Second Thoughts

If stars able, ailing Bosh says play on

Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh smiles during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game between Miami and Duke in Coral Gables, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.
Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh smiles during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game between Miami and Duke in Coral Gables, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.

Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh has been sidelined by a blood clot since the All-Star break in 2016.

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AP/JOHN MINCHILLO

President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Monday, March 20, 2017, in Louisville, Ky.

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AP/MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ

In this Dec. 11, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stands in the bench area during the second half of the team's NFL football game against the New York Jets in Santa Clara, Calif.

When asked by The Associated Press for his perspective on the NBA's rest-or-play debate, he had a quick response.

"If you can play," Bosh told the AP, "go out there and play."

Bosh said he understands the players' side and the fans' frustration.

The two NBA Finals representatives last season, Golden State and Cleveland, have elected to rest their superstars -- Stephen Curry and LeBron James, among others -- in recent nationally televised games.

"I can see it in some instances," Bosh said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But then at the same time, if you can play, play. When there's so much work to do, it's kind of hard to see why guys would take time off. With that said, from a player's side, the schedule is intense. But I guess that's part of being in the NBA. And I think what happened was when young guys start saying 'Oh, rest,' that kind of brought it to a tipping point a little bit."

He's not on the court, but he has stayed around the league. Bosh has worked with Turner Sports over the past month working on their "Players Only" Monday night broadcasts.

"They have a very candid bunch of guys, champions, guys who have made their names in their own ways in so many different generations in the league," Bosh said. "Being in there with Chris Webber and Isiah Thomas, Kevin Garnett, a big-brother type guy in Baron Davis, it's cool. It has been therapeutic because you don't realize how much you miss that locker-room aspect until you're away from it."

Bosh remains under contract with the Miami Heat, though the team is likely to begin a process of waiving him and getting salary-cap relief from the final two years of his deal. He'll be owed about $52.1 million for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, money he is guaranteed to receive but dollars that may not count against the Heat books.

Trump talk

President Donald Trump took a swipe at controversial NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick at a campaign-style rally Monday in Louisville, Ky.

Kaepernick, who played for the San Francisco 49ers but now is a free agent, hasn't yet been signed to another team.

Trump told the crowd he read an article reporting that NFL owners don't want to pick Kaepernick up "because they don't want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump."

"Do you believe that?" he asked the enthusiastic crowd.

Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem at the start of NFL games last season to protest police treatment of minorities.

Trump said of the people of Kentucky, "They like it when people actually stand for the American flag."

He said it

From Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times:

• "Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins, it appears, might get out of work on labor day. Cousins' wife Julie is due to deliver their first child during Week 2 of the upcoming NFL season. In keeping with the theme, all he's asking for are no false starts, or at least a two-minute warning."

• "The Warriors played in San Antonio without Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, and the Spurs were minus Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker. In other words, they scheduled an NBA contest and a Cactus League game broke out."

• "Cal State Bakersfield 73, California 66. Oakland 74, Clemson 69. So much for our chances of winning this year's NIT office pool!"

SPORTS QUIZ

What NBA team drafted Chris Bosh?

ANSWER

The Toronto Raptors drafted Bosh with the fourth pick overall in the 2003 NBA Draft.

Sports on 03/22/2017

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