If your Lifelong team got political, would you stop supporting them

[Bama Believer]

When Milwaukee's players decided to boycott the playoff game, it got me thinking,, What would you do if your team took a political stand that you were passionate about on the other side,
Lets try not to cite specific example, not trying to be a political thread but rather a question of support..

 

[Bama Believer]

As a Bama fan, I dont think I could ever stop loving my Tide, I guess I would become a fan of the past (not hard to do for Bama fans lol)

 

[Kace-1]

Sports have been political since long before I was born so this is an impossible question for me.

 

[G]

Sports have been political since long before I was born so this is an impossible question for me.

Obviously I am not old enough to have been around for many of them, but it does seem so many have forgotten about the Berlin Olympics, Jim Thorpe, Jackie Robinson, Ali, the 68 Olympics, the 72 Munich Olympics, the 1980 Winter Olympics, and too many other instances of politics becoming part of sports and sporting events.
As long as there are politics and sports, they will become entangled at times. This year is just a heavy dose of it, and it too shall pass as it has before.

Would I stop being a Dawg fan if they kneeled or otherwise protested? No.

 

[Irishblooded]

Couldn't care less

Seriously. If all of us can get on social media and posting boards and what not and post ours. Why cant they?

I'm by no means a democrat. And also not a Trump fan. Lou Holtz went on tv last night and sang his praises. I dont think any less of him or of the university for distancing themselves from his statement today.

People are welcome to have a political opinion. And they dont give that up when they become famous. The problem is that people think they aren't allowed to use their microphone of fame to sound off. When ironically all of us use the different platforms we have to sound off.

I think if we all just sat back and accepted that everyone is allowed to have their opinion and discuss the differences without trying to belittle them or force our opinion on them this system would run a lot better.

 

[NoleKing]

I've supported teams that have featured players who have or became: Murders, Rapists, Junkies, Wife beaters, Child beaters, Philanderers, Thieves, Racists, PED users, gamblers, Dog Killer and Canadians.

If I was able to come to terms with all that. Then I think I can handle an athlete taking a public stance on a social issue that I may disagree with.

 

[G]

I've supported teams that have featured players who have or became: Murders, Rapists, Junkies, Wife beaters, Child beaters, Philanderers, Thieves, Racists, PED users, gamblers, Dog Killer and Canadians.

If I was able to come to terms with all that. Then I think I can handle an athlete taking a public stance on a social issue that I may disagree with.

Amazing how many people have no qualms supporting teams with players with very violent pasts we would not let within 100 ft of our loved ones, but have an absolute conniption fit over players peacefully protesting...

And lets face it, most of us would love to have their platform to express our opinions if we have a cause important to us . I know I would reach more people about international human rights than I am able to now.

 

[Duckboy33]

Amazing how many people have no qualms supporting teams with players with very violent pasts we would not let within 100 ft of our loved ones, but have an absolute conniption fit over players peacefully protesting...

And lets face it, most of us would love to have their platform to express our opinions if we have a cause important to us . I know I would reach more people about international human rights than I am able to now.

Well said!

 

[Bama Believer]

Couldn't care less

Seriously. If all of us can get on social media and posting boards and what not and post ours. Why cant they?

I'm by no means a democrat. And also not a Trump fan. Lou Holtz went on tv last night and sang his praises. I dont think any less of him or of the university for distancing themselves from his statement today.

People are welcome to have a political opinion. And they dont give that up when they become famous. The problem is that people think they aren't allowed to use their microphone of fame to sound off. When ironically all of us use the different platforms we have to sound off.

I think if we all just sat back and accepted that everyone is allowed to have their opinion and discuss the differences without trying to belittle them or force our opinion on them this system would run a lot better.

Your reply makes sense to me,, it may have slightly changed my opinion on the matter,, People do have the right to express themselves.. the disconnect for me is when you are representing a group or university.

 

[OldDevilDawg]

GO DAMN DAWGS!!! I'll bleed Red N Black until I die. No matter what.

As a young Marine, it took me a while to come to terms with the fact that I was defending the rights of ALL Americans...even the ones that I disagreed with.

 

[G]

As a Bama fan, I dont think I could ever stop loving my Tide, I guess I would become a fan of the past (not hard to do for Bama fans lol)

Since you mention you would become a fan of the past, how would you reconcile being a fan of the past when the Bama administration was political and like most other colleges fought against integration of not only their schools, but their sports teams?

If we accept being a fan of our colleges and have pride in their past accomplishments, which include accomplishments achieved while the politics of segregation were very much involved and part of each school, then shouldnt we also accept the politics of the present being part of the schools, their teams and accomplishments?

 

[OldDevilDawg]

Since you mention you would become a fan of the past, how would you reconcile being a fan of the past when the Bama administration was political and like most other colleges fought against integration of not only their schools, but their sports teams?

If we accept being a fan of our colleges and have pride in their past accomplishments, which include accomplishments achieved while the politics of segregation were very much involved and part of each school, then shouldnt we also accept the politics of the present being part of the schools, their teams and accomplishments?

I can't believe I'm gonna defend Bama again, but Bear Bryant was among the first in the SEC to seek and support the addition of black athletes.

I'm in no way disagreeing with you on your point, but I thought that was worth mentioning.

 

[G]

I can't believe I'm gonna defend Bama again, but Bear Bryant was among the first in the SEC to seek and support the addition of black athletes.

I'm in no way disagreeing with you on your point, but I thought that was worth mentioning.

Not your week when you have decent things to say about Bama 2 different times. Now go say 10 Hail Vince Dooleys and ask for forgiveness

 

[OldDevilDawg]

Not your week when you have decent things to say about Bama 2 different times. Now go say 10 Hail Vince Dooleys and ask for forgiveness

I'd much rather say 1 Hail Erk Russells...I mean Erk is the reason that everyone remembers who Vince Dooley is.

 

[OldDevilDawg]

Not your week when you have decent things to say about Bama 2 different times. Now go say 10 Hail Vince Dooleys and ask for forgiveness

BTW, I can't "hate" Bama. My Pops was a lifelong Bama fan. He grew up not far from Tuscaloosa. When his family moved to Georgia when he was in his teens, he never let go of his roots. When I was a kid, he pushed me to support our Dawgs, as they are the home team. I guess he always felt that Bama was his home even 50 years later.

 

[Shower Fart]

Your reply makes sense to me,, it may have slightly changed my opinion on the matter,, People do have the right to express themselves.. the disconnect for me is when you are representing a group or university.

That’s the real disconnect, I don’t see anyone saying that a sports ball player can’t have opinions or be involved in some type of activism. But if they choose to do so during a game, or if they refuse to play the game then they’re forcing their employer and fans to then listen to whatever it is they want to say, on their terms.

A waiter, a plumber or a postal carrier also have a right to be politically active...but not on the job. These athletes have a huge platform as it is based on their fame and millions of fans. They don’t need to do it on their employers dime or time.

Whether they like it or not, sports and entertainment are an escape for the fans from all the BS of the daily grind, including politics. If they can’t get that 2 hours of escape from watching sports, they may not watch, or will watch much less. I believe Darren Rovell tweeted recently that their were twice as many viewers who watched all 10 episodes of The Last Dance (About the Michael Jordan teams) than had viewed any single NBA playoff game this year. That should alarm any player who intends to maintain a high profile and position of influence...if you abuse that position, it could be lost or diminished.

 

[Bama Believer]

Since you mention you would become a fan of the past, how would you reconcile being a fan of the past when the Bama administration was political and like most other colleges fought against integration of not only their schools, but their sports teams?

If we accept being a fan of our colleges and have pride in their past accomplishments, which include accomplishments achieved while the politics of segregation were very much involved and part of each school, then shouldnt we also accept the politics of the present being part of the schools, their teams and accomplishments?

I suppose it would come down to some type of Selective Reconciliation.. Segregation was a huge part of Alabama's History in the 60's and prior, it was a shameful time and hindsight gives us pause to reflect upon the atrocities and take a much better path forward.

 

[OldDevilDawg]

I suppose it would come down to some type of Selective Reconciliation.. Segregation was a huge part of Alabama's History in the 60's and prior, it was a shameful time and hindsight gives us pause to reflect upon the atrocities and take a much better path forward.

We already took a great leap forward 50 years ago. Then we took small steps forward for 5 decades. Those small steps took an extreme to the point that none of us can find the harmony that we were happy with decades ago.

 

[Shower Fart]

We already took a great leap forward 50 years ago. Then we took small steps forward for 5 decades. Those small steps took an extreme to the point that none of us can find the harmony that we were happy with decades ago.

I think a huge part of the problem is how people try to redefine things to make any solution impossible. One example is the claim of “systemic” racism in America. Decades ago it did exist, no doubt about that. Today it does not unless you change the definition of “systemic”.

Racism, along with all other kinds of discrimination, will always exist everywhere. Thankfully it is much less prevalent than it used to be. Things changed largely because people from different groups gradually spent more time together and realized that we’re all looking for the same things: a decent job, good health for our family and friends and just to be left alone.

Now you have people calling for confronting any political adversary in the streets, some colleges are offering segregated dorms and the NFL reportedly may have 2 National anthems, the traditional one and the so called black national anthem. These are horrible ideas and the outcome is going to be bad for everyone. As usual, the poorest in society will feel the most pain from it.

 

[G]

I think a huge part of the problem is how people try to redefine things to make any solution impossible. One example is the claim of “systemic” racism in America. Decades ago it did exist, no doubt about that. Today it does not unless you change the definition of “systemic”.

Racism, along with all other kinds of discrimination, will always exist everywhere. Thankfully it is much less prevalent than it used to be. Things changed largely because people from different groups gradually spent more time together and realized that we’re all looking for the same things: a decent job, good health for our family and friends and just to be left alone.

Now you have people calling for confronting any political adversary in the streets, some colleges are offering segregated dorms and the NFL reportedly may have 2 National anthems, the traditional one and the so called black national anthem. These are horrible ideas and the outcome is going to be bad for everyone. As usual, the poorest in society will feel the most pain from it.

Systemic racism does still exist today, but it is on a local level in some places and not nationally. And it is very true that most people view the rest of America thru the lens of what they see in their local community.

We still have it here in South Dakota, both in the local judicial system and in businesses.

When a white man tells his buddy he feels like stabbing an Indian to death today, then proceeds to do that and kills the Indian and receives 10 days jail time and 1 yr probation by a judge, and is not an isolated instance of very different sentences imposed on Native Americans versus whites, that is systemic racism in our community. Does not mean it is nationwide, but it definitely exists here.


When a town still posts signs at the city limits that say "no dogs or indians allowed" and actively chases Indians out of town, that my friend is systemic racism on a localized level.

When our tribal police actively harass white ranchers on the reservation, that is also systemic racism as it is encouraged by the tribal government.

And I will say that there may not be a place in America that has as much animosity between races as here in South Dakota. The whites have never forgiven the Lakota and Cheyenne for the Little Bighorn and Lakota have never forgiven the whites for taking the Black Hills despite a legally binding treaty passed by Congress and signed by the President.