I don’t like politics in sports

[ProudUte]

I do not want this to be a political post.  I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican.  I just don’t like politics in sports.

I grew up in the 1960s.  It was a time of great turmoil in our country.  There were at least 4 major assassinations, we were involved in a war that few people liked, and there were riots in the streets.  I enjoyed getting away from all of that by watching sports.  The Utes (Redskins) had some great teams (2 final four appearances).  I loved watching Jerry Chambers and Merv Jackson.  I enjoyed listening to Vin Sculley broadcast Dodger baseball games with my favorite players, Maury Wills, Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, John Rosboro, etc.  I followed the Baltimore Colts and Johnny Unitas in the NFL.  I followed Utah football as well, but those were not our glory years except possibly 1964 with Roy Jefferson, et al.  I honestly did not care what race the players were.  I just wanted my teams to win.

These were all outlets for me.  I do not remember sports and politics mixing much until the 1968 Olympics.

The point is – I wish sports could be an outlet for us fans without bringing politics into it.  I am interested in politics, but there are times when I just want to get away from it and watch a good game.  I hate the cancel culture.  It makes no sense to me on either side.  We move the all-star game because of a Georgia law and then the guys on the other side want to cancel MLB, Delta, Coke, etc.  I believe that we hurt the people we are supposedly trying to support.

I do not care where someone stands politically.  Everyone has a right to believe as they choose.  Who am I to say how someone should feel?  I just want to watch a ballgame without it turning into a political event.

Go Utes!!!

 

[Central Coast Ute]

That’s the world we live in now. Even if I disagree with a player politically, I’ll still cheer for them and my favorite teams in the leagues that I care about. As long as they’re not spouting dangerous rhetoric, I’ll still be a fan.

[UteBacker]

Great post, Proud.

[Ute Dub]

Good point. MLB cancels the all star game and it mostly hurts the people in Georgia, not the politicians. Then Republicans in Georgia retaliate against MLB, Delta and who does it really hurt? The people in Georgia who want to work those jobs. 

[PhiladelphiaUte]

If the Georgians are hurt by MLB moving the all star game to Colorado, then those Georgians can vote out those politicians that enacted those new voter suppression laws.

And for what it’s worth, it’s not like MLB cancelled the all star game.  All they’d done was move it.  So while it may be a bane for Georgians, it’s a boon for Coloradoans.  So really, it’s a push.

[UteThunder]

Voter suppression laws? Ha! Good one.

[Brettski]

Then they moved it to Denver where the voting laws are more strict. Fake hand wringing never seems to end

[UrbanLiar]

Kind of like legislators writing a $hit ton of laws under false belief of elections being stolen?

[Ute Dub]

If I could go back in time I’d take state and vote out the bad politicians. WTF are you talking about? If you look at the laws, they really don’t supress one bit. But you would have to actually dig into the laws and read about them to know this. 

[PhiladelphiaUte]

I had looked at their laws.  Why on earth is handing out bottles of water now considered illegal?  Why on earth would the state want FEWER voting locations, and longer lines?

Answer:  To make it as difficult as possible for certain types of people to vote.  That’s voter suppression.

[UteThunder]

You need to look again because you are WRONG.

I have read multiple articles criticizing the law and nowhere have I seen it reported that the number of voting locations will be reduced. In fact, it is just the opposite. Any precinct with more than 2,000 voters in the last election or that kept voters waiting for more than an hour MUST CREATE AN ADDITIONAL PRECINCT OR ADD MORE RESOURCES TO REDUCE WAIT TIMES. 

Furthermore, they are requiring at least 2 Saturdays of early voting instead of just 1, and counties have the option to allow Sunday voting as well.

As for handing out bottles of water, it is part of a provision aimed at preventing candidates from trying to persuade voters at the last minute by giving gifts to voters waiting in line. There is an exception that allows polling locations to set up drink stations for voters waiting in line.

So please, tell me about these “certain types of people” they are making it as difficult as possible for them to vote. Who are they and how does this new law make it harder for them to vote?

[Vuksi]

Like you I also get my info from news outlets. I have to question which outlets you are viewing. I try to see all views before making a decision about any topic. From what I’ve read it’s not the in person voting that offends people but the ability to vote by mail as we do here in Utah. Restricting the ability to choose that option is the reason people and companies are pushing back. I suggest you research the whole bill before you make your case.

[UteThunder]

They have cut back on the window of opportunity to request and return mail-in ballots, but that is because the old window was ridiculous, 180 days. Who needs that much time to request and return a ballot? They’ve cut it down to 78 days, still plenty of time.

But let’s get real here, the real problem people have with this law is the fact they are going to require identification for mail-in voting. The only people who have a problem with this are racists and/or cheaters. Only racists think black and brown people are too dumb to get an ID and only cheaters would be offended by having to prove their identity when voting.

By the way, most of the info I have gotten on this law is from CBS.

[Ute Dub]

No. You have to actually look at it. They had a politician on the ticket going up and down the voting lines handing out water and trying to get people to vote for him. That’s the reason why they banned that. 

[PlainsUte]

I guess you never heard of Cassius Clay, the Wyoming “Black 14”, or the Black Power signaling at the 1968 Olympics.

Politics will always get mixed-up in things, though I agree it has gotten mixed up in much more than it used to.   

It is said that is healthy to have a laugh and lighten your mind of your concerns before going to bed but even the late-night talk shows that used to poke fun at politicians in a light-hearted even-handed manner have become partisan political platforms.

[ProudUte]

I mentioned the 1968 Olympics in my post as the start of it all. I remember watching that on TV.

You are right about Cassius Clay. I had forgotten about that and I really liked him as a boxer. I do remember the Wyoming 14, but I think that happened after the 68 Olympics. Also, both of these issues seemed more religious than political, but you are right – they happened in the late 60s.

[Charlie]

Sadly, folks that want your attention go to where your attention is to hijack your attention.  Maybe if we move our attention those that benefit from our attention will eventually try to eliminate disruptions in their entertainment stream.  However, the cycle of learning and improvement will be much slower than we want.

[Dwight89]

I will try to create a counter-point to your well-thought out post. Many athletes come from under-privileged circumstances and become very passionate about some ideology or political movement. If he/she is truly passionate about something, who are we to say they shouldn’t be able to use their influence as an athlete to promote their belief? I hear this “stick to sports” comment all the time. But why are athletes the only ones that have to “stay in their lane”? Just because they are an athlete does not mean they don’t have the ability to formulate intelligent thoughts and beliefs about other aspects of society. 

I would submit, that if we truly believe athletes should “stay in their lane”, then real estate agents shouldn’t get into politics either. CEO’s should stay out of politics. Doctor’s shouldn’t get involved in their community and become advocates for change. They should all just stay in their lane. 

I dunno. I find it rather silly. Athletes are human. They are bound to be passionate about things we may or may not agree with. And I don’t think we have any right to think they shouldn’t be allowed to advocate for those beliefs.

Now, I also think athletes should be comfortable dealing with the consequences, too.  Like MJ said, “everyone buys shoes” and if you advocate for something that half the country vehemently disagrees with, its bound to hurt your image and profitability as an athlete, and I see nothing wrong with the free market penalizing or rewarding an athlete for their views. 

 

[UteThunder]

The big difference between a realtor, a CEO, or a doctor and an athlete (or any celebrity) is their platform. Good or bad, they have the ability to influence millions of people. And while some of these people are informed, most are not. 

Nobody is saying athletes shouldn’t petition their government representatives. We just don’t need or want to see their protests on the field or court. 

[PrudentUte]

As this string demonstrates – politics runis everything it touches. Not policy making, not community building – politics.

[Dwight89]

Why shouldn’t someone who has worked their tail off have the opportunity to have a platform upon which to potentially share their message with millions of people? I get that you don’t like it, sure. But, help me understand your justification for saying they should have no right to express their views “on the field”? 

Again, I’m fine with the consequences that follow an athlete doing that, so long as the consequences are legal and follow free market principles. 

[UteThunder]

I didn’t say they shouldn’t have the right to express their views, just that we don’t need or want them to do it. 

[Dwight89]

I’m not sure who you mean by “we”. If by “we”, you mean Republicans, then sure. You have every right to not want them to do it just as much they have every right to ignore you and do it anyway. 

[UteThunder]

But if by “we”, I mean Democrats, then no?

I’ve got news for you, it’s not just Republicans who don’t want politics in their sports. Or did you miss the conniption the Left had over Drew Brees’ comments about BLM last Summer? 

[Dwight89]

Nope. I think athletes from both sides of the aisle should be able to espouse their political views wherever they see fit. Again, as long as they are willing to endure whatever free market consequences come their way. 

[Central Coast Ute]

I agree with your post about athletes but to be honest, I absolutely do not want to hear about politics at the doctors office or from my realtor when all I’m trying to do.is buy or sell property. I would much rather hear from some athletes or movie stars who I am not trying to do business with.

[Dwight89]

Haha. I agree, but I definitely think a doctor or real estate agent would be within their rights to do so.

[Central Coast Ute]

They absolutely have the right, it just wouldn’t be a smart business practice 😉

[Tony (admin)]

What’s wrong with this?

BOYCOTT THE MASTERS!

You think the term "The Masters" was applied to a golf tournament in the former slave state of Georgia by…coincidence? After baseball moved its All-Star Game out of Atlanta, The Masters, its sponsors, and its tv networks are next.#BoycottTheMasters pic.twitter.com/GDbOWVGJAp

— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) April 2, 2021

[UteThunder]

This guy has developed a mental illness, I am convinced of it. He has gone completely off the rails.

[Author]

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