Public should get used to activist athletes

With the first draft pick in the 1965 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks selected an athletically gifted Princeton University prospect named Bill Bradley. 

Even after leading Princeton to three Ivy League titles and capturing a 1964 U.S. Olympic gold medal, Bradley enshrined his 10-year Knick career with two NBA titles, eventually immortalizing his legacy into the NBA Hall of Fame. 

{mosads}Despite the improbable phenomenon of an Ivy League baller rivaling the early triumph of his Highness, Lebron James, Millennial NBA fanatics may not recall the man nicknamed  ‘Dollar Bill.’ Unless you are a die-hard Knick fan or political junkie, you might forget this sophisticated, urbane athlete also served as New Jersey Senator in Congress from 1979 to 1997 before unsuccessfully running for U.S. president in 2000.

In office, the Missouri native focused his Oxford University-tailored intellect on foreign trade, finance, and economics. Notwithstanding an unsuccessful legislative proposal on urban community-building, Bradley also declared racial unity as the ‘moral issue of our time.’ 

In retrospect, Bradley’s transcendence from the court to Congress not only widened a window of possibility for other athletes to embrace public service. In this light, we recognize former NBA star and current Sacramento Mayor, Kevin Johnson, or former NFL Hall of Famer and previous Oklahoma Congressman Steve Largent. But, Bradley’s activism defied modern stereotypes that exclude social or political input from athletes’ net worth.

Underscored during an aggressively divisive presidential campaign, increased spotlight on social obstacles has shown the imminence of professional athletes’ activism. And, contrary to myopic critics, this is no novel feat. All-time great boxer Muhammad Ali protested the Vietnam War and joined NBA legend Bill Russell in the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington.

The greater social consciousness of racial discrimination has more recently ignited diverse responses across national sport leagues. 

In 2014, NBA players wore “I Can’t Breathe” warm-up shirts in compassion to Eric Garner’s controversial death in police custody. This year, Colin Kaepernick’s inescapable national anthem kneel has inspired other NFL players’ demonstration against police treatment of minorities.

Perhaps, Lebron James took the most concrete step in his op-ed endorsement of Hillary Clinton for POTUS, demanding more education accessibility and alleviation of violence-stricken African American communities. Regardless where we stand on each issue, we cannot deny they have increasingly affected and thus spurred professional athletes’ to be a playmaker outside the arena.

And, who are we to forbid or penalize these athletes’ initiative as fellow U.S. citizens? Don’t we already show a smile of appreciation when we see them voluntarily donate time, money, and food to communities in need of support? 

Let us not forget the multiple charities and foundations they have founded to raise awareness on health and educational challenges. We cannot ostracize their good will simply because of an athletic privilege or the number of zeroes in their salary. Many of these athletes’ activism actually stems from their own hardships endured since childhood.

Whether our admired sports heroes will expand upon the pathway created by former NBA champion and Senator “Dollar Bill” Bradley remains a possibility. The broadened spotlight and consequent public scrutiny that accompanies public service is a realm not tailored for all professional athletes to improve our social fabric. Nevertheless, we should welcome their blossoming political activism and expect them to make a significant contribution before and after the final whistle blows.

Alba is a public affairs professional in Washington, D.C. He is a previous Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) Global Leaders Program Fellow and Generation Study Abroad Ambassador for Institute of International Education (IIE). Alejandro has been featured in CNN iReport & The New York Times in Education.

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