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Ever since the popularity of social media has exploded over the past decade, the way it has impacted North American professional sports has been amazing.  It helps create a larger fan base for their franchises. It is changing how a player has to behave off the field/rink/court.

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Ever since the popularity of social media has exploded over the past decade, the way it has impacted North American professional sports has been amazing.  It helps create a larger fan base for their franchises. It is changing how a player has to behave off the field/rink/court.

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Social Media and how its changing sports!

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As an expert in the field, Jason Stein examines the ways social media is changing the face of sports.

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Social Media has impacted sporting events greatly. The NBA All-Star game which is a game where the 12 best players in their conference play in an exhibition game for the fans. After social media started to gain popularity, instead of the coaches ,stat analyst's, and reporters choosing which players will participate in the all star game it has become a fan vote which changed over the years. Started off as fans going onto the NBA official website and voting for which players they wanted to see participate, to texting a toll number the name of the player to now being able to simply tweet "_____ #NBAVote" and being counted as a vote. Social medias impact on sports has evolved as social media evolved. It is now a big part of sports. The NBA has even introduced an award show at the end of the season which is fully based off player votes other than the MVP award. It will surely continue to run with the popularity of social media showing no signs of slowing down. 

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Social Media has impacted sporting events greatly. The NBA All-Star game which is a game where the 12 best players in their conference play in an exhibition game for the fans. After social media started to gain popularity, instead of the coaches ,stat analyst's, and reporters choosing which players will participate in the all star game it has become a fan vote which changed over the years. Started off as fans going onto the NBA official website and voting for which players they wanted to see participate, to texting a toll number the name of the player to now being able to simply tweet "_____ #NBAVote" and being counted as a vote. Social medias impact on sports has evolved as social media evolved. It is now a big part of sports. The NBA has even introduced an award show at the end of the season which is fully based off player votes other than the MVP award. It will surely continue to run with the popularity of social media showing no signs of slowing down. 

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Our first @nba Awards was a great success yesterday in NYC. Thanks @nbaontnt for the good show.… https://t.co/Hn8LPZPX4d

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Our first @nba Awards was a great success yesterday in NYC. Thanks @nbaontnt for the good show.… https://t.co/Hn8LPZPX4d

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Our first @nba Awards was a great success yesterday in NYC. Thanks @nbaontnt for the good show.… https://t.co/Hn8LPZPX4d
— Dikembe Mutombo (@officialmutombo) June 27, 2017

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Our first @nba Awards was a great success yesterday in NYC. Thanks @nbaontnt for the good show.… https://t.co/Hn8LPZPX4d

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Our first @nba Awards was a great success yesterday in NYC. Thanks @nbaontnt for the good show.… https://t.co/Hn8LPZPX4d

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Our first @nba Awards was a great success yesterday in NYC. Thanks @nbaontnt for the good show.… https://t.co/Hn8LPZPX4d

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Athletes and owners of the teams within these leagues use social media to raise awareness about problems happening in their country and around the world. They use their social media platforms to increase awareness because in North America athletes are role models to all age groups from young children to the elderly. If someone was to see their favourite athlete tweet about an issue happening in China, they would definitely open the article and learn about the issue. It also allows athletes to get together as if they were family to support a cause. Social media allows them to speak their mind and increase awareness. A very popular incident that happened this year with social media and sports is the BLM (Black Lives Matter) protest going on before NFL games where athletes would kneel during the national anthem of the U.S.A.  Colin Kaepernick the one who started this protest began protesting because "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color".  President Trump got involved and tweeted out telling owners to fine or suspend players. Players then got involved tweeting to Trump letting him know what they think. 

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Athletes and owners of the teams within these leagues use social media to raise awareness about problems happening in their country and around the world. They use their social media platforms to increase awareness because in North America athletes are role models to all age groups from young children to the elderly. If someone was to see their favourite athlete tweet about an issue happening in China, they would definitely open the article and learn about the issue. It also allows athletes to get together as if they were family to support a cause. Social media allows them to speak their mind and increase awareness. A very popular incident that happened this year with social media and sports is the BLM (Black Lives Matter) protest going on before NFL games where athletes would kneel during the national anthem of the U.S.A.  Colin Kaepernick the one who started this protest began protesting because "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color".  President Trump got involved and tweeted out telling owners to fine or suspend players. Players then got involved tweeting to Trump letting him know what they think. 

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell slammed Trump in a statement Saturday morning, calling the President "divisive" for remarks he made at a rally in Alabama Friday night, while one of the most famous athletes in the world, LeBron James, called Trump a "bum" for his Saturday morning tweet uninviting Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry from visiting the White House.

The Golden State Warriors issued a statement later Saturday accepting Trump's dis-invitation.

"While we intended to meet as a team at the first opportunity we had this morning to collaboratively discuss a potential visit to the White House, we accept that President Trump has made it clear that we are not invited," the team said.

The statement added that while the team will not be visiting the White House, its players will still come to the nation's capital in February "to celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion - the values that we embrace as an organization."

Former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant also tweeted a rebuke of Trump.

"A #POTUS whose name alone creates division and anger. Whose words inspire dissension and hatred can't possibly 'Make America Great Again,'" Bryant wrote.

Trump's Twitter response

Trump responded to the criticismsSaturday in a series of tweets, saying that playing for a sports league is a "privilege" and that players should not be able to disrespect the American flag or the US without risking being "fired."

"If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect ...." Trump tweeted. "Our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!"

Later, he added of Goodell's criticism: "Roger Goodell of NFL just put out a statement trying to justify the total disrespect certain players show to our country. Tell them to stand!"

The President's Twitter posts continued Sunday morning, saying if fans stayed away from the games because of the players' protests, "you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!"

Trump then focused on recent attendance at some NFL games and said ratings were "way down."

"Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.," he tweeted.

Trump's tweets and harsh reaction highlight an extraordinary moment -- the President, NFL commissioner and top basketball players embroiled in a public fight over unity and patriotism.

Goodell said Trump's criticism of NFL players kneeling in protest during the National Anthem showed a "lack of respect" for the league and its players.

"The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture," Goodell said in the statement. "There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we've experienced over the last month. Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities."

New York Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch called Trump's NFL comments "inappropriate" on Saturday.

"Comments like we heard last night from the president are inappropriate, offensive and divisive," their statement said. "We are proud of our players, the vast majority of whom use their NFL platform to make a positive difference in our society."

Several team owners expressed similar comments.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a friend of Trump's, said he was "deeply disappointed by the tone " of Trump's remarks at the Friday night rally.

"There is no greater unifier in this country than sports, and unfortunately, nothing more divisive than politics," Kraft said in a statement Sunday. "I think our political leaders could learn a lot from the lessons of teamwork and the importance of working together toward a common goal."

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said the country needed "unifying leadership right now, not more divisiveness."

"I know our players who kneeled for the anthem and these are smart young men of character who want to make our world a better place for everyone," Ross said in a statement Saturday.

"We all have the responsibility to use this platform to promote understanding, respect and equality," he added.

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York called Trump's remarks "callous and offensive" and "contradictory to what this great country stands for."

"Our players have exercised their rights as United States citizens in order to spark conversation and action to address social injustice," York said in a statement Saturday. "We will continue to support them in their peaceful pursuit of positive change in our country and around the world."

Trump's remarks at rally

At Alabama GOP Sen. Luther Strange's campaign rally Friday, Trump said team owners should fire players for taking a knee during the national anthem. He added that if fans would "leave the stadium" when players kneel in protest during the national anthem, "I guarantee, things will stop."

Trump appeared to be referring to Colin Kaepernick -- formerly with the San Francisco 49ers, but currently without a team -- who last year drew national attention for refusing to stand during "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to kickoff.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in August 2016.

Then, on Saturday morning, Trump tweeted that Curry's invitation to the White House was revoked.

"Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!" Trump wrote.

Curry had remarked at the Warriors' media day Friday that he doesn't want to attend the White House ceremony scheduled to commemorate the title.

"'By acting and not going, hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to,'' Curry told reporters. ''It's not just the act of not going. There are things you have to do on the back end to actually push that message into motion."

Athletes, entertainers respond

James was among the first athletes to respond to Trump on Saturday.

"U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going!" James tweeted. "So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!"

Many of the reactions to Trump's tweets highlighted the underlying racial tensions some consider at issue.

ESPN anchor Jemele Hill tweet ed to Curry, "Hey @StephenCurry30, welcome to the club bro."

Last week, Trump demanded an apology on Twitter for a series of tweets Hill had sent describing Trump as a white supremacist. Later White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Fox News that Hill's tweets were "highly inappropriate, and I think ESPN should take actions."

Singer-songwriter John Legend also tweeted about Trump Saturday saying of Curry's decision, "Perhaps it's not a great honor while your stench is there.'

Legend continued with a series of tweets aimed at the President.

"Trump thrives on division and chaos. He wants to pit us against each other because he thinks his side can win (w/voter suppression, etc.)," Legend tweeted later in the afternoon.

In a video released Saturday afternoon, music producer and rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs called for members of the NFL to do something "really great" on Sunday, when most of the week's football games will be played. He added: "You all represent us."

"If you do whatever you do in unity, you can't be stopped," Combs said in the video. "Just do the math man. Stick together, stand up together, rally for each other. Because believe me, we're all we got -- it has nothing to do with football and business."

Combs later tweeted from his personal account, "THE LINE HAS BEEN CROSSED!!!! Time to show them #blackexcellence LETS GO! #teamlove REPRESENT REPRESENT!"

He added a split photo that at the top showed white supremacists holding Confederate and Nazi flags under the words "very fine people" -- a reference to Trump's description of both white supremacist protesters and counterprotesters after the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month -- and at the bottom three 49ers players taking a knee during the national anthem under the words "Sons of Bitches."

Meanwhile, legendary musician Stevie Wonder took a knee at a New York music festival Saturday.

"Tonight, I'm taking a knee for America; but not just one knee, I'm taking both knees," he said on stage before his performance at the Global Citizen Festival.

"Both knees in prayer for our planet, our future, our leaders of the world and our globe. Amen."

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Trump's tweet about Curry and whether the invitation will be withdrawn.

CNN's Eric Bradner contributed to this report.

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NFL chief, team owners, NBA stars slam Trump

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President Donald Trump came under harsh criticism Saturday from the NFL and some of the NBA's top players after he blasted prominent athletes for kneeling during the national anthem and refusing to come to the White House, putting himself in the center of a controversy with significant racial and cultural undertones.

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These athletes can use social media or the accounts of news networks to promote their organizations or charities so everyone can learn about their charity. The following post is a video of NFL Linebacker of the Denver Broncos; Von Miller talking about his charity. 

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These athletes can use social media or the accounts of news networks to promote their organizations or charities so everyone can learn about their charity. The following post is a video of NFL Linebacker of the Denver Broncos; Von Miller talking about his charity. 

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.@iBreatheNews caught up with #NBCBLK28 honoree Von Miller at the NBA Awards & chatted about his organization 'Von’s Vision' & confidence.

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.@iBreatheNews caught up with #NBCBLK28 honoree Von Miller at the NBA Awards & chatted about his organization 'Von’s Vision' & confidence. https://t.co/gBG2UPr0Rv

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.@iBreatheNews caught up with #NBCBLK28 honoree Von Miller at the NBA Awards & chatted about his organization 'Von’s Vision' & confidence. pic.twitter.com/gBG2UPr0Rv
— NBCBLK (@NBCBLK) June 30, 2017

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.@iBreatheNews caught up with #NBCBLK28 honoree Von Miller at the NBA Awards & chatted about his organization 'Von’s Vision' & confidence. https://t.co/gBG2UPr0Rv

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.@iBreatheNews caught up with #NBCBLK28 honoree Von Miller at the NBA Awards & chatted about his organization 'Von’s Vision' & confidence. https://t.co/gBG2UPr0Rv

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.@iBreatheNews caught up with #NBCBLK28 honoree Von Miller at the NBA Awards & chatted about his organization 'Von’s Vision' & confidence.

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The impact social media has on players in these leagues can be used for good and bad. It creates a brand for the players. In this era of social media it allows a mediocre player to explode to popularity. In this clip from 1:45-2:10 Charles Barkley explains that because of the image media gave him his popularity goes through the roof. He is spoken about before LeBron James who is unofficially the greatest player on the planet although Lonzo isn't even the best player on his team. 

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The impact social media has on players in these leagues can be used for good and bad. It creates a brand for the players. In this era of social media it allows a mediocre player to explode to popularity. In this clip from 1:45-2:10 Charles Barkley explains that because of the image media gave him his popularity goes through the roof. He is spoken about before LeBron James who is unofficially the greatest player on the planet although Lonzo isn't even the best player on his team. 

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LeBron and Lonzo Interaction | Inside The NBA | NBA on TNT

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The Inside the NBA crew talk about what advice LeBron may have given Lonzo following their first meeting in Cleveland.

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Social media also allows fans and their comments to create a story line for the leagues. An example would be the fans of the NBA creating the villain image for Kevin Durant after he left his team the Oklahoma City Thunder to join their rivals the Golden State Warriors which is a team already headed by many fan bases across the nation. With fans creating this new villain image for him after being a hero on his old team he has started to embrace this villain image. It has caused him to act out, get ejected from games, get into arguments with his old team mates. After fans on social media started this new persona for Kevin Durant he has changed himself to suit this image. 

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Social media also allows fans and their comments to create a story line for the leagues. An example would be the fans of the NBA creating the villain image for Kevin Durant after he left his team the Oklahoma City Thunder to join their rivals the Golden State Warriors which is a team already headed by many fan bases across the nation. With fans creating this new villain image for him after being a hero on his old team he has started to embrace this villain image. It has caused him to act out, get ejected from games, get into arguments with his old team mates. After fans on social media started this new persona for Kevin Durant he has changed himself to suit this image. 

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Uploaded by House of Highlights on 2017-10-05.