But I think that we'll both be fine.

As a matter of fact, I don't believe that anyone learns very much without dissent/debate. In that light, I'd like to press you on your thoughts.

Quote
sstrams
but I wished people wouldn't bring crap like this into sports.. Sports is entertainment.. its what we do to get AWAY from all the political bickering and whining and whatnot.. and they hafta bring it into the GAMES, as well, and screw that all up.. Everybody wants to make a political statement these days and everybody feels like they have a platform to deliver it.. No wonder people are so divided..

I've no idea how old you are, but I'm wondering when this sentiment developed with you? Muhammad Ali's public refusal to enter the draft? John Carlos and Tommie Smith? Kaepernick?

Or is it whenever you noticed that they were playing the National Anthem at sporting events? Or pasting flags to the backs of helmets or stitching them on uniforms?

Yes, sports is entertainment. So are movies and music. But I don't think that AMC or Edwards play the National Anthem before the hour-long previews start. Caesar's Palace didn't drape a huge American flag over the stage of the last Mariah Carey concert.

For the life of me, I couldn't begin to tell you why they do this in sports. But it's quite clear that political statements have been connected with sports for a very long time.

It seems to me that the only folks object to politics in sports is when something happens that they don't agree with.