Why Former Bulls Guard Craig Hodges Is Proud of Strikes Across American Sports
By K.c. Johnson • Published August 26, 2020 • Updated on August 26, 2020 at 7:12 pm LINK
The way Craig Hodges sees it, he humbly did his part on a continuum – one that included his activist mother, along with more famous names such as Jim Brown, Muhammed Ali, Lew Alcindor, John Carlos, Tommie Smith, Curt Flood and Arthur Ashe. 
Still, you couldn’t help but hear the pride in Hodges’ voice Wednesday as he reacted to an historic day in the NBA, and for American sports.
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As first the Milwaukee Bucks, and then multiple teams across the NBA, WNBA and MLB opted not to play in games in the wake of police shooting Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, in Kenosha, Wis., one couldn’t help but remember Hodges’ attempts to address racial inequities while serving the role of reserve sharpshooter on the Bulls’ first three-peat teams.
“I think it’s a level of maturity that young players are reaching now. They see the impact they have and the platforms that can help elevate the consciousness of not only America but people around the world,” Hodges said in a phone interview. “The NBA is a multibillion dollar conglomerate. Young brothers have seen the light of oppression, and they want to be part of the solution.”
Hodges, who grew up in Chicago Heights and attended and later coached at Rich East High School, came to activism at an early age. His mother, Ada, educated him on civil and voting rights’ issues. Hodges remembers his mother sending him out in the neighborhood to collect signatures on petitions pertinent to important causes.
So it shouldn’t surprise that Hodges recognized Game 1 of the 1991 NBA Finals as an opportunity. With the Bulls set to face the Lakers on an international stage, Hodges said he approached Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson about skipping the game to address the lack of Black ownership and coaches in a predominately African-American league.
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#bucksboycott
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— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) <a href=”https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1298735361603112960
Stephen A. Smith reacts to former Chicago Bulls player Craig Hodges criticizing Michael Jordan for his comments on “The Last Dance” documentary.
#FirstTake #NBA
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Craig Hodges on Playing w/ Michael Jordan, NBA Blacklist, Wife Cheating w/ R Kelly (Full Interview) – VLAD TV.
In this VladTV exclusive, former NBA player and 2x champion with the Chicago Bulls, Craig Hodges stopped by to give his side of the Bulls title run and dispelled some of the media myths associated with Michael Jordan.
Hodges discussed how his politics have been shaped by his upbringing in Chicago Heights and the political fervor in his household to the social justice education he received while in college at Long Beach State.
He also recounted being blackballed by the NBA after showing up to the Bulls’ White House visit in a dashiki and passed on a letter to then-President George H.W. Bush.
Get Craig’s book ‘Long Shot’ – https://amzn.to/2BNyz97
