Activist Athlete

(Truth Is...)


Truth Is the media and society needs to stop scrutinizing athletes and holding them to a higher standard. Athletes whether they are in college or playing at the professional level are exactly what they are titled; athletes. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an athlete as: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, stamina, and agility. Nowhere in that definition does it say that an athlete has to be a role model or stay silent on issues that matter to them or be perfect. Their job is to entertain using their physical strength and trained agility for sports.

After the verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman, many athletes took to social media expressing their grief, disbelief, or divulged comments that were better left unsaid (i.e. Lolo Jones). Sports analyst along with journalist had a field day with this and brought it to our attention. For some athletes they even had to apologize publicly for speaking the way felt. Our opinions are our opinions and no one can change that. In the sense of saying something that can be harmful not only to one's career but to their affiliate company athletes as well as others must learn that opinions should be kept to themselves. I believe this is why we have yet to see the return of the activist athlete.

When I say activist athlete I am talking about people like Muhammad Ali and Billie Jean King who spoke up about injustices. They utilized their platform athletes for good by advocating for issues that affected many disenfranchised groups. One day we will see the return of the activist athlete. Many got their hopes up when Lebron James along with the championship winning Miami Heat all band together in support of Trayvon Martin's family sixteen months ago. The support of the Heat players in which this initiative was led by Lebron went viral on social networks and again journalist had a field day. They too thought the activist athlete had returned. It has been almost a week since the verdict and Lebron James, full supporter of "Justice for Trayvon," has yet to say anything. Maybe it is because he's stunned? Or it's because he is afraid of saying the wrong thing? As much as I don't agree with the scrutiny the media puts on athletes in these kind of situations, I have to agree that [we] need him to speak out. You can't be vocal one minute and silent the next. It's either all or nothing Lebron, just like when you're balling on the court.

Lebron, my hope is that you haven't forgotten Trayvon Martin and that you weren't just toiling with our hearts. Never do you want the public to think you were using your status to gain more attention (i.e. Dwight Howard) but until you speak out, we'll never know. This is a good lesson for us all though. As Charles Barkley has spoken out countless times, "athletes should not be role models."  He suggest that if a role model is what kids look to athletes for, then parents need to make their children more aware that they are the role models in their households. Touche Charles! But what do you tell little Junior in Memphis about why his favorite athlete makes a  stand for a cause and never says anything else about it?

No this was not written to bash Lebron or any other athlete. This is a call for the activist athlete. If you're going to use your platform for the greater good of the people do it consistently. Don't let the media or our judgement society deter you from doing so. It never stopped the greatest (Ali)!



For those of you wondering, the other players of the Miami Heat have made statements.