It's official: Pop icon Rihanna confirmed she turned down the NFL's request to perform at the 2019 Super Bowl halftime show, to demonstrate support for Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.
What she's saying: Rihanna tells Vogue: "I couldn't dare do that. For what? Who gains from that? Not my people. I just couldn't be a sellout."
Every so often, a sports story breaks into the mainstream, and sportswriters begin to salivate at the chance to write about a topic that's "bigger than sports." The NBA-China story is something else entirely.
The big picture: This is a high-stakes political battle between the world's most populous country and one of America's most visible entities, with its 2 newest owners, Tilman Fertitta and Joe Tsai, playing major roles.
The NBA is at a crossroads with free speech and a growing audience overseas. Billions of dollars are at stake after controversy sparked from a tweet by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey that China did not approve of. Dan digs deep with Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix.
While the NCAA stands firm against the new California law allowing college athletes to accept endorsement money, college coaches have mixed views about the legislation and what it means.
What they're saying: Some coaches, like Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, believe the law is simply a sign of changing times. Others are waiting to see how the new change will play out in California, where it's likely to face legal challenges ahead of its implementation in 2023, before making a judgment call.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver just wrapped up a live press conference in Japan, where he took a much stronger stance than in an earlier statement.
The big picture: Silver stood behind Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and his tweet, stating that freedom of expression is a long-held NBA value that is not up for compromise.
