I disagree 100%. Sports is integral in all of American life.
It is entertainment, but at the same time it reflects our social realities and yes, it CAN and SHOULD be used as a vehicle to advance changes in social norms.
Jesse Owens - 1936 Olympics - Berlin
John Carlos and Tommy Smith - 1968 Olympics Mexico City
2014 Brooklyn Nets - In support of Eric Garner
And of course, this from the Rams last year:
Athletes do not provide any tangible contribution to the economy beyond their ability to make people want to see them. People who cover sports for a living have a similar issue - they contribute nothing substantive or real to the economy, they help people form and sometimes change opinions about things. The essence of freedom is the ability to speak one's mind without interference from the power structure that may not like what they have to say. Now, once the GOVERNMENT starts banning speech we are all well and truly fucked, because then the right to free speech is gone. But advocating for people to "toe the company line" or "keep politics out of sports" is an insidious step onto the slippery slope that ends with government regulation of what is allowed to be said and what is punishable by imprisonment or worse.
Exercise your own freedom by CHOOSING not to watch, listen, read or click...fine by me...everyone MUST have that right.
But advocate for people to not do or say something because you might find it personally offensive or unnecessary? NO. That is a bridge too far.
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