Yahoo! NFL blogger Doug Farrar summarized an interesting
article Out.com did on Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, who is an
outspoken supporter of same-sex couples having the right to be married. Kluwe
definitely adopted a clear position on what is a contentious issue in American
society today.
Many athletes refuse to wade into political battles for fear
of losing endorsements, popularity, etc. (Farrar did mention the Baltimore
Ravens’ Brendon Ayanbadejo as a supporter of same-sex marriage, while Kluwe’s former
Vikings teammate and Ayanbadejo's current teammate center Matt Birk opposes
same-sex couples having the right to be married.)
Toward the end of the article, Farrar touched on the
backlash that Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan receive for staying apolitical.
This raises an interesting question: Why should prominent black
male athletes be the ones who have to speak out? I have heard scant calls for
Peyton or Eli Manning to take social stands. Nil for Aaron Rodgers. Same goes
for last year’s National League MVP Ryan Braun.
There is a romanticization in mainstream media with Jackie
Robinson, Muhammad Ali, John Carlos and Tommie Smith? These men, along with
many women, have gone against the grain to say what’s in their hearts and
change the social landscape.
But why do LeBron James and other black male stars
have to carry this legacy and not prominent athletes in general?
I write this warning of a little buyers’ remorse: Perhaps if
more athletes do speak out, those “social activists” may not like what they
hear.
-- Steve Bien-Aimé
