Sports & Politics

when you mix things together you might get a tasty gumbo

I was seven years old. I imagine the TV was black and white. It was September of 1968. Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy had been assassinated in the spring and summer of 1968. Two men (John Carlos and Tommie Smith) raised their fists in solidarity with their fellow black citizens in a country 600 miles to the north. Large portions of that country might lynch them for riding in the wrong seat on a bus much less raising their fists. This act of politics in sports energized a lash back in America of significant proportion.

The Inspiration

I think many of us have heard the expression “Sports and politics don’t mix”. So what do people think about that statement? I think that sometimes when they do mix it makes me uncomfortable. Luckily, I think that the best way to improve yourself is to get outside of your comfort zone; a little discomfort is a good thing.

The Setup

I think this “mixture” reference applies to more than politics at times. Sports are an important escape for many people. The riots we witness at soccer games are a functional example that this is not an “American problem”. People feel strongly about their sports teams and athletes and associate some of their identity with that support. That makes it difficult when someone involved with their past time doesn’t quite align with them about something else. I graciously think the problem lies with the fan and not the athlete. While norms might exist for behavior, when people go to work, they do not check their freedom at the door.

A couple of instances where sports have put their foot forward before the rest of society was ready are interesting examples of the lessons we all can learn from sports. We choose to make the athletes our heroes. This grants them additional power which they should use wisely. I think mostly they do and absolutes like today’s title are silly at their root.

The Details

Time for some examples to consider. Some are old and some are new and I hope each is interesting. After giving this topic a bit of thought I concluded avoiding the merge of the topics is not easy and perhaps not desirable:

• In 1936, Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler hosted the Olympic Games and aimed to demonstrate the racial superiority of the Aryan “race”. Along came Jesse Owens.

• In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball. Americans came to realize their heroes had been avoiding a lot of great competition.

• In 1968, John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists in a simple sign of black solidarity at the Mexico City Olympics while on the medal stand.

• In 1972, terrorists marred the Summer Olympics in Munich, killing eleven Israeli athletes. Try as we might pretend otherwise, politics and sports intersect.

• In 1994, OJ Simpson murdered his ex-wife and her friend (civil conviction). He remains in the Hall of Fame and is honored on the Ring of Honor at the Bills’ home stadium.

• In 2016, Colin Kaepernick knelt instead of standing for the National Anthem in an NFL preseason game. In a six-year NFL career, he made it to one Superbowl and another NFC Championship game. After kneeling, he was soon out of football never to play again. My hometown Vikings who could really use a backup QB are a perfect example of how a player of his talent mysteriously and inexplicably never got an opportunity to play again.

• In 2019, the US Women’s National Soccer Team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit for equal pay and compensation based on performance. The courts eventually dismissed their claims. The women have won 4 world cups, one 2nd place finish, and three 3rd place finishes. The men have made the tournament ten times in the last century. They finished 2nd once. The women’s team is the single best team in the history of the women’s game.

• In 2020, Lebron James expressed his thoughts about the Black Lives Matter movement. In response, a Fox News host, Laura Ingraham reacted angrily and stated Lebron should shut up and dribble.

• In 2021, Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai promptly disappeared for weeks after accusing a Chinese Vice Premier of sexual assault.

• In 2021, Aaron Rodgers obfuscated (lied) about his vaccination status and avoided league mandates.

• In 2022, Novak Djokovic, a vocal critic of vaccination sought special treatment to allow him to compete at the Australian Open tennis championships. He is currently stuck in the Melbourne airport, akin to Tom Hanks in “The Terminal”.

So what is the point of listing all of these instances where sports and politics are mixed? I am going to carefully avoid taking a stance on many of the instances I raise (except one). The reason I provide a larger list is to make a LARGER point. I surmise that each of you might feel differently about some or all of the examples I raise. My point would be that EACH OF THESE issues is important to some of us and our feelings are strong. Why does it make sense to stuff down these issues because the people involved happen to be athletes? I think each of these instances is WORTH consideration and if you have a platform and can articulate how you feel about something, why, in a free country, would we be bothered by someone doing just that?

The issue that I will expand upon should be obvious to frequent readers. My previous post Tennis is Love is about the terrible situation that encumbers Peng Shuai today. I also did a short follow-up at a later date titled Peng Shuai. I encourage new readers to link and read the article. I humbly believe it is worth people’s time to understand the issue. Peng Shuai remains in an uncertain condition. Cryptic statements by monied interests imply that she likes to be in hiding and is “okay”. What is true still, is only the Women’s Tennis Association has taken a genuinely brave stand to try and change this injustice.

The issues ensconced in the topics above include racism, sexual assault, murder, discrimination, unequal treatment, totalitarianism, rule-breaking and special treatment to name a few. These issues merit discussion in my opinion. I would not expect that two given readers would feel the same about all of the instances. Rather, I believe that all of us are served, the MORE WE THINK about issues of this sort. Just because you might disagree with your favorite athlete should not be grounds to become indignant. Be thankful that people important in your life might also disagree about some things. You have a wonderful opportunity to better understand each other rather than ranting and calling each other names.

It is long past time that we manage our affairs as if things are all or nothing. We all have a frontal cortex and are given this wonderful opportunity to evaluate what we believe. I cannot think of a more human thing to do. I can genuinely say if I ever meet a politician or individual who agrees with me about everything, I will be MOST CONCERNED. Finding a way to cheerfully respect our differences and DISCERN sensible behavior, even if it is not in lockstep with my personal beliefs is a great plan for happiness, progress, and serenity.

Maybe a little cheesy tonight, but here is a sports song that can get you pumped up. On a cold morning when it is below zero and I peek out the window of my basement as I get on my treadmill, I need all the help I can get! I am struck that “controversies” about sports and politics always seem to come back to justice. Here is one of my favorite songs about justice and tolerance for everyone.