Michael Quinn

Each of the Twin Cities’ NBA, MLB and NHL teams canceled their games on April 12 in wake of the police shooting of Daunte Wright, just outside of Minneapolis.

The teams continued their schedules the following day, however, the outcry and reaction to Daunte Wright’s death was the focus for many athletes throughout the three sports.

The Minnesota Twins issued an official statement via the team’s Twitter page:

“Out of respect for the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Brooklyn Center, and following the additional details in this evolving situation, the Minnesota Twins have decided it is in the best interests of fans, staff, players and community to not play today’s game. The decision was made by the Minnesota Twins after consultation with Major League Baseball, and local and state officials, will be released in the near future. The Minnesota Twins organization extends its sympathies to the family of Daunte Wright.”

The state’s NHL team, the Minnesota Wild, joined the Twins in their statement, while also extending their condolences to the family and friends of Daunte Wright.

The Minnesota Timberwolves honored Wright and his life with a pregame moment of silence before their game the following day. Both the Timberwolves and opponent Brooklyn Nets sported warmup shirts that read “with liberty and justice for all.”

While the state’s football team, the Minnesota Vikings, are in their off-season, they also released a statement that highlighted the need for police reform. 

Statement from the #Vikings on the senseless killing of Daunte Wright pic.twitter.com/7G6feIC6L7

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 13, 2021

 

Aside from teams publicly addressing the heartbreaking situation, many players and coaches offered their condolences, as well as their own thoughts and opinions. 

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich spoke in a postgame interview on Tuesday night, highlighting that “we just keep moving on as if nothing is happening.” USA Today’s NBA reporter, Mark Medina, raised the question of how Popovich “wrapped [his] head around the events that occurred [Monday] in Minnesota with another police officer shooting and killing another unarmed black person.”

Popovich stated: “How many times does it have to happen? As sick to our stomachs as we might feel, that individual is dead. He’s dead. And his family is grieving. And his friends are grieving.”

Doc Rivers, coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, offered his insight on the situation as well; taking a humanity-as-one approach. Rivers spoke with media, stating that “I think we have to stop saying it’s frustrating for all Black Americans, I think we should be frustrated by all Americans – You keep hearing this cancel culture stuff, but we’re canceling Black lives – We keep making mistakes by killing Black people. I don’t want to get to race, but it’s there. I think we all have weaknesses, and we all need to confront them and find out how we can make this place a better world, a better country.”

Before tonight's Sixers game, head coach Doc Rivers spoke about the Daunte Wright shooting. pic.twitter.com/AQmRC61T2F

— Dave Uram (@MrUram) April 13, 2021