Sunday showcased the power of sports, and the futility of just sticking to them
Athletes have a unique platform that is used in many ways. One aspect is protest; another is Watt’s contributions after Harvey
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When I started my professional sports writing career more than a dozen years ago, I never anticipated having a day like Sunday.
I sat at dinner Saturday night in Boston, looking at tweets and discussing with a couple of colleagues how it would all go.
The country’s president riled up a crowd in Alabama on Friday by saying “son of a bitch” in reference to an NFL player who is protesting and called for owners to fire anyone who protested during the national anthem.
He also disinvited the NBA champion Golden State Warriors to the White House to be honored for their title.
Social media was on fire over the weekend.
Athletes were not “sticking to sports.” Some fans were angry. Others cheered them on.
As are so many things in this nation right now, the sports world was polarized.
My job Sunday was not just to cover a football game, but to watch as several Patriots players took a knee and the entire Texans team locked arms and stood together while “The Star-Spangled Banner” was performed.
My job was to ask fans, athletes and coaches about their feelings about things that reach far beyond the game they had to play or watch Sunday.
It was a fascinating day to cover the NFL.
It’s no secret that I don’t always stick to sports. I’ve covered a lot of issues that stem from them — such as domestic and sexual violence by some college athletes.
I’ve also covered countless community appearances by athletes and teams, followed their charitable giving, seen the impact they have away from the field or court in their communities.
I’m someone who not only doesn’t believe athletes should stick to sports. I applaud the ones who don’t.
If all they ever did was focus on playing games, J.J. Watt never would have raised $38 million for Hurricane Harvey relief. I never heard anyone tell him to stick to football during that campaign.
If all players ever care about is winning, the NBA Cares program would not touch countless lives and make massive differences in the lives of so many.
I respect everyone’s right to take a stand or to take a knee.
I also respect everyone’s right to disagree with me.
I appreciate several of the displays I saw Sunday. I appreciate unity.
People often have asked me why I chose to write about sports, why I didn’t pick something more impactful or meaningful.
I don’t think they see the bigger picture.
Sports have reach. Athletes inspire people.
Teams teach us how to work together.
We often see people overcoming obstacles throughout games, throughout seasons, throughout sporting events.
I believe sports can bring people together in a positive way.
I hope that’s what we see moving forward from Sunday — a day when a divided country still came together to watch its favorite sport, to cheer on its favorite teams, to enjoy an American pastime together.
Our athletes are not puppets there just for our enjoyment. They are people. They have thoughts and opinions and rights.
They also have a platform that can be and is often used to do so much good in communities around this country.
I hope they’ll keep setting examples. I hope they won’t stick to sports.
I hope they can use their reach to make things better.
And I’m glad to be one of the people writing about them as they do.