Sports

Pistons Owner Tom Gores Backs Players Taking a Knee

September 25, 2017, 11:57 AM by  Allan Lengel

Featured_tom-gores_pistons_320x300_27495
Tom Gores (File photo)

Pistons owner Tom Gores becomes the latest sports team owner to support a player's rights to kneel during the national anthem.

"America’s most treasured values include equality and diversity, and the right to effect change through peaceful expression and thoughtful debate," Gores says in a statement. "Our players care deeply about our community, and they demonstrate that every day.

"We support their right to raise awareness in a manner they believe is both thoughtful and impactful. We hope that any response to it will be equally thoughtful."

On Sunday, Lions' owner Martha Ford issued a statement supporting the players after President Trump suggested teams fire players who refuse to stand during the anthem.

No executive at the Iliitch family organization, owner of the Tigers and Red Wings, has commented on the flashpoint issue. 

Last November, right after the presidential election, Pistons Coach Stan Van Gundy ripped Trump:

"I didn’t vote for (George W.) Bush, but he was a good, honorable man with whom I had political differences, so I didn’t vote for him. But for our country to be where we are now, who took a guy who -- I don’t care what anyone says, I’m sure they have other reasons and maybe good reasons for voting for Donald Trump.

But I don’t think anybody can deny this guy is openly and brazenly racist and misogynistic and ethnic-centric, and say, 'That’s OK with us, we’re going to vote for him anyway.'"



Leave a Comment:

Photo Of The Day