Reactions from the sports world as Election results come in

With the 2020 Presidential Election reaching its conclusion, Flyer News takes a look at how the sports world reacts to Election Day and the final results. Photo courtesy of Griffin Quinn, Flyer News.

Peter Burtnett
Sports Editor

Today, Nov. 3, is considered by many to be one of the most consequential days in the history of the United States of America. That importance is not ignored by the sports world, from which athletes, coaches, teams and leagues have been vocal about executing the right to vote.

Although the results may not come in tonight, this feed will be updated with the latest social media posts from figures around the sports world, starting with messages from several members of the University of Dayton Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and from a figure of significance at the University of Dayton, men’s basketball head coach Anthony Grant.

Wednesday, Nov. 3

8:56 a.m. ET

https://twitter.com/udsaac/status/1323324296958255107

9:24 a.m. ET

The voting messages continued throughout the late morning with UD teams sharing pictures of their players after voting.

11:47 a.m.

11:58 a.m.

4:44 p.m.

NBA superstar and vocal supporter of the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris ticket quote tweeted a tweet from the VP candidate.

https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1323742766057152512

6:18 p.m. 

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. shared his call for Ohio voters to get out and vote before the polls close at 7:30 p.m. ET.

6:41 p.m.

In an election where contention is rampant, finding humor in voting is hard to come by, but 3x Pro Bowl CB Joe Haden of the Pittsburgh Steelers was able to experience a light moment at the polls.

https://twitter.com/joehaden23/status/1323771029144162304

With the first statewide polls closing in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia at 7 p.m., the responses to the results will soon begin to start pouring in.

6:49 p.m.

And as polls will begin closing around the country within the next several hours, More Than A Vote, a coalition of Black athletes and artists, shared voters can still vote if they are in line when the closing poll time arrives.

https://twitter.com/morethanavote/status/1323773891324612613

6:51 p.m.

Just 10 minutes ago, the UD women’s basketball team shared that it’s now the “last chance to vote” with Ohio polls set to close at 7:30 p.m.

8:41 p.m. 

As election results pour in, projections are being made and the nerves surrounding the election have been heightened.

Former Kentucky Wildcats and NBA (four teams) basketball player Rex Chapman, who has become popular on social media due to his mix of inspiring, dramatic and political content, shared the nervous energy around tonight’s election.

https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1323801974375108609

10:11 p.m. 

Former college football head coach at Ole Miss (1995-98), Auburn (1999-2008), Texas Tech (2010-12) and Cincinnati (2013-16) Republican Tommy Tuberville was elected Senator in Alabama, defeating incumbent Sen. Doug Jones.

10:19 p.m.

In an incredibly contentious and competitive election, Democratic candidate Joe Biden has long been favored. However, as pointed out by Darren Rovell, a Sports Business reporter, the odds have flipped dramatically.

Since this tweet, the odds have increased to Trump (-400) as of 10 p.m.

10:20 p.m.

Former Ohio State and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez is reelected to U.S. House in Ohio’s 16th Congressional District, which he’s held since Jan. 2019.

11:43 p.m. 

As of 11:30 p.m., the official odds have dropped from as high as an 80 percent chance for a Trump win to just 60 percent.

Thursday, Nov. 4

12:05 a.m.

Just minutes after midnight, CNN projects Trump to win Ohio. Reactions likely to follow.

12:30 a.m. 

Betting odds down to 55-45 in favor of Trump.

12:42 a.m.

Just minutes after CNN projects Trump to win Florida, Biden addresses the nation, says he believes he will win election.

9 a.m.

The overnight certainly didn’t lack excitement (Trump proclaiming he had already won election without the needed 270 electoral votes), but the odds gradually swung in Biden’s favor (-385, 76.9 percent chance to win) as of 8 a.m.

Biden currently holds a 224-213 lead in the Electoral College projections, according to CNN.

9:35 p.m.

Odds continue to win in Biden’s favor, with Trump now down to just a 20 percent chance to win, the lowest it has been.

10:30 a.m.

Biden’s surge continues. Expect some state projections to come in shortly (Wisconsin around 97 percent estimated reporting), and reactions to follow. Race currently sits at 224-213 according to CNN.

11 a.m.

Visual depiction of swinging odds.

As the race remains incredibly tight and concern that every vote gets counted, retired NBA star shooting guard Dwayne Wade shared this sentiment.

1 p.m.

With Trump active suggesting that the election should be called with his lead in key states (Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania), Hall of Fame NFL tight end for the Denver Broncos Shannon Sharpe shared his response to the claims of a victory for Trump.

https://twitter.com/ShannonSharpe/status/1324048986639015936

1:45 p.m.

Cities like Detroit, Milwaukee, Atlanta and Philadelphia have been providing the key Democratic votes to keep Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and Pennsylvania highly competitive and at the forefront of the race for the election.

NBA superstar forward LeBron James chimed in his applause for the big voter turnout and results.

https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1324056335684526080

4:25 p.m.

We’ve been following the odds since yesterday evening, and the latest projections favor Biden to win Pennsylvania (59 percent), which would put him at 273 Electoral College votes, enough to win the election.

5:10 p.m.

The odds continue to climb in favor of Biden (86.2 percent chance to win), who sits at a 253-213 lead in CNN’s Electoral College projections.

If Biden picks off Pennsylvania, or holds Arizona and Nevada, he will reach 270 Electoral votes, and the reactions around the sports world will begin to flood in. Stay tuned.

9:53 p.m.

Georgia betting odds have swung in favor of Biden for the first time, meaning that if the former Vice President does win the state, he would only have to hold either Arizona or Nevada.

Thursday, Nov. 5

10:42 a.m.

We’ve now reached Day 3 of the election results, and betting through European sportsbook Betfair is finally beginning to slow down, with an exorbitant amount of money on bets placed.

11:17 a.m.

6 p.m.

With Biden making a comeback in Georgia and Pennsylvania, and Trump making a small comeback in Arizona, the race for president has remained heated. Trump has claimed (without evidence so far) the election is fraudulent.

Heisman Trophy-winning running back at the University of Georgia  Herschel Walker, who has voiced his support for Trump, called for integrity.

7:12 p.m. 

NBA point guard Isaiah Thomas – currently a free agent – responds to Trump’s press conference, where he vehemently claimed the election was being stolen from him.

Friday, Nov. 6

11:15 a.m.

With Biden taking the lead in Pennsylvania, people in West Philly have taken to the streets to dance in celebration. Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris was happy to see the celebration.

12:15 p.m.

LeBron James chimed in to salute the effort from voters in Georgia and Pennsylvania, which have both flipped in favor of Biden.

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal also voiced his excitement about Pennsylvania being flipped.

3:45 p.m.

With poll workers working around the clock to count the last of the votes, Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young thanked the workers by providing Jason’s Deli meal boxes.

Friday, Nov. 7

11:35 a.m.

With CNN projecting Biden to win Pennsylvania, Biden reaches the 270 Electoral College votes to win the White House and become the 46th President of the United States of America.

LeBron James quickly responded in an appropriate manner.

https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1325113814161895424

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