming fully-formed, everything is ahead… We will make champions, and Sasha will come, by personal example he will inspire the guys to exploits,” said Lapin.
Usyk himself suggested after his victory over Joshua that he would take his titles to Crimea to celebrate.
“Of course [I will go to Crimea],”said Usyk, who continues to use Russian as his first language.
“I want to see my coach, my sister.
“To go to my beloved gym, to say thank you to the coach for bringing me to a high level.
“He taught me how to box, defend, think. He made a boy out of a man.”
Usyk’s unanimous decision victory over Joshua improved his unblemished professional record to 19 wins from 19 fights.
Joshua is set to activate the rematch clause in his contract to face the Ukrainian again next year, although many believe the result will be little different from Usyk’s masterclass in London.
UFC flyweight Maryna Moroz has denied that she pulled out of a fourth scheduled fight in a row, with the Ukrainian declaring that she is “healthy” despite the news that she won’t be competing as planned on October 16.
Moroz was due to end her 19-month absence from the Octagon against Luana Carolina at UFC Vegas 40, but according to MMA Fighting the Brazilian will now face America’s Sijara Eubanks instead.
For Moroz, 30, it will be a fourth canceled bout since she last competed in March 2020, when the star earned a unanimous decision victory against Mayra Bueno Silva to improve her record to 10-3 overall.
In the ensuing period much of Moroz’s publicity has come through her personal OnlyFans-style website where she shares exclusive content with subscribers, as well as a public spat with fellow UFC star Mariya Agapova over claims of the Kazakh fighter’s wild behavior.
But in an attempt to clarify the latest failure in her efforts to get back to the cage, Moroz issued an Instagram message in which she said she was not to blame for the collapse in her bout with Carolina.
“I am healthy and continue to prepare for the fight. I don’t care who my [opponent] will be. I just want to fight,” said the Miami-based fighter, sharing a clip of herself training at the fabled American Top Team gym.
One unhappy fan took Moroz to task, replying: “Then why did you pull out of the second fight in a row? Something don’t make sense here…”
That touched a nerve with the Ukrainian however, who shot back: “Are you stupid I did not refuse, I am healthy and continue to train.”
“I’m not stupid. I’m a huge fan and want to see you fight. If you’re healthy, why not fight?” responded the fan.
Another chimed in: “You’ve pulled out of 4 fights in a row. Stop getting rude to people in your [Instagram] comments, this is why you’ve got no fans. You want some?”
“At what point do you cut Maryna Moroz due to her pulling out of so many fights?” argued one fan.
“Moroz hasn’t done anything memorable since her first UFC fight against Jojo [Calderwood]. She’s basically an Instagram ‘model’ now,” scorned another person.
Elsewhere, though, there were messages of support for a fighter who has had her hand raised in five of her eight outings in the UFC Octagon since making her debut with the promotion in April of 2015.
“I sympathize. You will prove yourself, we’re waiting for a new date!” read one message.
Moroz is not the only casualty of UFC Vegas 40, set to take place at the promotion’s Apex facility in Las Vegas.
Recently-returned superstar Miesha Tate was forced out of her headliner with Ketlen Vieira after contracting Covid, and the bill will instead be topped by a showdown between Holly Holm and Norma Dumont.
ESPN host Sage Steele has branded the media company’s mandating of the Covid vaccine for its employees ‘sick’ and ‘scary’, and said she received her jabs purely to remain in her role on Sportscenter.
On the Uncut with Jay Cutler podcast hosted by the former Chicago Bears quarterback, Steele took the opportunity to rage against her employers, who like many others in the US are making their staff receive their Covid vaccines.
“I work for a company that mandates it and I had until September 30th to get it done or I’m out,” Steele revealed.
“I respect everyone’s decision, I really do, but to mandate it is sick and it’s scary to me in many ways,” she added.
“I just, I’m not surprised it got to this point, especially with Disney, I mean a global company like that,” Steele admitted, in regards to the entertainment conglomerate that owns ESPN.
The 48-year-old confirmed that she had her jabs but “didn’t want to.”
Another colleague, however, Allison Williams, who reported on college sports from the sidelines, had to walk away from her position this season as she said taking the vaccine “is not in my best interest” while trying to conceive a second child with her husband.
This will be the first fall in the last 15 years I won’t be on the sidelines for College Football. My heart hurts posting this but I’m at peace with my decision. pic.twitter.com/np5V3gdrfW
Yesterday, Steele retweeted a statement regarding vaccines from NBA star Jonathan Isaac, who took offense to a Rolling Stone article that dubbed him anti-vax and wrote that: “Misrepresentation only allows for others to attack straw men, and not reason with the true ideas and heart of their fellow man. It helps no one!
“True journalism is dying! I believe it is your God given right to decide if taking the vaccine is right for you! Period!,” the Orlando Magic power forward concluded.
Misrepresentation only allows for others to attack straw men, and not reason with the true ideas and heart of their fellow man. It helps no one! True journalism is dying! I believe it is your God given right to decide if taking the vaccine is right for you! Period! More to follow
Thank you!! I just wanted to show how badly I was misrepresented/ share my views on things. To see that many share my opinion is encouraging! Whether you are vaxxed or not you’re free to your own convictions And I stand with you and against bullying! Keep the faith and God bless! https://t.co/zLvVCJbxJm
Issac, who has contracted Covid once already, has been outspoken regarding his reluctance to take the vaccine as vaccination rates in the NBA stand at 90%.
On Wednesday, the league’s executive vice president of communications Mike Bass announced that any player “who elects not to comply with local vaccination mandates will not be paid for games that he misses.”
