Why Sports and Politics Don’t Mix

As long as it doesn’t incite violence, speech in America is generously protected, regardless of ideology. Whether you are a Black Lives Matter or a Blue Lives Matter supporter, you have the same freedom to express yourself. Maybe because I was born in a Third World country, I never take that kind of freedom for granted. It’s a major reason why I love this country.

But there’s a big difference between the freedom to express myself on a street corner and on a job. Let’s say I work in a restaurant. Do I have the right to hand out propaganda leaflets to customers or express my political views to anyone who walks in? My constitutional right to free speech is in the public sphere. In the private world, it’s up to the owner.

Business owners usually see it as bad for business to have employees engage in political activism while on the job — so they tend to disallow it. 

But there are exceptions, which we are seeing lately with professional sports. In the case of the National Basketball Association (NBA), team owners and league leaders are supporting the right of players to express their support for Black Lives Matter while on the job, either through slogans on jerseys, kneeling during the national anthem or even, as happened recently, boycotting games.

Frankly, as much as I empathize with the cause, I think this mixing of sports and partisan messaging may backfire.

I feel somewhat lonely in this position because virtually all sportswriters and announcers have supported the move. In the wake of widely publicized police violence against Blacks, including the recent shooting of Jacob Blake, this is not surprising. The Black Lives Matter movement has dominated our nation’s consciousness and touched just about everyone.

It would seem natural, then, for the public to go along and support any expression of outrage at racial injustice, whether on a basketball court or on a street corner. But while this may be true for athletes and journalists, I’m not sure it’s the same for the fans.

Professional sports offer something indispensable: a refuge from the harshness of the world. For a few hours, I can watch my beloved Lakers engage in sports combat knowing that the stakes are deliciously low. I’m not worried about anyone dying. I get deep joy when my team wins, but I don’t grieve when we lose.

Professional sports offer something indispensable: A refuge from the harshness of the world.

When I attend Lakers games, I marvel at the multicultural kaleidoscope of the fan base. No matter who you are, no matter what your political beliefs, no matter your race or ethnicity or gender or age or class or celebrity status, we all share one purpose — we want our team to win. Where do you find such cohesion and common cause these days?

Is it worth jeopardizing that civic spirit of cohesion with the divisive force of politics?

I understand if you might believe that Black Lives Matter is worthy of an exception, but there’s a complication: There are surely sports fans who also support Blue Lives Matter and may be more concerned right now about street violence than police violence. Whether or not you share that sentiment, is it wise to alienate them? When people say politics is divisive, it’s not an opinion — it’s a fact.

When people say politics is divisive, it’s not an opinion— it’s a fact.

So, I worry.

I worry that fans, regardless of their political affiliations, will grow tired of the partisan activism on the court and in broadcast booths. I worry that the sanctuary of competitive sports will be tainted by the divisiveness of politics, with no end in sight (because causes rarely end). I worry because both sports and causes deserve better.

Players have multiple platforms outside of basketball courts and playing fields to promote their causes. Slogans knitted on jerseys or painted on basketball courts are optics that interfere with the game. Real progress happens when we move beyond slogans and optics, which the NBA is trying to do with its “social justice coalition.” But the optics and activism around the actual games are still very much with us, all behind the same cause.

If this trend continues, I wonder how many fans will simply get tired of the social messaging and exercise their right to just stop watching.

As for me, well, I’m still hoping my Lakers will crush those bloody Celtics in the Finals.