Thursday's Mashup: Sports world reacts to Brees' comments

Good morning and Happy Thursday! All about that good weather and being better today than yesterday. Smile if you're with me!

Need a smile today. Here you go.Wait for it...-- pic.twitter.com/qM0Zr24pnH

— Rex Chapman---- (@RexChapman) June 3, 2020

Let's keep the Mashup train a rollin' and load you up with all need-to-know and the other stuff for the day.

A road Dice-K win tp put the Sox one W away from their second title in four years. Also, remember when Dice-K was a thing? Still waiting on that Gyroball.

Because we can't make this stuff up. We can try! We've learned better than to put anything past 2020. Still, pretty impressive.

Spanish porn star Nacho Vidal, who likes to advertise his aromatic candles shaped like male genitalia on Twitter, has been arrested on manslaughter charges following a man's death during a mystic ritual in which he inhaled psychedelic toad venom @AFP https://t.co/csPGMAnQOq

— Hazel Ward (@WardieJerusalem) June 3, 2020

BREES OF DISCONTENT

Saints QB, and universally beloved human, Drew Brees, came under heavy criticism Wednesday for comments he made in an interview with Yahoo Finance. In the conversation Brees, addressing the recent wave of protests and unrest following the death of George Floyd, spoke to the possibility of protests continuing through the NFL season. Brees, a patriot and charitable man of faith, said he "will never agree with anyone disrespecting the flag of the United States." These remarks set off a chain reaction of heated and emotional replies from professional athletes, past and present NFL players, Saints fans and more. And most weren't on Drew's side. Like the McCourty Twins' emotional reponse. And then there came replies from the likes of LeBron James...

WOW MAN!! ----‍♂️. Is it still surprising at this point. Sure isn’t! You literally still don’t understand why Kap was kneeling on one knee?? Has absolute nothing to do with the disrespect of ---- and our soldiers(men and women) who keep our land free. My father-in-law was one of those https://t.co/pvUWPmh4s8

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 3, 2020

... and oft outspoken 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman

He’s beyond lost. Guarantee you there were black men fighting along side your grandfather but this doesn’t seem to be about that. That uncomfortable conversation you are trying to avoid by injecting military into a conversation about brutality and equality is part of the problem https://t.co/ON81UsOWPw pic.twitter.com/HH3EVTIH8p

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) June 3, 2020

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was far from in lockstep with Brees.

Aaron Rodgers’ stance: pic.twitter.com/3XWgSN1e67

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 3, 2020

George Floyd's friend, former NBA player Stephen Jackson, couldn't help but unload.

Stephen Jackson calls out Drew Brees *NSFW* @brgridiron(via @DaTrillStak5) pic.twitter.com/vT6tRALMwq

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 3, 2020

Same with NFL Hall of Famer Ed Reed

Ed Reed thoughts on Drew Brees pic.twitter.com/zIwZTkpFvL

— Grantlong (@Grantlonggg) June 4, 2020

Some of his current teammates weren't happy either, like WR Emmanuel Sanders

Smh.. Ignorant

— Emmanuel Sanders (@ESanders_10) June 3, 2020

Or his #1 target, Michael Thomas

-- https://t.co/CIjXrlOIvp

— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) June 3, 2020

Even his fans in New Orleans, with whom he's shared a decade and a half long love affair with, seemed to turn on Brees Wednesday, in voice...

Brief "F--k Drew Brees" chant heard at a New Orleans protest @brgridiron*NSFW*(via @brynstole)pic.twitter.com/yk3JwcSAqQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 4, 2020

... and gesture.

Saints fans have spoken...https://t.co/Ej1LLN2N8X

— TPS (@TotalProSports) June 4, 2020

Brees, whose charitable actions are numerous, couldn't have predicted this charged response, yet seems to have miscalculated how his words would be perceived. There are reports that his words will be the focal point of a team meeting to come. Interested to hear how he further explains himself, and just how his teammates process and respond.

Good to see at least one Saint, past or present, came to Brees's defense Wednesday. Wonder if he called him from his endzone cell phone?

Joe Horn: People like LeBron James criticizing Drew Brees don't know him https://t.co/CQ4GrHmnXh

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 4, 2020

Surreal and maddening times call for sensitive and measured responses from our leaders. How Brees handles this may define the finale of his Saints tenure and his relationship with the fans he's loved for so long. 2020 just DGAF.

Tom Brady leaving New England really began the end of the world

— Corey B (@CoreyB08) June 3, 2020

BECAUSE WE NEED THIS

Perhaps it's not the "Dancin in the Streets" Van Halen sang of, or that you imagined, but it's the kind right now we're all here for.

The scene tonight in South Minneapolis.I’d be lying if I said this didn’t warm my heart. pic.twitter.com/JBLeH6UsTu

— Shaquille Brewster (@shaqbrewster) June 3, 2020

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Anyone remember this vintage NBA snacks commercial? Yeah, us neither. But it's pretty great. We can remember the Bird/MJ Big Mac spot. And Bird & Magic were basically besties for decades. But Bird and Kareem? Oddly enough it works. 

Bald Larry Bird raining in jumpers in 1986 would’ve been so fucking amazing I’m at a loss for words ...pic.twitter.com/et8Aog2gPK

— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) June 2, 2020

 

Patrice Bergeron releases powerful statement, donates to NAACP: 'Silence is not an option for me anymore'