AOW 3/26: Miami Heat Hoodie

This week's articles come from the Huffington Post. Both articles discuss the significance of the Miami Heat's Million Hoodie March picture. After the shooting of Trayvon Martin broke national news, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and the Miami Heat organized a team photo before the game where all the members of the Miami Heat wore a team sweatshirt and bowed their heads down like Trayvon Martin. The articles applaud James, Wade, and the Heat's effort to take a stand and promote a worthy cause. They discuss how that this is much more different than how professional athletes are today. The author juxtaposes Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods to Dwayne Wade and Lebron James and observes how Jordan and Woods did not take a stand. He also voices his opinion saying that Woods and Jordan had opportunities to take a stand and make a difference, not just money. The article also establishes background about the shooting and the national reaction to the event. He mentions President Obama's speech regarding the issue. He also uses communal memory to connect people's knowledge of the Million Hoodie March and connect it to the actions of the Miami Heat. Both writers appeal to pathos and try to establish feelings about the shooting. One writer discusses how many people's opinions about Lebron, Wade, and the Heat have significantly changed because of the stance in the issue. He also shows how this is a rare event today because many athletes have become self-centered and do not want to become involved in issues such as this. The other article establishes the national stance on the issue and shows how people are beginning to readdress racism in America. The article's purposes were to praise the Miami Heat's efforts in supporting the issue and taking a stand that is not seen very often. They also discuss the national attention the shooting has received in the media. Both article's accomplish their purpose because they illustrate the Heat's actions as admirable and describe the various protests and speeches made about the issue.