“Whatever you do kid. Do not mix sports with politics. Call the game. Describe the action. Paint the picture with your words. If folks like you, they will continue to read or listen. People could care less about your opinions or views.” Buck Byham.

Sports and politics do not mix, and yet they continue to coexist somewhat. Regardless of what you personally feel on certain issues — the social activism in sports is alive and well. Lebron James’ opinions carry more weight with the general public than that of any elected politician. It’s true. Let’s take a closer look.

This combination has been around since the start of the 20th century. In the 1960s and ‘70s, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and others often spoke out on issues of race, war, and poverty. But the movement sputtered in the 1980s and ‘90s. Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson remained quiet and focused more on their lucrative endorsements. Many refrained from talking about controversial topics.

Yet, the mingling of sports and politics has been on the rise for the past two decades. Today, athletes aren’t afraid to speak up, and in this age of social media, stars find immediate support for their stances by chiming in online. They have a lot more to say nowadays, and fans have a personal connection with the athletes they root for. Not just with sports but also their political views and affiliations.

Some folks may want the sports and political worlds to remain apart. But the recent movement started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and President Trump’s continuous replies have made it clear that this separation is no longer possible.

Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem before games in 2016. He simply wanted to protest against racism and police brutality. He quickly attracted attention from all over the globe. President Trump lashed out by calling the NFL players who participated in these protests unpatriotic. He went even further by urging the team owners to fire these players immediately. The controversial President has remained on the offensive, and when the league passed a new policy this summer, he hasn’t slowed down one bit.
The new policy requires all players who choose to be on the field to stand for the national anthem while it is played. But this compromise has left all sides unsatisfied. The players’ union feels the new policy impinged on the right to free speech and President Trump said the rule did not go far enough because it gave a player the option of remaining in their locker rooms. Though Kaepernick and other NFL players maintain that their protest is all about police brutality, and not an attack on the Stars and Stripes. President Donald Trump continues to claim that Kaepernick is disrespecting his flag, and is an embarrassment to the country.

We haven’t heard much from both parties until recently. NIKE released a new campaign, and Mr. Kaepernick is one of its major faces. The first ad ends with a haunting black-and-white close-up of the former quarterback with the words “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” This is in reference to Kaepernick’s lawsuit against the NFL for alleged collusion to keep him out of the league over his take-a-knee protests.

The new commercial has caused quite a stir. Many people are now rallying and even boycotting NIKE completely. I’m pretty sure this risk was assessed before making the deal, and NIKE believes the rewards of sponsoring Kaepernick outweigh the initial costs. The ad became part of the national conversation within seconds, and the minor hit NIKE’s stock has taken in the short aftermath is outweighed by the long-term attention.

Please remember to think before you post sports fans. Taking a position through harsh words via social media can never be deleted. I personally don’t agree with Mr. Kaepernick’s decisions, but I humbly respect his opinion. I chose not to blast him or the president on Facebook. This only tends to lead to more hate and division. We are all different, and that’s a beautiful thing. Being able to speak freely and protest is a still a right. I love my country and respect my laws. My family doesn’t have a military background. I am proud to be an American and the commander in chief shouldn’t tell me how to do so via Twitter. Much love folks. Cheers.