Athletes Sticking Up for Each Other
It's not uncommon to see teammates sticking up for each other in the media. It's not every day that non-teammates publicly defend each other, but it does happen.
Teammates are just naturally more likely to stand up for each other (see: T.O. and “That’s my quarterback”). But these athletes don’t have that. They’re either not teammates, or in some cases, they’re flat out rivals.
Some were once teammates, like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. And others, for all intents and purposes, should have no reason to like each other—like Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler.
Behold, 12 times athletes stood up for each other. They might not be teammates, but they can still understand each other. Solidarity, brother (and sister).
Dwyane Wade for LeBron James
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LeBron James and Dwyane Wade recently met on a basketball court as opponents for the first time since James’ return to Cleveland.
Leading up to the Christmas Day game, it wasn’t clear how the King would be received at his former palace. Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report reported that Wade said, “The man helped take us to places we've only been once before he got here. So I think he should be received very well for that at the start of the game. And then when the game comes on, then do what you've got to do (as fans).”
Standing up for his ex-teammate, Wade thought fans should cheer James, at least before the game. Turns out they did.
RGIII for Brittney Griner
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NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III and WNBA star Brittney Griner are both former student-athletes from Baylor University. In the 2013 women's NCAA tournament, when Griner was still at Baylor, her top-seeded team was upset by Louisville, 82-81. Griner was 4-of-10 from the floor in the loss, scoring just 14 points.
After the loss, Griffin took to Twitter to defend the team and Griner. His interpretation of the game was that Louisville was getting too physical with Griner, and per ESPN, he tweeted, "There's a difference in being physical and fighting."
He also added, "To those who are mad and lose respect for me because I support my school and support my friends ... I would rather have the guts to stand up for them, then to have that respect for sitting down & saying nothing."
Aaron Rodgers for Ryan Braun
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Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Braun play different sports, but their similar geography once helped make them friends. They even co-owned a restaurant at one point.
In 2012, when Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun was facing PED accusations, the quarterback stood up for his friend via Twitter. He was pretty confident about it too.
When one user tweeted to Rodgers, “@AaronRodgers12 you really believe he didn't you PED's???? #delusional,” Rodgers responded with, “@toddsutton ya I'd put my salary next year on it. #ponyup #exonerated.”
That didn’t work out so well for Rodgers when Braun admitted to PED use in 2013.
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Kevin Durant for Kobe Bryant
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Kobe Bryant has been taking some criticism in this 2014-15 NBA season—for taking too many shots, for yelling at his teammates. An article from ESPN The Magazine suggested that Bryant might be a difficult teammate, therefore making it hard for the Lakers to get and/or keep quality players.
Many people have come out in Bryant’s defense, including his former coach, Phil Jackson. Marquee players have come to his defense as well, including Kevin Durant.
Durant told Sam Amick of USA Today, “Excuse my language, but that's (expletive). I want to play with a winner every single night, especially somebody who wants to win that bad, who works that hard, who demands a lot, who raises up your level. I’d want to play with a guy like that every day.”
Serena Williams for Gabby Douglas
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Following Gabby Douglas’ gold-medal performance at the 2012 Olympics, some comments appeared on Twitter criticizing her hair.
Stars like Gabrielle Union responded by defending Douglas. Tennis great Serena Williams stuck up for her as well.
Williams told Kelly Whiteside of USA Today, “It's gorgeous! People don't know what they're talking about. It's ridiculous. It's so ridiculous. Her hair is gorgeous.”
Dwyane Wade for Derrick Rose
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Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose has been put through the injury wringer over the past several years. To start the 2014-15 NBA season, Rose missed several games with minor injury concerns.
Rose told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, “I know a lot of people get mad when they see me sit out. But I think a lot of people don’t understand that when I sit out it’s not because of this year. I’m thinking about long-term. I’m thinking about after I’m done with basketball…”
Some people weren’t thrilled with the comments, but Dwyane Wade helped defend Rose’s position. Despite the fact that the two play for rival teams, Wade understood where Rose was coming from and spoke out in his defense.
He told Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report, “People who have never been injured, really seriously injured, where it could be career-changing, they don't understand what D-Rose's mental [state] is when he said that.”
Cam Newton for Johnny Manziel
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Johnny Manziel isn’t the most well-liked guy in the NFL, but that still doesn’t mean people should celebrate his injury. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton agrees.
Manziel went down with a hamstring injury in the first half of the Browns’ Week 16 matchup against the Panthers. Some fans apparently cheered, and Newton later spoke out on behalf of Manziel.
David Newton of ESPN reported that Newton said, “I just think it was classless at that time. Anytime a person is hurt, you don't celebrate. I've had that done in my career. It takes the integrity out of the game.”
Spurs for LeBron James
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2As you may recall, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals. During Game 1, LeBron James left with cramps in the fourth quarter.
Twitter criticism abounded, as it tends to do, and even Gatorade got in on the joshing. The company’s official Twitter account posted, “The person cramping wasn't our client. Our athletes can take the heat.”
James’ opponents stood up for him. According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Tim Duncan said, “There's no shaking it off. Your body is shutting down and you're unable to move.” On leaving the game, Tony Parker commented, “It's hard, it's very hard. And I'm sure LeBron was thinking the same thing.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. for Danica Patrick
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In 2013, Kyle Petty said on Speed's NASCAR Race Hub program that Danica Patrick is a "marketing machine." He didn't mean it in a complimentary way. Petty went on to say, according to Jeff Gluck of USA Today, "She can go fast, but she can't race. I think she's come a long way, but she's still not a race car driver."
NASCAR drivers were quick to come to her defense, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick. Earnhardt said, "I have to disagree with Kyle. I think she's a tough competitor. She works really hard at what she does and she has run some really good races. On every occasion, she's outrunning several guys on the circuit."
David Ortiz for Alex Rodriguez
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Alex Rodriguez has been the definition of “embattled athlete” over the past several years. Things came to a head in 2013 when MLB suspended Rodriguez for 211 games for violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
A-Rod continued to play for the Yankees while he appealed the decision. During a game in Boston not long after the suspension, a pitch from Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster hit the slugger, and tempers flared. The plunk came on a 3-0 count after three straight inside pitches (one went behind A-Rod).
The suspicion was, of course, that perhaps Dempster hit A-Rod intentionally. Dempster’s Red Sox teammate David Ortiz stood up for A-Rod on principle.
He told Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today, “I didn't like it. I don't think it was the right thing to do. But we don't all think alike, and the guy who did it, Dempster, is a great guy. It's not that I didn't think it was right because Alex and I are friends, because once you cross the white lines, everyone's on their own.”
LeBron James for Kevin Durant
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Remember when The Oklahoman called Kevin Durant “Mr. Unreliable” with a fat headline on the front page? It was back in May 2014 when Oklahoma City trailed Memphis three games to two in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
For OKC to turn on its prodigal son like that was pretty shocking, and many people came to Durant’s defense, including The Real MVP. Also included in Durant’s defenders was LeBron James. According to Ethan J. Skolnick, James said, “KD got to be a free agent at some point.”
Aaron Rodgers for Jay Cutler
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Following the Chicago Bears’ Week 15 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer criticized Jay Cutler publicly. Originally as an “anonymous source” in an NFL Media report by Ian Rapoport, Kromer voiced his displeasure with Cutler’s game management.
When Cutler’s rival and counterpart Aaron Rogers heard about this, he was pretty fired up. Michael Silver of NFL Media reported that Rodgers said, “I think anybody that plays the position, you can't help but empathize with Jay for that situation. You talk all the time about being connected, being a unit, believing in each other. But if you have unnamed sources, people out there cutting you down, and then you find out it's the person calling the plays -- that would be really hard to deal with, to look at him the same way.”
Kromer apologized to Cutler and the team, but alas, this will go down as just another bad memory of the Bears’ 2014 season.
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