National Basketball Association

Report: Hawk Players Wants Arena To Lock Arms During Anthem

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Atlanta Hawk players wants the entire arena to lock arms during the National Anthem.

The National Anthem has become a touchy subject as of late. Some are enjoying our million dollar athletes taking a stand. Others would rather those same athletes with millions to be just that; athletes with millions. Either way, what professional athletes have been doing during the National Anthem has people discussing the topic. Here at Soaring Down South, we cover all things Atlanta Hawks. We also stand by (and cover) whichever decision the Hawks make. But we also support anything that increases the awareness of unity. And with the Unity Game approaching soon (Monday, October 10th), the Hawks wants everyone in the arena to lock arms during the Anthem when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. As we see, if the Hawks want unity, they want everyone in the crowd to embrace the idea, too.

Via Atlanta Constitution-Journal

After an hour-long team discussion following practice on Tuesday, the Hawks had the idea for all those in attendance at regular-season home games to join them and lock arms. The gesture possibly could begin with the team’s first home exhibition game against the Cavaliers on Monday. The contest has already been labeled a Unity Game to celebrate Atlanta’s multicultural groups and diversity.

“We want to start it here in Atlanta,” said Dwight Howard, who teammates credited with the idea. “It could be something really good here to show that as a city Atlanta is unified no matter what color, race, religion that you are. When you come to these games, we want to show that we are unified and we are together.

The guys are going to compete on the floor. But before the games, we still want to pay homage to all those who died to fight for our country but at the same time we want to show that we are unified. We want everybody who is at the arena to show respect to each other. That’s where it starts. If we can start as a country respecting each other just by simple gestures, locking arms, saying that we are together things can hopefully change for the better. I think that will be a good start for us.”