by By: Charles Lindquist
Over the past year, I have stopped watching these three sports leagues all for the same reason. They are hypocrites. But, while I still have your attention, it is essential to note that I stopped watching these leagues out of my own free will. It is also important to note that my reasons for ceasing consumption of these leagues’ products, for the most part, differ from why most others stopped watching them. I am fine with politics in sports, I just want them to be fair.
First, the NFL. It was 2016, and Colin Kaepernick, then quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, took a knee during the National Anthem as a form of protest. While many people get it wrong, Kaepernick was not protesting America or the military. Rather, Kaepernick was protesting the police. Good, I am with him. However, following that season, he was blackballed from the NFL, meaning that no team could sign him. This was because the NFL did not want politics in its league.
However, come 2020, the NFL changed its position after black NFL players called out the commissioner. This led to the commissioner pledging $250 million “to combat systemic racism.” The league also allowed players to put a sticker on the back of their helmet that supports social justice causes or victims of police brutality. The problem is that the NFL forgot something. It forgot Colin Kaepernick. The league was now supporting Black Lives Matter while still blackballing one of the key figures in the movement to bring awareness to police violence in America. Hypocrites.
Next, the NBA. On October 4, 2019, Daryl Morey, then general manager for the Houston Rockets, tweeted that he supported Hong Kong independence. He received an immense amount of backlash. However, he did not receive punishment but would resign from his position with the Rockets following that season. Yet, he inspired fans to start showing up to games with posters that said, “Free Hong Kong.” The NBA kicked anybody that brought these signs out of games. It was clear the NBA did not want politics in its league. But that didn’t last.
The following year, the NBA came out in full support of BLM, re-introducing politics into their league. The league would paint “Black Lives Matter” on the court for games and allow players to replace their last names with approved messages in a form of protest. Approved messages are not a form of protest. An approved message defeats the purpose of a protest. Noticeably, none of these messages had anything to do with China or Hong Kong, the NBA’s second-largest market. So why are some human rights violations okay to protest and others aren’t?
Finally, the MLB. This is the most recent. In April of this year, the MLB moved its all-star game out of Atlanta, stating that this move was “the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport.” Ok good. But at the same time, the MLB signed a contract that would allow MLB games to be broadcast in China, one of the most oppressive governments, both today and historically. This move is hypocritical; why do they support human rights in some regions of the world but not others?
However, there is a league that understands how to deal with politics. NASCAR allows all politics. Some cars are pro-cop, and some cars support BLM. It is up to the driver what goes on their car. Let fans and drivers decide who to support. Individuals should be allowed to make their own decisions, and NASCAR lets them. Of course this isn’t the only solution, but it is one.
Sounds like the leagues are only supporting social justice and human rights when it’s trendy to do so. You’re absolutely right, they are hypocrites. They all definitely need to look inward and get to the bottom of why they “support” certain organizations/movements but not others. It’s definitely going to take some deep self-reflection on their part, but it’s so necessary. Come on, it’s 2021.
I did not know much about politics and these leagues (just the headlines kinda-thing.) So I found your blog enlightening and I totally see what you mean- they’re hypocrites! I appreciate that you made the decision to stop watching (and supporting) these leagues and wonder if more people were well versed in this if they would stop watching NFL, NBA and MLB, too! I did not know that about NASCAR and see it as hope that more leagues can step up!
Charles,
I completely understand your reasoning behind why you don’t watch any of these sports leagues. You explained each example very well. They’re hypocrites, and because of the recent incidents that have occurred in the US all of the leagues were almost forced to post and support these movements because everyone else was. I hope athletes like Colin Kaepernick could come back and play, but the NFL owners are to selfish to resign him unfortunately.
Great post, I really enjoyed your work!
I appreciated your viewpoint on this topic, as I have been arguing the same thing since Black Lives Matter became more of a trend, than a protest. I agree that these organizations are hypocritical, because they blatantly disregarded the movement when it first arose, and then decided to hop on the bandwagon when it was more “acceptable” to do so. However, with Colin Kaepernick, at this point, if they the NFL introduced him back into the league, they would probably gain positive responses from it. I believe Colin Kaepernick now is similar to many NFL quarterbacks who have a couple good seasons, and then they just can’t compete at the level anymore. I would be disappointed if the NFL accepted him based on political conversation rather than his ability to compete for a position on a team.