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Diahuebs 17 Februari 2022

Unvaccinated Djokovic could skip French Open, Wimbledon

Asked if he would be pre- record surge in infections fu-
pared to miss the French An ensuing back-and-forth eled by the highly contagious
Open in May, he repeated: raised questions of whether omicron variant.
“That is the price that I am Djokovic was unfairly given
willing to pay.” special treatment or unfairly The French government last
singled out because of his ce- week gave an end-of-March,
Also asked if would be ready lebrity status. beginning-of-April time-
to skip Wimbledon, he add- frame for the possible lifting
ed: “Yes.” Speaking to the BBC, he said: of its vaccine requirement
“I never used my privileged that, at the moment, puts un-
Djokovic has won the French status to get into Australia by vaccinated players at risk of
Open twice, including in force or do anything in this missing the French Open.
2021, and has six Wimbledon entire process.”
titles, including the last three. From Tuesday, anyone who
A court initially ruled on is not vaccinated against the
Nadal won this year’s Aus- procedural grounds that coronavirus will need to
(AP) — If forced to choose, If need be, not defending his tralian Open, giving him Djokovic could stay, but Aus- show proof they tested posi-
Novak Djokovic said he titles at Roland Garros and one more major title than tralian Immigration Minister tive for COVID-19 within
would skip the French Wimbledon and missing oth- Djokovic and Roger Federer. Alex Hawke, who has wide the previous four months
Open and Wimbledon, er tournaments is “the price Djokovic was deported be- powers, later decided to de- — down from the previous
foregoing the chance to that I am willing to pay,” said fore he could play. port him. The government six-month window — in
overtake Rafael Nadal’s the 34-year-old Serb, com- said his presence could stir order to enter sports venues
record haul of 21 Grand ments likely to further boost Djokovic went back over the up anti-vaccine sentiments. in France. The French law,
Slams titles, rather than his hero-status among some deportation drama in de- which operates under the as-
get vaccinated against opponents of vaccination. tail with the BBC and made His threats to skip the next sumption that you have some
COVID-19. clear his displeasure at how it two majors may prove to be protection from the virus if
Djokovic said he is not op- turned out. moot. you’ve recently had it, aims to
And the No. 1-ranked ten- posed to vaccinations and bar unvaccinated individuals
nis player is also still smart- sought to distance himself The saga began when New rules in force in Eng- from stadiums, restaurants,
ing about being deported last from anti-vaccination cam- Djokovic was granted an ex- land since last week allow bars and other public places.
month from Australia in a paigners, saying: “I have nev- emption to strict vaccination unvaccinated people to enter
drama about his vaccination er said that I am part of that rules by two medical pan- with tests before and after Djokovic has previously said
status that polarized opinion movement.” els and Tennis Australia in their arrival. that he tested positive in mid-
worldwide. order to play. That exemp- December. If the four-month
But he said “everyone has tion, based on evidence that Vaccination rules in France requirement stays in force, it
Speaking in an interview the right to choose, to act, or he recently recovered from could also change in the is likely to rule him out of the
broadcast Tuesday by the say what ever they feel is ap- COVID-19, apparently al- months before Roland French Open unless he gets
BBC, the 20-time Grand propriate for them” and that lowed him to receive a visa to Garros, possibly allowing vaccinated or tests positive
Slam champion said he is still he believes in “the freedom enter Australia. But upon ar- Djokovic to play. The coun- again within four months
not vaccinated, and prepared to choose what you put into rival, border officials said the try has started to ease some of of the start of the clay-court
to sacrifice titles to stay that your body. And, for me, that exemption was not valid and its health and travel restric- Grand Slam on May 22.
way. is essential.” moved to deport him. tions as it recovers from a

HBCUs to glitter on NBA’s All-Star stage with game, events

(AP) — This year’s NBA’s vince blue-chip athletes to kids you can make it from
All-Star stage isn’t re- “I’m excited about it,” said In all, the league and NBPA come play in front of less anywhere in the world.”
served for just LeBron Phoenix Suns guard Chris donated $3 million to the than 1,000 fans while a Pow-
James, Steph Curry and Paul, a 12-time All-Star and HBCU community for aca- er 5 school can promise sold- HBCU players have made it
the league’s other top per- former president of the NBA demic scholarships, advance- out arenas, trips abroad and to the world’s best league in
formers. Players Association. ”It’s a ment initiatives and other state-of-the-art facilities. the past with Charles Oakley,
great stage for them. It’s the programs last year. Those Avery Johnson, Rick Mahorn
There’s another game in education of it. A lot of peo- funds are expected to grow in That’s why the NBA’s All- and Ben Wallace among the
town, one that can make a ple don’t understand the im- 2022 with TNT and ESPN Star invitation is so vital. most notable. Robert Cov-
much longer-lasting impact. portance of HBCUs and why broadcasting Saturday’s game ington (Tennessee State),
they were formed. To contin- from Cleveland State’s cam- “They’re like the big brother, traded last week from Port-
When basketball’s best gather ue to elevate them and give pus. and we’re the little brother,” land to the Clippers, is the
in Cleveland to dunk, fire them a stage and a platform is said Morgan State coach Kev- only HBCU alum currently
3-pointers and hobnob with very important.” And while the financial wind- in Broadus. “They’re bring- in the league.
corporate partners as the fall is essential, the All-Star ing us in and showing the
league celebrates its 75th an- Paul played a major role in stage also provides an oppor-
niversary this weekend, an- broadening the league’s ties tunity for the institutions to
other group of players will with HBCUs, a partnership promote their histories while
get a chance to shine amid that goes back 35 years to serving as a recruiting tool —
the glittering stars. former Commissioner David for academics and athletics.
Stern serving as a founding
Morgan State will play How- board member for the Thur- Attracting high-profile play-
ard on Saturday in the inau- good Marshall College Fund. ers has been a decades-
gural NBA HBCU Classic, old challenge at HBCUs.
a matchup that will provide The HBCU experience was They’re rarely on national
major exposure — and fund- celebrated at last year’s All- TV, typically get one or two
ing — for historically Black Star Weekend in Atlanta, teams in the NCAA Tourna-
colleges and universities where marching bands trum- ment and rarely get past the
while expanding the league’s peted players onto the floor, first round.
longtime commitment to step teams performed and
HBCUs, a nationwide net- the league used NBA referees It’s a tough sell for a coach,
work of 107 schools. who attended HBCUs. who might be trying to con-