Special Bruce Lee pair of sneakers worn by NBA star Steph Curry will benefit families of Georgia shooting victims

 

Steph Curry's shoes will be auctioned off to benefit the families of the Georgia shootings.

Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors' superstar point guard, wore a pair of shoes on the basketball court unlike any he has ever worn.

The yellow and black custom-made sneakers had an image of the legendary Bruce Lee and his family along with one of Lee's quotes.

Wearing the pair of shoes while playing in Atlanta against the NBA Hawks was intentional and significant.

News of the March 16 mass shooting  tragedy in Atlanta sparked outrage in Curry  immediately.

“Disgust, horror and outright anger at why any violence keeps happening in our country,” he told The Undefeated. “After all we have been through this past year, let alone in the history of our country, people still deal with unnecessary tragedy and are afraid for their lives. We have to do better.”

It took 12 hours of painting by Kreative Custom Kicks to design the sneakers. The inner panel features one of Curry’s favorite Bruce Lee quotes, “Under the heavens, there is but one family.”

“It’s plain and simple,” Curry tells The Undefeated. “We are all different and unique. On purpose. But, we are all human beings on a quest to fulfill our purpose and that energy should be used to uplift and love each other to the fullest. Anything else is a waste of our existence.”

Curry worked on the hand-painted shoes with The Bruce Lee Foundation managed by Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee. The plan is to auction off the shoes with the proceeds going to the families of the eight victims of the Georgia shooting carnage.

The Warriors have a huge Asian American fan base in the San Francisco Bay Area where 34% of its population is of Asian descent. 

“We have so many faithful Asian American fans that have supported me along this amazing journey,” he added. “We represent them on the court and I feel the love no matter where I go. You can’t replace that.”

“[I’m looking to] honor Bruce Lee and his continued influence and impact on today, but also shine a light on the work that needs to be done to bring all of us together, no matter what our background is,” Curry tells the Undefeated. “We have it in us, but it’s on all of us to make that reality happen. Spread love, joy, optimism and positivity always!”

Player identified who called Jeremy Lin "coronavirus"

JEREMY LIN

The player who called Jeremy Lin the "coronavirus" has been identified, says the NBA's G League. But the player won't be named.

"Lin has met the player to discuss the escalating racism and violence toward Asian Americans, and the player understands the impact that hearing his comment had on Lin," read the statement from the league.

The league will handle the matter "internally," meaning that the offending player will likely remain unnamed.

In reaction to the recent spate of violence against Asian American elders, Lin posted on his  social media accounts that  "Something is changing in this generation of Asian Americans. We are tired of being told that we don't experience racism, we are tired of being told to keep our heads down and not make trouble."

"I want better for my elders who worked so hard and sacrificed so much to make a life for themselves here. I want better for my niece and nephew and future kids. I want better for the next generation of Asian American athletes than to have to work so hard to just be 'deceptively athletic.'

In the same post he wrote that during a game, an opposing player called him "coronavirus."

The next day, the Taiwanese American posted that he did not intend to name the players. "To me, it's not about trying to take somebody down or anything like that," Lin told Don Lemon in an interview on CNN. "It's about building awareness, and it's about promoting solidarity."

Lin is in the midst of trying to make an NBA roster by playing in the G League witht he Santa Cruz Warriors, the Golden State Warriors minor league team. Last year no NBA team signed him up and he spent the season playing for the Beijing professional team. He turned down a lucrative contract to resign with Beijing in order to begin his NBA comeback. 

Although Lin has played well with the Santa Cruz team and shown he still has NBA-level skills, no team has offered the 32-year old guard a contract yet.

Lin broke into the NBA with the Golden State Warriors 11 years ago after he graduated from Yale and was undrafted. He is still the only Taiwanese American players in the pro leagues.

NBA reportedly investigating racist incident against Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin is currently playing with the Santa Cruz Warriors in his comeback attempt.

The National Basketball League is investigating a claim made by Jeremy Lin that he was called "coronavirus" during a game, an official from the NBA's G League told ESPN's Marc J. Spears on Friday.

Former NBA player and currently playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors, Lin took to Facebook on Thursday night to speak out against the surge of hate crimes experienced by Asians and Asian Americans in the United States.

In his Facebook post, Lin wrote: "Being a 9 year NBA veteran doesn't protect me from being called 'coronavirus' on the court."

“Something is changing in this generation of Asian Americans,” Lin wrote on Facebook. “We are tired of being told that we don’t experience racism, we are tired of being told to keep our heads down and not make trouble. We are tired of Asian American kids growing up and being asked where they’re REALLY from, of having our eyes mocked, of being objectified as exotic or being told we’re inherently unattractive.

“We are tired of the stereotypes in Hollywood affecting our psyche and limiting who we think we can be. We are tired of being invisible, of being mistaken for our colleague or told our struggles aren’t as real. … I want better for my niece and nephew and future kids. I want better for the next generation of Asian American athletes than to have to work so hard to just be “deceptively athletic.”

Lin didn’t go into specific details about being called “coronavirus” on the court — without saying when or where this happened. Kerr said it was brought to his attention Friday night that Lin had expressed his dismay publicly.

Like most Asians and Asian Americans, Lin has watched the videos of people attacking Asian elderly and has been deeply affected.

"After a while, I feel bad,” Lin said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “I feel bad for someone who harbors hate for somebody else who they’ve never met just based on skin color or, I don’t even know. It makes me want to do something and it makes me want to educate people, or I don’t know, speak out and find ways to make a difference. Honestly it goes from anger to just heartbreak.”

His entire social media posting follows:

Lin was the first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA. After graduating from Harvard in 2010, he signed up with the Golden State Warriors. 

In 2011, he played with the New York Knicks coming off the bench. for a stretch of games he was sensational and NYC's fans and media went crazy for him and Linsanity was born.

Hobbled by injuries, he bounced around the league, unable to capture the magic of Linsanity.

In 2019, no NBA team signed him up so he played for the Beijing Ducks, a  team in the Chinese professional basketball league. 

This year, the 32-year old turned down a multi-million offer from the Ducls to play in the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors, affiliated with the Golden State Warriors. He hopes to prove that he still can play at a level that an NBA team would express interest in signing him up.

Michelle Wie weds son of NBA legend Jerry West

INSTAGRAM / THEMICHELLEWIE

The newlyweds Jonnie West and Michelle Wie

ASAM NEWS

In a Beverly Hills ceremony Saturday, LGPA-winning Asian American golfer Michelle Wie married NBA executive Jonnie West in a Beverly Hills ceremony, reports USA Today.
West is currently the director of basketball operations at the Golden State Warriors, and is the son of NBA legend Jerry West.

The 29-year old Wie announced in June that she would be taking a break from competitive golfing as she dealt with injures. 

The couple became Instagram-official in January this year, and were engaged in March.

Famous friends attended the wedding, such as LGPA golfers Danielle Kang and Alison Lee and NBA star Stephen Curry.

“She was so happy, and she looked so radiant,” said David Leadbetter, her long-time coach, said to the Golf Channel. “It’s a great new chapter in her life.

“I’ve known Michelle since she was 13, more than half of her life,” he continued. “So, it was quite emotional, seeing her get married. She’s going to be a great wife and I’m sure at some time a great mom, in the future.”

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One for the history books, Jeremy Lin is first AAPI NBA champion

INSTAGRAM / JEREMY LIN

Jeremy Lin cradles the Larry O'Brien Trophy after beating the Golden State Warriors Thursday night.

ASAM NEWS

Jeremy Lin is all aglow from the shine of the Larry O’Brien trophy, the award given annually to the NBA champions.

Lin’s Toronto RaptorS defeated the defending champs, the Golden State Warriors, last night (June 13), 114 to 110, taking the series four games to two.

Lin is the first Asian American player to be able to hoist the O’Brien trophy as a champion.

RELATED: Jeremy Lin gets real about race

You might call Lin a survivor. Since he spent his rookie season with the Warriors in 2010, the Bay Area native has bounced around the National Basketball League. Since his 2011-2012 Linsanity season with the New York Knicks, Lin has played for six different teams. 

He spent most of his time on the bench with the Raptors and logged just more than 50 seconds on the court during the NBA finals.

His skill set remains undeniable, however, and the fact that he has lasted in the NBA for nine years shows he is a good insurance policy for teams looking for backup guards.

Lin, along with Jordan Clarkson of the Cleveland Cavaliers are the only Asian American players active in the NBA. Clarkson, of Filipino descent, played in the finals last year.

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Returning 'home,' Toronto Raptor's Jeremy Lin still invisible,

ASAM NEWS

When the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors meet this Thursday in the National Basketball Association's champiionship best-of-seven games series, Jeremy Lin will have completed a circle. The Bay Area native went undrafted after graduating from Harvard before the Warriors signed him.

That was nine seasons ago. Since then movies have been made about Lin. He’s been on the cover of Sports Illustrated and he makes millions as one of the few Asian American to play in the NBA. Yet, like so many Asian Americans, he remains invisible.

Sportsnaut reports a security guard stopped Jeremy Lin from boarding the team bus of the Toronto Raptors after a recent playoff game in Milwaukee.

RELATED: Are the Golden State Warriors Asian America's team?

He’s like, ‘Where do you think you’re going?!’And I’m like, ‘Uh, I’m trying to get to the team bus,’ Lin recalled on the Bill Michaels Sports Talk Network. “He’s like, ‘What?! Where’s your pass?’ I was like, ‘I don’t have a pass. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have a pass.’”

It’s the same type of story Lin recalled in the movie Linsanity during his first few weeks playing for the New York Knicks in 2011. That was eight years ago. You’d think people hired to provide security for an NBA sports team would have heard about Lin by now.

Lin is headed to the NBA finals with the Toronto Raptors. Barring injury, he’s not expected to get much playing time. He’s only played a total of 26 minutes for the Raptors during this playoff run.

The South China Morning Post reports Lin is getting encouragement from fans, telling him they hope he gets more playing time.

Lin made his NBA debut in 2010 and as the first AsianA merican to play in the NBA. When he checked in he received a warm ovation at Oracle Arena. Lin hardly played, appearing in just 29 games for the Warriors, who at the time dwelled near the cellar of the NBA. 

Lin was later traded to the New York Knicks and went on a dynamic six-week run of high scoring games and dramatic moments, dubbed “Linsanity.”

Views From the Edge contributed to this report.

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FIlAm singer's lucky streak still works for Golden State Warriors

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE

NAYAH DAMASEN

RECOGNIZE THE SINGER who sang the "Star Spangled Banner" at the opening game of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers? She's the team's good luck charm.

Warrior fans love Nayah Damasen. Every time she sings the national anthem, the Dubs win. Even Cleveland.com, the website for the Cavaliers, did a feature on her. 

Nayah has been a fan favorite since she began singing the anthem at Warrior games. When she was 10 years old Nayah she sang the anthem the first time the two teams met in 2015.

The Warriors won that one 108 to 100 in overtime. "The team won every game Damasen performs leading up to Damasen's Game 1 performance," notes the Cavalier website.

Her performance earned a shoutout from YouTube star AJ Rafael:

When Nayah was 10, she said she wanted to have a career in show business and it looks like she is taking steps towards that dream. She has had roles in Modern Family and Grey's Anatomy. In the latter role, she got to demonstrate her singing talents as a Broadway-loving, terminally-ill patient in the Shonda Rhimes hit.

RELATED: The Warriors Asian connection

Final score: Warriors win, 124-114 in overtime, despite LeBron James phenomenal 51 points. The Warriors should have Nayah sing more often.
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Warriors fan gets a kiss from Kevin Durant, but paid a price

Warriors fan Peggy Mizono

PEGGY MIZONO didn''t think she would get her 15-minutes of fame when a basketball smacked her in the face on national television.

It happened Monday (Dec. 10) at Oracle Arena in Oakland when an errant pass from Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris went straight into the second row of seats where Mizono was sitting.

Warriors star Kevin Durant and rookie Jordan Bell immediately came over to see if she was OK.

“It hit her pretty hard,” Durant said of Mizono during the post-game press conference. “She had glasses on. I’m sure that hurt. So I wanted to come over there.”

She was wearing glasses but fortunately they didn't shatter. Outside of being a little embarassed she didn't suffer any cuts. After seeing that she was none the worst from wear, Durant bent over and kissed her on teh cheek which drerw a roar from the crowd.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob and athletic trainer Chelsea Lane each brought ice bags.

Mizono told the AP that she appreciated Durant and Bell checking on her. Warriors owner Joe Lacob and athletic trainer Chelsea Lane also brought over ice bags.

“That hurts; I don’t care who you are,” Golden State’s Klay Thompson told the AP. “It doesn’t feel good when a basketball comes at your head.”

The world champion Warriors went on to win 112-97.

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Trump's attack against pro athletes moves Filipino American football player to speak out

OAKLAND RAIDERS / INSTAGRAM

A majority of the Oakland Raiders chose to remain seated during the National Anthem.

SCORES OF professional football players literally and figuratively took a knee Sunday. 

Last week there were four players taking a knee and a couple of others raising their fists. Yesterday, there were hundreds of players taking a knee, locking their arms in a show of unity or staying in the locker room while the anthem played.

The players were responding to Donald Trump's mocking the players who do not stand during the playing of the National Anthem as a form protest against the inequality in the U.S. criminal justice system.

 At a rally in Alabama last Friday, Trump said, "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out. He's fired. He's fired!"

RELATED: Asian American doctor takes a knee against Trump

His remarks was met with a storm of criticism from players, owners and sportscasters, including Filipino/American Doug Baldwin, the Seattle Seahawks' wide receiver. In a prepared statement, Baldwin said:

"I'm not surprised by Trump's comments. He has shown since the beginning, his dehumanized nature. To think he would be anything different ti to not know the reality of his presidency ... He acts like a child craving attention and any attention will do."

Doug Baldwin in a post-game press conference.

The Seahawks were playing at the home of the Tennessee Titans. When the "Star Spangled Banner" was sung, they chose to remain in the locker room.

During a post-game press conference, Baldwin continued to elaborate: "This is a dangerous time. We (players) recognize that.

"We're hoping to unite all people, of all races, all religions, all beliefs to come together; to realize the severity of the situation."  He went on to say that the U.S. was founded in protest and that the freedom of expression is one of the country's core beliefs.

"I'm calling on our people and our country (to realize) that this is greater than just football. This is greater than this Sunday evening's entertainment."

The protest against Trump's racist and anti-immigrant remarks spread beyond football. Over the weekend, catcher Bruce Maxwell of the Oakland Athletics baseball team began kneeling on one knee to express his views. He was the first baseball player join the protest.

Last Friday, during the NBA's media day, Stephen Curry, one of the star basketball players in the NBA's World Champion Golden State Warriors, expressed that if Trump followed tradition and invited the championship team to the White House, he would not visit because he did not agree with Trump's views on race, his reluctance to condemn the white supremacists demonstrating in Charlottesville and his policies against immigrants.

In response, Trump tweeted that he would not invite the team to the White House because of Curry's comments.

The African/American basketball players in the professional basketball league, including some of the biggest names in the sport responded almost unanimously in their criticism of Trump and his views on race. 

Cleveland Cavaliers player LaBron James, who some say is the best basketball player in the world, was particularly outspoken and didn't mince words in expressing his distaste for Trump's positions on race.

A few hours after his tweet, James, expanded his comments in a video. "I think it's basically at a point where I'm a little frustrated, man, because this guy that we've put in charge has tried to divide us once again" James said via his digital company platform Uninterrupted. "Obviously we all know what happened with Charlottesville and the divide that caused. Now it's hit home more for me because he's now using sports as the platform to try and divide us."

The Warriors' management, on Saturdaya in support of its star and in response to Trump's decision to not invite the team, said, “In lieu of a visit to the White House, we have decided that we’ll constructively use our trip to the nation’s capital in February to celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion — the values that we embrace as an organization.”

Derrick Coleman, Atlanta Falcon's fullback, reminded his followers that the controversy is not about the flag or the anthem. Kaepernick

What about Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback that started the kneel down during the national anthem? He still remains unsigned because of a suspected blackballing for NFL owners.

When he began the protest last year as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, he explained:

I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change. When there’s significant change and I feel that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.

This stand wasn’t for me. This is because I’m seeing things happen to people that don’t have a voice, people that don’t have a platform to talk and have their voices heard, and effect change. So I’m in the position where I can do that and I’m going to do that for people that can’t.

It’s something that can unify this team. It’s something that can unify this country. If we have these real conversations that are uncomfortable for a lot of people. If we have these conversations, there’s a better understanding of where both sides are coming from.

I have great respect for the men and women that have fought for this country. I have family, I have friends that have gone and fought for this country. And they fight for freedom, they fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice, for everyone. That’s not happening. People are dying in vain because this country isn’t holding their end of the bargain up, as far as giving freedom and justice, liberty to everybody. That’s something that’s not happening. I’ve seen videos, I’ve seen circumstances where men and women that have been in the military have come back and been treated unjustly by the country they fought for, and have been murdered by the country they fought for, on our land. That’s not right.

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