The Problem of the Political Athlete

How many times has this happened to you? You’re going about your day, thinking whatever it is you think on crucial political issues when you hear what Plaxico Burress thinks about the Kyoto Treaty and you completely change your stance.

Or maybe after you heard Jorge Posada's thoughtful position on social security, you completely reversed your conviction on the matter.

Oh wait. Maybe you’re like me and could care less about what how an athlete feels about campaign finance reform and gay rights. Despite this, many athletes and entertainers feel the urge to liberate us from our supposed chains of stupidity.

We find ourselves in a time where celebrity magazines and irreverent sports blogs are blurring the line between the work of a celebrity/athlete and their personal time. Don’t get me wrong, I frequent the snarky sports blogs, and it is possibly that, on occasion, I may have skimmed a celebrity magazine in complete boredom and desperation. Maybe.

But just because we’re bombarded with their professional and private exploits doesn’t mean that these people are privy to some sort of intellectual insight that you or I are incapable of.

I guess I don’t really get it. Most of them shy away from being role models to the youth of our nation, but yet every four years, they suddenly become socially conscious and burdened to share their shrewd insight and wisdom to the common-folk like me.

Celebrities, and to a lesser extent athletes, feel the need to advertise their political choices because of a flawed notion that their views carry more weight than the average person. I’m tired of being inundated with the political views of athletes because I have no personal connection to why they believe the way they believe.

I believe what I believe due to an compilation of life experiences and influences. Just because Bill O’Reilly, Tina Fey, Curt Schilling, or Steve Nash thinks a certain way doesn’t mean that it will motivate me to fall in line with them.

In fact, it’s actually awkward. I don’t look to Hannity and Colmes on how to attack the Cover Two, so why should I consult Houshmandzadeh and Cutler about their positions on tort reform?

If I’m going to examine my beliefs (as I think every reasonable person should), I’m more prone to do so in a discussion with someone I know, trust, and respect, and not with a power forward or slot receiver who makes gobs of money and has a completely different life experience than I do.

Why does it seem that since these people are on TV that they are entitled to share their opinions as though they understand politics on a deeper level than you or I? Couldn’t you argue that in most cases, the average person is just as socially and politically informed as Shaq or Tom Brady, if not more?

This is a non-partisan message to all athletes: Shut up and play. Sporting allegiances are complicated enough in this age of free-agent musical chairs. I don’t want to have to question my affection for my favorite running back or center fielder after they completely lambaste my political views, nor do I want to be moved to look favorably at my arch-nemesis if he espouses similar beliefs as mine.

Let the athletes and entertainers do their jobs, and I will try my best to avoid being manipulated by the various cable news channels and their political agendas. (Heavy sigh of relief) See? Isn’t that better?