The Obama Diary

St. Louis Rams’ Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens and Kenny Britt put their hands up to show support for Michael Brown before a game against the Oakland Raiders at the Edward Jones Dome.

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Wow, tears, chills and everything else. vine.co/v/OnP6xj73MLD #BlackLivesMatter #JusticeForMikeBrown

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BWD (@theonlyadult) November 30, 2025

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Tavon Austin #11, Jared Cook #89, Chris Givens #13 of the St. Louis Rams pay homage to Mike Brown

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Professional sport, as we know, is generally an amoral cesspit (eg see Ray Rice’s reinstatement) jammed with self-absorbed, overpaid twats who couldn’t give a crap about anything outside their own ludicrous worlds or anything that doesn’t feed their egos.

But then, occasionally, we get gestures like today’s from those Rams players, and from the Miami Heat back in 2012. And they’re powerful, not least to the kids for whom these guys are idols.

And their idols honored Michael Brown and protested against what was done to him. That matters. That’s good.

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In this image posted to Miami Heat basketball player LeBron James’ Twitter page, Miami Heat players wear team hoodies. Heat stars Dwyane Wade and James decided, March 22, 2012, to make their reactions about the Trayvon Martin situation public, and James felt the best way to do that was the team photo with everyone wearing hoodies.

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Two Iconic Images http://t.co/ljFqpasDNX

—
TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) November 30, 2025

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Not remotely comparing the Rams and Miami Heat players to Tommie Smith and John Carlos, universes and life experiences apart - but, the gesture …

“The move was a symbolic protest against racism in the United States…..”

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“1968: American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise their fists and give the Black Power Salute at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.

The move was a symbolic protest against racism in the United States.

Smith, the gold medal winner, and Carlos, the bronze medal winner, were subsequently suspended from their team for their actions.”

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St. Louis Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt puts his hands up to show support for Michael Brown.

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“The move was a symbolic protest against racism in the United States…..”

The more things change, the more they stay the same?