Seth Udinski, FISM News
[elfsight_social_share_buttons id=”1″]
Los Angeles Lakers’ forward LeBron James is not quiet about political matters. In the last several years, the NBA star has been an outspoken advocate for liberal ideologies, specifically racial issues and the Black Lives Matter movement. He was adamantly opposed to the Trump administration and consistently used his platform to specifically encourage minorities to vote Trump out.
On Friday, James made headlines again in a confrontational Twitter exchange with Swedish soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic rebuked James for his political involvement, calling it a “mistake” for James to get overly involved in politics. James responded on Twitter, shortly after the Lakers’ 102-93 win against the Portland Trail Blazers. He said,
There’s no way I would ever just stick to sports, because I understand how powerful this platform and my voice is.
Scores of professional athletes have followed James’ example to use their platform to promote their political agenda.
The irony of sports and politics in the 21st century, however, is the unwritten rule of selective agenda promotion. LeBron James is a champion of liberal ideologies, and for this he is praised throughout the sports world. In contrast, very few athletes will vocally defend conservative ideals. A recent example from last year involved NFL quarterback Drew Brees and the American flag. Before the 2020 NFL season began, Brees was asked about the widespread protests of the national anthem in the NFL. He calmly and honestly responded,
I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.
Brees was immediately crucified on social media by NFL athletes, NBA athletes, celebrities, coaches, and countless others, including several of his own teammates from the New Orleans Saints. The leftist machine in sports made an example of Brees: defend liberal values, and all is well; defend conservative values, and you will be shamed, disrespected, and cancelled.