US rapper Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, known by his stage name, Macklemore, yesterday vowed to “go harder” when he plays his hit gay anthem at the Australian Rugby League (NRL) grand final, despite protests from “angry old white dudes” during a national vote on same-sex marriage.
The musician is due to perform his song Same Love at the season-ending game in Sydney on Sunday, pitting the Melbourne Storm against the North Queensland Cowboys.
However, this has riled some conservative politicians who are campaigning against legalizing gay marriage, as up to 15 million Australians take part in a voluntary postal vote on the issue.
“I’m getting a lot of tweets from angry old white dudes in Australia. I think there is a petition today to ban me from playing,” he told US radio.
This, he said, had only encouraged him to “go harder.”
The charged debate has seen many Australian sports organizations come out in support of the “yes” campaign, including the National Rugby League.
Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott, a leading voice on the “no” side, on Wednesday endorsed a petition calling on the league to withdraw its backing of same-sex marriage.
“Footy fans shouldn’t be subjected to a politicised grand final. Sport is sport!” Abbott tweeted.
The petition, initiated this week by a former rugby league player Tony Wall, said it would be difficult to watch the final “with a LGBTIQ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer] anthem taking center stage.”
It has so far attracted nearly 10,000 supporters.
Attorney General George Brandis said it was “bizarre” that Abbott would target Macklemore.
“This particular song is one of four songs I believe that Macklemore is singing, it’s one of his most popular songs, and for Mr Abbott or anyone else to say that it should be banned I think is a bizarre thing to say,” he said.
Results of the controversial ballot are due in the middle of November.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
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