Yes, Donald Trump, There Are Muslim Star Athletes in America

Published in Liberation
(France) on 8 December 2015
by Jacques Pezet (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Meredith O'Connell. Edited by Danielle Tezcan.
The Republican candidate was stunned by Barack Obama's affirmation that the U.S. has practicing Muslim athletes. Let's take a look at its athletic culture.

On Sunday, Dec. 6, following the San Bernardino shooting in California, President Barack Obama wanted to remind his fellow citizens that "Muslim-Americans are our friends and our neighbors, our co-workers, our sports heroes." Without a second's thought, wannabe-president Donald Trump responded on Twitter by posing this question: "Obama said in his speech that Muslims are our sports heroes. What sport is he talking about, and who? Is Obama profiling?"

Republicans are incredible. When they need to prove that Barack Obama is Muslim they are capable of inventing absurd theories, but as soon as they must name a single Muslim champion, they've got nothing. It is otherwise rather surprising that the country has many practicing athletes of the Muslim faith.

The Republican primary’s candidate could have easily discovered this if he had done an Internet search before Tweeting. He would have at least found the Wikipedia page which lists famous Muslim-American celebrities.

There one finds about 30 names including some legends:

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali. On Feb. 26, 1964, after having earned his first heavyweight world title, the boxer then known as Cassius Clay revealed his conversion to Islam.

Mike Tyson. The boxer converted to Islam during his incarceration between 1992 and 1995. On Dec. 6, 2013, he remarked on his religious beliefs on Fox News and recalled that he "has need of Allah."

Basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The greatest scorer in the history of the NBA converted to Islam in 1968.

Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal. Very private about his religious beliefs, the giant basketball player revealed in 2010 that he was considering make his pilgrimage to Mecca.

And if [Trump] watches neither basketball nor boxing, not to worry: dozens of American football players believe in Islam as well.

Overly forgetful, the candidate with the golden locks often posed with these athletes and even received the Muhammad Ali prize in 2007, right from the champion boxer himself. Luckily, Twitter had plenty of pictures to refresh his memory.


Le candidat aux primaires républicaines s'est étonné de l'affirmation de Barack Obama selon laquelle le pays avait des athlètes pratiquant l'islam. Remettons sa culture sportive à jour.

Oui, Donald Trump, il existe bien des sportifs célèbres musulmans aux Etats-Unis
Dimanche 6 décembre, suite à la tuerie de San Bernardino en Californie, le président Barack Obama a voulu rappeler à ses compatriotes que «les Américains musulmans sont nos amis et nos voisins, nos collègues de travail, nos héros sportifs». Ni une ni deux, le wannabe president Donald Trump a réagi sur Twitter en posant cette question : «Obama a dit dans son discours que les musulmans sont nos héros sportifs. De quels sports parle-t-il, et de qui ? Est-ce qu’Obama fait du profilage ?»


Les Républicains sont des gens incroyables. Quand il s’agit de démontrer que Barack Obama est de confession musulmane, ils sont capables d’inventer des théories saugrenues, mais dès qu’il s’agit de nommer un seul champion musulman, il n’y a plus personne. C’est d’autant plus surprenant que le pays compte de nombreux athlètes pratiquants l’islam.

Le candidat à la primaire républicaine aurait pu facilement le découvrir, s’il avait fait une recherche sur Internet avant de Tweeter. Il aurait alors découvert cette page Wikipédia qui liste les célébrités américaines de confession musulmane. On y trouve une trentaine de noms parmi lesquels ces légendes :

Le champion de boxe Mohamed Ali. Le 26 février 1964, après avoir remporté son premier titre de champion du monde des poids lourds, le boxeur connu alors sous le nom de Cassius Clay révèle sa conversion à l’islam.
Mike Tyson. Le boxeur s’est converti à l’islam durant son incarcération entre 1992 et 1995. Le 6 décembre 2013, il évoquait son appartenance religieuse sur Fox News et rappelait qu’il «a besoin d’Allah».
Le basketteur Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Le plus grand marqueur de l’histoire de la NBA s’est converti à l’islam en 1968.
La star des Lakers Shaquille O’Neal. Très discret sur son appartenance religieuse, le basketteur géant a révélé en 2010 qu’il comptait faire son pèlerinage à La Mecque.
Et s’il ne regarde ni le basket-ball ni la boxe, ce n’est pas grave, on retrouve aussi une dizaine de joueurs de football américains parmi les croyants.

Comble de l’oubli, le candidat à la mèche d’or a souvent pris la pose avec ces sportifs et même reçu le prix Mohamed-Ali en 2007 des mains du champion de boxe. Heureusement des Twittos n’ont pas manqué de ressortir les clichés pour lui rafraîchir la mémoire.
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