For those of you who might skip my column this week because I’m writing about sports, there’s a message in here for most everybody. Actually, there may be more than one when it comes to those who want to use athletic competition as a hot button to divide the American people.

As I was watching the amazing crowds cheering on the home teams in the Major League Baseball playoffs, it got me thinking. I stated in a past column that I turn off or mute out all the political advertising during a ballgame. Certain voices are like nails down a chalkboard every time I hear them. That’s probably a conversation for closer to the  election, as I believe the commercials are intended to do that by the candidate’s choice.

Now, back to where I was going, the large crowds rooting for Philadelphia, New York, San Diego, L.A., Kansas City, Cleveland, and Detroit show me that the fans really don’t  care if the person next to them is a Republican or a Democrat. They only want to see their team win and advance, and they will give them a high five when this happens.

Wouldn’t it be nice if our elected leadership could do this no matter who wins the election?

I’m passionate about sports at every level, and focusing on the game and the winning part goes right along with keeping the score. I have never once heard of anyone that  plays, coaches, or is involved with the team in any manner care what party a fellow team member is. I understand that the closer you get to local athletics, the more people will  know what a person’s political views are.

I have friends that are Republican, Democrat, and Independent, and those I don’t think even care. I’ve never really asked unless they brought it up. I have friends who think  the Trump-Harris election will decide the fate of the world and others who think it’s just another step into our nation’s history. I have friends who want to talk about politics in  detail and those who would sooner focus on sports, hunting, or something I always love talking about — food. It doesn’t really matter to me what we talk about; they’re my  friends.

Another great thing about sports — college and professional — is you’ll never find more diversity. The more diverse a professional or college team is, the better for the city,  university, and fan base they represent. This should not be a surprise as they usually represent the melting pot of where they are located. However, if the center on the  basketball team just happened to be Dikembe Mutombo, God Rest his soul, and he is the only player from the continent of Africa, he will become loved and embraced. Yes,  there may have been a point in our nation’s history when I couldn’t have written this, but that’s not the case today. The sports world lost Dikembe and Pete Rose this past  week. Both legendary sports figures, Dikembe was a Hall of Famer in every aspect of life and was beloved for his efforts. Pete Rose had his demons, and I don’t see that Hall of Fame vote happening anytime soon. The bigger the stage an individual performs on, the better the chance their true character and integrity will be revealed. I think the  American people are very forgiving, especially when it comes to athletes and celebrities.  There are certain lines that once crossed, however, an individual can’t recover from. I  think an example unfolding right before our eyes is Sean “Puffy” Combs, also known as P Diddy. As each day passes, more comes out, and I’m a big believer in innocent until proven guilty. I foresee the mainstream media coverage and bias towards individuals involved with Combs becoming as nauseating as the political reporting. Again, I  have faith the American people will see through this and the truth as the case plays out.

Well, I’ve covered a lot of ground, and one thing I’m always clear about is sports should be a break from reality and never a place for personalized political statements. I’m a  big there’s no letter I in the spelling of team, you’re representing the name across your chest. I think the same philosophy should be applied to the R and the D accompanying a candidate’s name. It’s not about you; it’s about Team USA.

God Bless America.