On Nov. 14, 2017, President Donald Trump spoke with President of China Xi Jinping. Trump asked for the release of the three UCLA players, LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley, and Jalen Hill. Ball and his teammates were reportedly caught shoplifting from a store. There is no official word on what item, or items, they shoplifted, but it is assumed that the young men stole a pair of high-valued sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store.
On Nov. 7, 2017, the UCLA men’s basketball team was in China for an exhibition game against Georgia Tech. The players were checked into a hotel and not allowed to leave for a flight back to Los Angeles with the rest of the team.
In China, shoplifting is considered an extremely serious crime and the duration of the jail sentences can also be lengthy. The Chinese prosecution rate is 99.9 percent. That means even with the best lawyer it is still extremely difficult to be found not guilty.
President Trump, who recently had a two day trip to Beijing, told reporters he promised that the players would be treated, “fairly and expeditiously.” Trump said to Xi, “Do you know anything about these knuckleheads that got caught stealing?” The players were sent on a flight back to Los Angeles, Tuesday morning, and a van took them back to the UCLA campus.
Although the three UCLA players were allowed to return home, with to the help of Donald Trump, they will still most likely face some consequences. The president of China will likely ask for a public apology from the players. The coach of the UCLA men’s basketball team is also expected to hand down some sort of punishment.
This entire incident will not only hurt Ball, and his teammate’s image, but also his family’s image. The Big Baller Brand has taken the sports world over due to LiAngelo’s father Lavar, being viral all over social media. Ball and his teammates are to deliver an apology to China, their team, and their families.
Written by Parris Winfrey
Sources:
Bleacher Report: LiAngelo Ball, UCLA Players Released, Fly Home From China
ESPN: President’s chief of staff: Donald Trump Helped UCLA ‘Knuckleheads’
Wall Street Journal: Three UCLA Basketball players Land In China After Police Probe
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Dennis Jarvis’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License