Once again, sticktosportsgate has reared its head.
The latest example has been ESPN talk show host Jemele Hill, who is a black female, branding President Donald Trump a “white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists” in a recent tweet.
Hill has been with ESPN in numerous capacities since 2006 with her current role being a co-host with Michael Smith as evening anchors for Sportscenter. The following day, during a White House news conference, White House correspondent David Nakamura asked press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders whether the president was aware of Hill’s tweet. Sanders responded, “I’m not sure he’s aware but I think that’s one of the more outrageous comments that anyone could make and certainly something that I think is a fireable offense by ESPN.”
Though I am not personally a fan of Hill and have become increasingly disenchanted with ESPN, I do not think Hill should be fired. However, I strongly believe the network is playing a dangerous game that has extended further into society because it fired former Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling, who was a baseball color and studio analyst for the network from 2010-2016, for expressing his conservative views on social media.
ESPN sacked Schilling, a Hall of Fame contender after a long career during which he won three World Series, after he posted a meme on Facebook protesting recent laws allowing transgendered people to use whichever bathroom they wish. ESPN claimed Schilling’s post violated a company policy prohibiting analysts from discussing politics.
I’ve just reread that sentence multiple times. One thing comes to mind, “you can talk politics but it better be the kind we agree with.” Social media has become a big contributor to celebrities speaking out on political and social issues and has gotten exceedingly en vogue even though it is not a new phenomenon. Some people like it because celebrities have a voice. The ones that don’t like say “stick to sports.”
I generally don’t have a problem with celebrities speaking out politically or socially regardless of stance if the issue means something to them. Though they make insane amounts of money, they are just as human as the rest of us. Some will say their income makes them sheltered from reality. At which point I say, what reality world does a billionaire like Trump reside? However, many professional athletes came from impoverished backgrounds.
Before celebrities speak out they need to realize the following: a) Your opinion is your opinion, you only speak for how who and others that share your opinion feel, b) Be prepared in how you articulate your message because you will face the firing squad as people look for cracks in the facade, c) Don’t belittle those with dissenting views.
Most importantly, understand that though while the First Amendment protects your right to express what you desire, it does not protect you from the ramifications you face. I don’t think Hill should be fired for her tweet but if that’s the case, Schilling should not have been fired for his social media posting either.
Which brings me to another point, the “stick to sports” mantra. It’s time to call that phrase what it really is. The phrase does not mean keep politics off my TV. It means, I don’t agree with you so shut the hell up. The problem is, those who say it lack the plumbing to admit that is what they really mean.
No more than a few months ago, I took a Trump supporter to task, who is also a Golden State Warriors’ fan. In February 2017, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said in an interview with CNBC that Trump was an “asset” to the country. Curry, who is one of the most popular endorsers of Under Armour, said: “I agree with that description if you remove ‘et’ from asset.”
This Trump supporter proceeded to get on his soapbox about celebrities speaking out politically and/or socially. My response: “I guarantee you that would not be your narrative if he was a Trump supporter.”
This fellow backpedalled faster than Richard Sherman.
I don’t care if you are supporting anti-Trump people like Hill, Curry, Gregg Popovich or Steve Kerr or pro-Trump people like Schilling, Dennis Rodman, Clint Eastwood or Mike Ditka. There is one question I demand that you answer honestly, what does “stick to sports” mean to you? Does it mean attaboy if you agree and go pound sand if you don’t? Or does it mean, I don’t want your opinion regardless of stance? If your answer is the former, I’d say you live in a sheltered bubble, not to mention you’re a damn hypocrite. If it’s the latter, you should realize people will give opinions whether you like it or not but I can at least respect their consistency.
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