JERUSALEM (AP) — An American professional football player has pulled out of a sponsored trip to Israel, accusing its government of trying to use him for PR purposes and citing sympathy for the Palestinians.
Seattle Seahawks defense lineman Michael Bennett's last-minute decision came as an embarrassment to the Israeli government, which has invited a group of players to visit this week on a mission aimed at improving the country's image.
Israeli Cabinet minister Gilad Erdan had earlier noted the "great importance" of the visit, saying it would counter "the false incitement campaign that is being waged against Israel around the world."
Erdan leads the ministry for strategic affairs and public diplomacy, which works to boost Israel's image and counter the influence of an international boycott movement. His ministry declined to comment Sunday.
Tourism Minister Yariv Lavin had boasted that the players would become "ambassadors of good will for Israel."
But in a letter posted to Twitter on Saturday, Bennett wrote: "I will not be used in such a manner." He said he still intends to visit Israel, but only on a trip that includes stops in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to meet Palestinians.
Citing the example of Muhammad Ali, and the late boxing legend's support for the Palestinians, Bennett said he too wants to be a "voice for the voiceless."
"I cannot do that by going on this kind of trip to Israel," he said.
In a separate Twitter post, Miami Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills indicated he also will skip the trip.
The delegation, which includes Bennett's brother Martellus of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, is to arrive Monday. Martellus Bennett is among a group of Patriots who say they will not join the team on a victory trip to the White House.
The visit will include stops at a hospital, the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and a meeting with the "Black Hebrews," a community of African Americans who live in southern Israel.
Other players in the delegation include the Seahawks' Cliff Avril, Delanie Walker of the Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Mychal Kendricks, Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints, Calais Campbell of the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49er Carlos Hyde, Dan Williams of the Oakland Raiders and Justin Forsett of the Denver Broncos.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-4217570/NFL-player-pulls-Israel-trip-feels-used.html
these idiots worship Muhammad Ali
>>74207821
>black hebrews
WE
GOAT
I'M A WOLF
Sports
>mfw whitlock throwing around truth bombs all day today.
THE ABSOLUTE MADMAN
wow nice OP a lot of information. thanks.
>>74215758
Nice Pupper. Is his name Jake Bean?
>>74215758
>hocdog
Fucking hell
>it's a Max Rushden episode
https://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2017/feb/13/saido-mane-and-liverpool-stop-spurs-in-their-tracks-football-weekly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvWH4p0jeD8
>>74206933
>it's a Max Rushden episode
I don't get it. he isn't terrible, but that dave farrar (can't remember the spelling) guy they bring in once or twice per year is so much better
Friendly reminder
>God Tier
Tim Vickery
Mark Gleeson
>High Tier
Andy Brassell
Jon Arnold
>OK Tier
John Duerden
Sean Wheelock
Mina Rzouki
>Low Tier
Durosimi Thomas
>Why the fuck are you even here tier
Paul Sarahs
times football podcast > guardian
well, not really but the guardian is a bit tiresome
atletico mince is the best one around, let's be real
Childhood is thinking Montana is GOAT, Adulthood is realizing Young was always better.
>>74206117
+1
>>74206117
Truth.
steve young was as brittle as tony romo and didn't perform as well when it mattered.
Barcelona is a Gay Team
>>74205101
that shit is honestly disgusting. id rather fuck my own mother than see a grown man look at another grown man like that
>>74205110
yeah. and I rather spank and kill you with punches than to let you alive.
>>74205101
Barcelona is more about doping and drugs in general.
Is he the greatest athlete to ever play sports?
Kill yourself if you legitimately think this.
>>74204693
>don't worry about nutshots man :)
>three strikes and your out for blatant kicking
>>74204723
You act like the nut shots don't make him a more fun player to watch and a more intense athlete.
Who is your pick to win Superb Owl LII and why is it Da Bearss?
>>74204526
>good receiver
>could develop defense down the road
>get a new QB
Repeat of 1985 on it's way.
>he hasnt figured out that los bungalos are taking it this year
>>74204538
The Bungles are like the NY Red Bulls and Washington Capitals; good seasons, but they'll always screw it up in the playoffs.
Is he the worst MVP of all time?
Will he be the first mvp to never make the hall of fame?
He has the fastest downfall of all MVP's, that season was spectacular though.
Lebron was MVP that year. Rose just got the award
>>74202761
>Is he the worst MVP of all time?
I genuinely don't know every MVP ever, but as a native "Chicagoan"*, I have so much respect for D Rose, he carried our team for years, and I refuse to believe that he is the worst.
>Will he be the first mvp to never make the hall of fame?
Yes. He was drafted in '08, and his time as a superstar more or less ended in 2012. He was Hall of Fame-tier for 2 years. That's it. Not enough to get him inducted. I won't say it's sad, because Rose earns 10 times more in one month than the average person in the world will earn in a year, but he's seriously underrated, and doesn't get enough respect for being such a great player, even if it didn't last long.
*Ok, I'm actually from Evanston, but come on, that's basically the same. Was born like 5 miles from the Chicago city limits.
Is there a way to watch Liga MX in English?
>>74202470
yea learn spanish
Mexican broadcasters are so entertaining that you don't need to speak Spanish to know what's going on
We love the Hispanics!
Do you think we'll ever seenanother elite white nba player ever again. Kidd and Nash are top 15 point guards all time and retired. Dirk is an all time great, but he's done for.
Nope
>>74201227
Jason Kidd isn't white
>>74201287
Forgot that he was mixed
Is there a more JUST team than this one?
REEEEEEEEEEEE
>>74198807
Valencia are seriously lucky this season. If relegation teams weren't so blatantly bad with Osasuna being the obvious example they would be fucked.
Osasuna actually play an attack football against Real Madrid. How is that /just/? Maybe they should park the buss like cancerous shite such as Alaves and La Coruna?
/finally a good match edition/
Friday:
Ruch Chorzow - Cracovia 0-1
Lech Poznan - Termalica Bruk-Bet Nieciecza 3-0
Saturday:
Wisla Krakow - Korona Kielce 2-0
(Malecki with goal of the season propably)
Arka Gdynia (kurwa swinia) - Legia Warszawa 0-1
Sunday:
Wisla Plock - Slask Wroclaw 0-0 so far
LECHIA GDANSK - JAGIELLONIA BIALYSTOK (20:30) (Match of the week)
Monday:
Pogon Szczecin - Piast Gliwice (18:00)
BUMP.
Wisla Plock - Slask Wroclaw 1-1 FT
>Lech Poznan - Termalica Bruk-Bet Nieciecza 3-0
Where are all the bydlos?
This weekend's CORRECTED results:
>Arsenal 2-0 Hull City
>Manchester United 2-0 Watford
>Middlesbrough 0-0 Everton
>Stoke City 1-0 Crystal Palace
>Sunderland 0-4 Southampton
>West Ham United 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
>Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
>Burnley 1-1 Chelsea
>Swansea City 2-0 Leicester City
Tonight's fixture:
>AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City (8:00pm)
>de gay
*begins the inexorable slide into the lower leagues and subsequent footballing irrelevancy*
up the reds la