LaVar Ball said Friday that President Donald Trump didn’t play a substantial role in getting three UCLA basketball players — including his son, LiAngelo Ball — back to the United States after a shoplifting incident in China.
“Who?” Ball asked ESPN.com’s Arash Markazi. “What was he over there for? Don’t tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out.”
“Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!” Trump shot back at Ball on Sunday on Twitter.
Trump previously told reporters he had discussed the players’ release with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“I had a great conversation with President Xi,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “What they did was unfortunate. You know, you’re talking about very long prison sentences. They do not play games.”
At a news conference Wednesday, LiAngelo Ball, Riley and Hill thanked the president for assisting in their release.
A day later, Trump added: “To the three UCLA basketball players I say: You’re welcome, go out and give a big Thank You to President Xi Jinping of China who made your release possible and, HAVE A GREAT LIFE! Be careful, there are many pitfalls on the long and winding road of life!”
Ball, Riley and Hill have all been suspended indefinitely, and Coach Steve Alford said they will “have to earn their way back” after stealing from several stores near their hotel in Hangzhou, according to the Los Angeles Daily News’ Thuc Nhi Nguyen.
His unique tree
Some people collect cards, coins or stamps. Shaquille O’Neal collects basketball rims from backboards he decimated.
On Saturday, the former powerhouse center shared a picture of what he branded the “broken rim tree.” It contains 19 rims, all of which he claims he obtained from backboards he fragmented.
In 1993, O’Neal tore down a backboard and its supports as a rookie with the Orlando Magic. He also shattered the glass in a training segment with Ahmad Rashad for NBA Inside Stuff.
Unless he’s embellishing an already impressive history, most of this tree’s other victims must have been from practices or unofficial games.
QB protection
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota took the blame for Thursday night’s loss to the Steelers, but Coach Mike Mularkey is defending Mariota from reporters who are also giving the quarterback the blame.
Mularkey said that reporters are focusing too much on Mariota’s four interceptions and not enough on several good throws he made.
“Nobody ever talks about how accurate [Mariota] is with some of the throws that he does make,” Mularkey said. “All [the media] keeps asking about are the throws he doesn’t. There’s a lot of good throws that he makes every Sunday in very, very tight windows.”
It’s fine for Mularkey to stick up for his quarterback, but it is Mariota’s job to make such throws. When he throws four interceptions, it’s the media’s job to point out that he didn’t play well. When Mariota plays well, the media will say so. But on Thursday night, he did not play well.
Quote of the day
“Holding the nerves down, playing a good round in these conditions. ... I’m so
happy.”
Former Arkansas Razorbacks golfer Austin Cook, on winning his first PGA Tour title Sunday in St. Simons
Island, Ga.