US sports figures talk about Obama’s victory

NEW YORK – From NBA superstar LeBron James to tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams, the election of Barack Obama as America’s first black president struck a special chord with many US sports figures. The Williams sisters embraced Obama’s victory during the WTA Tour’s season-ending tournament in Doha, Qatar. “America is a wonderful place. I love my country, and I love living there. I love my passport. But also it’s a country that almost since its beginning, it was supposed to be a place where people were escaping intolerance. It became a country that was really intolerant of different minorities and skin colors," Venus said. “My dad grew up in Louisiana, a place where he was called ‘boy’ and shown no respect. Where he couldn’t say anything. His mother was a poor sharecropper," she said. “So I think it’s amazing that America has the opportunity to have someone who is a minority of mixed race or whatever you want to call it." Serena saw it the same way. “I was just thinking about everything, thinking about Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and all the pioneers. ... All of these people, Arthur Ashe, who led the way for us. It’s amazing," she said. James, meanwhile, arrived at Wednesday night’s NBA game between his Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls wearing a T-shirt with the president-elect’s likeness on the front. James contributed $20,000 to a committee supporting Obama, participated in an early-voter registration rally and hosted a free concert with rap star Jay-Z to support the Illinois senator. James recently met Obama when they both were on David Letterman’s television show. The Cavaliers’ franchise player liked that Obama played basketball in the hours leading up to his election. “They say that’s a ritual for him, like me coming in early and getting a massage before the game," James said. “It got him prepared. The speech was, wow. If it takes basketball for him to say things like that, then let him do it." NBA commissioner David Stern called Obama’s election “inspiring and transformational." “Hooray for the USA," he said. Moments after Obama was declared the winner over Republican John McCain, the Boston Celtics finished off a victory at the Houston Rockets. “I thought it was really interesting right after the game, the guys were celebrating Obama’s victory more than we just beat the Rockets on the road. I thought that was really cool," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. Craig Robinson, who coaches the men’s basketball team at Oregon State university, had a special rooting interest: His sister, Michelle, is Obama’s wife. Robinson was in Chicago for the celebration Tuesday night and was back in Oregon for practice Wednesday. “It doesn’t get much better than that," he said. “Although I would imagine that winning a Pac-10 (university division) championship would feel pretty good right about now." Grant Hill and the Phoenix Suns kept tabs on the election during their win at New Jersey. The Suns were on the team bus when they found out Obama had won. “We talk about the black vote, but white America is the one that makes the difference, and they voted for an African-American," Hill said. “You can have all the black votes you want, but if you don’t have the white vote, you ain’t going to win. It just shows a lot." NFL players also took special interest. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who grew up in Chicago never believing he would see a black man become president, said that watching Obama deliver his victory speech at Grant Park brought back all sorts of memories. “It reminded me of, obviously, when Martin Luther King spoke and the messages that he spoke about," McNabb said Wednesday. “As a man, if you teared up, it was acceptable because it was that deep. “For the first time, I had the opportunity to vote and I can say that I was a part of it," he said. Several Eagles hollered Obama’s motto, “Yes, we can!" in the locker room. Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter was among several NFL players wearing Obama shirts. Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards woke up daughters Gabrielle, 3, and Vivian, 2, to watch Obama’s speech. “It was about 10 o’clock. They were watching the television and clapping. I said, ‘There’s your President.’ I wanted them to know our country is great," he said. “When they have children they’ll be able to say, ‘I saw him. I didn’t have to read a history book.’“ Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, hoped Obama’s victory would have far-reaching effects. “My wife was talking to my 7-year-old daughter and she was asking a lot of questions about what electoral votes are and how they work and that sort of thing. I think it could be a bring a lot of African-Americans into the process that maybe weren’t in it before," he said. Bears coach Lovie Smith began his news conference Wednesday with these words: “It doesn’t get any better than this, a historic day like we have today — the first black president." Boxer Roy Jones Jr., preparing to fight Saturday night against Joe Calzaghe, followed the election in New York. “I’m so proud to be an American now, more today than I’ve ever been in my life, because last night was a true change — last night we were all equal before we’re black, white, Haitian, whatever," he said. – AP