Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Monday 13 February 2017
Off The Field:

Seattle Seahawks Bennett pulls out of Israel trip, feels ‘used’

JOSEF FEDERMAN as an embarrassment to around the world.”
Associated Press the Israeli government, Erdan leads the ministry for
JERUSALEM (AP) — An which has invited a group strategic affairs and public
American professional of players to visit this week diplomacy, which works to
football player has pulled on a mission aimed at im- boost Israel’s image and
out of a sponsored trip to proving the country’s im- counter the influence of
Israel, accusing its govern- age. an international boycott
ment of trying to use him Israeli Cabinet minister Gi- movement. His ministry de-
for PR purposes and citing lad Erdan had earlier not- clined to comment Sun-
sympathy for the Palestin- ed the “great importance” day.
ians. of the visit, saying it would Tourism Minister Yariv Lavin
Seattle Seahawks defense counter “the false incite- had boasted that the play-
lineman Michael Bennett’s ment campaign that is be- ers would become “am-
last-minute decision came ing waged against Israel bassadors of good will for
Israel.”
But in a letter posted to
Twitter on Saturday, Ben-
nett wrote: “I will not be Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett talks to re-
used in such a manner.” porters, in Renton, Wash. In a letter posted on Twitter Saturday,
Feb. 11, 2017, the American professional football player pulled
He said he still intends to out of a planned trip to Israel, accusing its government of trying
visit Israel, but only on a trip to use him for PR purposes.
that includes stops in the (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
West Bank and Gaza Strip
to meet Palestinians.
Citing the example of Mu- cludes Bennett’s brother in southern Israel.
hammad Ali, and the late Martellus of the Super Bowl Other players in the delega-
boxing legend’s support champion New England tion include the Seahawks’
for the Palestinians, Ben- Patriots, is to arrive Mon- Cliff Avril, Delanie Walker
nett said he too wants to day. Martellus Bennett is of the Tennessee Titans,
be a “voice for the voice- among a group of Patriots Philadelphia Eagles defen-
less.” who say they will not join sive end Mychal Kendricks,
“I cannot do that by going the team on a victory trip Cameron Jordan of the
on this kind of trip to Israel,” to the White House. New Orleans Saints, Calais
he said. The visit will include stops at Campbell of the Arizona
In a separate Twitter post, a hospital, the Yad Vashem Cardinals, San Francisco
Miami Dolphins receiver Holocaust memorial and a 49er Carlos Hyde, Dan Wil-
Kenny Stills indicated he meeting with the “Black liams of the Oakland Raid-
also will skip the trip. Hebrews,” a community of ers and Justin Forsett of the
The delegation, which in- African Americans who live Denver Broncos.q

Police:

Former Celtics center Fab Melo dead at 26

SAO PAULO (AP) — Former
Syracuse University and
Boston Celtics center Fab
Melo has died in his native
Brazil, military police said
Sunday. He was 26.
An emergency call Satur-
day night brought police
and paramedics to Melo’s
house in Juiz de Fora, in the
southeastern state of Minas
Gerais, according to a po-
lice sergeant who gave
his name only as Couto.
Couto said that when the
police arrived, paramedics In this 2013 photo, Boston Celtics center Fab Melo, left, of Brazil,
said Melo was dead, with and Los Angeles Lakers forward Earl Clark go up for a rebound
no signs of violence. during an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. Military police
“We don’t know the cause said that former Syracuse and Celtics center Melo died in his
yet. It’s so hard right now, native Brazil.
so hard to believe,” Syra- (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
cuse coach Jim Boeheim a sophomore. But he also “He was a really good kid,
told ESPN . The 7-foot Melo had academic issues that and it’s not fair that he will
was a star at Syracuse and forced him to miss the 2012 be defined by one thing: a
was named Big East defen- NCAA Tournament after 10-page paper,” Boeheim
sive player of the year as being declared ineligible. told ESPN. q