Opinion | Why athletes can’t just shut up and dribble
Joe Perrino, Sports Editor
Growing up in California, I’ve had the chance to interact with all kinds of people. Most friend groups at my high school were filled with kids of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds. Everyone was tolerant of one another; not even in a, “let’s coexist” kind of way, but in a very genuine, friendly way. I’ve been lucky to have that. That’s why the last few months have been a shock to me.
I’ve always known I had privilege being a white male in America with a middle-class family and wealthy friends. But recently it’s taken on a new meaning. I never realized I was as fortunate as I was to grow up in California. Making these friendships and being around so many tolerant, accepting people made me turn a blind eye to the hate within other parts of the country.
After the tragic murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and most recently the unlawful shooting of Jacob Blake, social media has been a complete mess. I saw a different side of America. Closeted racists came out of the shadows trying to justify these deaths. They made statements I never thought humanly possible, vehemently denying racism existing in the world.
The other day, I was having a conversation with my cousin, and we started talking about basketball. I said I was looking forward to the playoffs starting and I asked who he thought would win the NBA championship. He played Division I basketball for a year, so I thought he would have a good opinion.
Instead, he said, “I’m not watching basketball anymore.” I immediately questioned him, asking if it was because his favorite team, the Golden State Warriors, was not in contention. I was wrong.
When the season restarted, NBA players were given the opportunity to place social justice messages, along with their last names, on the backs of their jerseys. A similar act of social justice took place Aug. 26 when, in a historic moment, all teams boycotted their playoff games following the Kenosha, Wisconsin, shooting of Blake. I saw these as great opportunities for athletes, like the rest of us Americans, to spread messages they believe in. But some people felt otherwise.
My cousin began to discuss those messages. He stated how he doesn’t like seeing the messages on the back of the jerseys rather than their names; it detracts from his viewing experience. I respect his opinion, but I disagree and frankly feel like he’s creating a sad excuse for himself to make up for the fact that social justice rhetoric makes him uncomfortable.
For years, athletes have been told to stick to sports. Their opinions are made out to be useless. As Laura Ingraham infamously said in 2018 to LeBron James and Kevin Durant on Fox News, “It’s always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball … Shut up and dribble.”
This is from the same person who defended New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for saying he doesn’t support kneeling for the anthem, stating it was his opinion. Well, Laura, are James and Durant not speaking their opinions? Does it make you uncomfortable that their opinions don’t align with yours? Hypocrite.
If they can’t have an opinion, then who can? Athletes are looked up to by so many children. I was one of them. James, in particular, is an inspiring man who does so much to help his hometown, putting hundreds of kids through college during his career. If children have a role model like that, who is told to “shut up” and stick to their job, then what are those children going to do when they get older? Be afraid to speak their opinions?
Sports have always offered an outlet for people from all backgrounds and races to unite and cheer for a common objective. However, it has now turned into this toxic community struggle over which social justice issues and political opinions should be preached. If sports fans really appreciate their athletes, who provide them with hours of entertainment a night, they should at least let them express their fight for racial equality.