ESPN Article on PSA

[SAllen2556]

Originally Posted by 68Hawk

Just LOL at the commentary that sports shows have no place to lay out a political and social agenda.

Fancy an industry, whose history is shrouded in denying access to people of various ethnicities and colors and religions by white hegemonic ownership, and which now wants to throw all that bigoted stuff as far as possible from its current format and offering, allowing and encouraging FULL participation by ALL, and being able to sell it's product to a very multicultural paying populace, taking a stand against practices today that still disenfranchise many due solely to past racist policy and thinking.

The very nerve of such a thought.
I love that those who are confounded by dealing with the fact their own political and social agendas are no longer acceptable cannot keep their mouths closed about it. Always better to know thine enemy.

Sports mirrors society, right? What I've always appreciated about sports, though, is how it seems to be ahead of the curve rather than behind it, thanks to the free market aspects of it: The integration of African Americans into professional sports. Joe Louis and Jesse Owens as national heroes. Even Russians on an American hockey team. These things occurred in sports before they were generally accepted in society overall.

So politics and sports have always been intertwined. But when people hired to comment on sports like Jamele Hill and others branch away from sports commentary and into presidential politics, it risks alienating their audience - which has absolutely occurred at ESPN. And they make no attempt to offer opposing views - ever. Sorry, but that is not what I watch ESPN for.

And you imply that this point of view is racist.

"I love that those who are confounded by dealing with the fact their own political and social agendas are no longer acceptable cannot keep their mouths closed about it."

Agree with me or you're a racist. I'm so tired of this childish and intellectually lazy point of view. The fact that I don't want to listen to idiot sports commentators drone on about presidential politics doesn't mean I'm a racist.

[Exhibitman]

And just like that I thought I could escape everyday politics, attitude and such by joining a hobby board away from Facebook.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Wimberleycardcollector

And just like that I thought I could escape everyday politics, attitude and such by joining a hobby board away from Facebook.

17 days into April and nearly every single post you’ve made this month has been arguing in a thread that turned political, one that even got locked. You are part of the problem.

[Baseball Fan]

It's a pretty charged climate right now, which is understandable. I guess everyone needs to do a better job of policing themselves on a hobby message board like this.

In a review of this thread, it was going fine until the Perezfan post. Let's be honest, he knew what he was doing with his post, and of course it was going to help get the hobby talk off track.

[68Hawk]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

..........

So politics and sports have always been intertwined. But when people hired to comment on sports like Jamele Hill and others branch away from sports commentary and into presidential politics, it risks alienating their audience - which has absolutely occurred at ESPN. And they make no attempt to offer opposing views - ever. Sorry, but that is not what I watch ESPN for.

She doesn't work there any longer because she was unwilling to stop potting the president openly. Others have similarly left because they were asked to tone down their political speak on air and couldn't control those impulses.
There is a difference between individuals pushing an agenda against an individual, and a generalized agenda that opposes racism in sport.

Second bolded is untrue. There have been a number of conservative voices on ESPN, including most recently Will Cain.
He chose to leave, he was not asked to, nor was he asked to stop sharing his opinions.
You might think you know the political leanings of ALL the ESPN hosts and commentators, but you don't.
There are a number, including black commentators, who lean conservative on many issues and would identify with that brand of politics such as it existed pre Trump.
The movement that brought Trump to power, including the Tea party and others, have promoted a White centric view of the world and attempted to minimize Black voices re their experiences.
That movement and the leadership of Trump, including his regular tweeting that black sportsmen should not involve themselves in politics, has resulted in a broad sweeping line from ESPN that opposes this viewpoint.

And you imply that this point of view is racist.

"I love that those who are confounded by dealing with the fact their own political and social agendas are no longer acceptable cannot keep their mouths closed about it."

Agree with me or your a racist. I'm so tired of this childish and intellectually lazy point of view. The fact that I don't want to listen to idiot sports commentators drone on about presidential politics doesn't mean I'm a racist.

There is no other view than that of the people who are telling you they are being treated in a racist manner. They are the expert, not you. The 'stupid' commentators who give platform to those views understand this.
You don't.
That's ok, you are free to exercise your viewing choices.
You are not free to tell ESPN or black athletes or their supporters they cannot do more than shoot and dribble.

I don't know what's in your heart, but I know mine.
It costs me nothing, absolutely nothing to want others to feel better about themselves and support them in that endeavor.
It doesn't offend me, doesn't take anything from me, for others to be treated better.
Sad that it seemingly costs others their mental freedom when people are chasing that dream.