#88: Believe athletes when they show you who they are

One of the first things that I learned during my journalism classes is that you shouldn't use a question in a headline. I've done it many times, including with this newsletter.

I thought about titling this "Should we care about the person we are rooting for?"

But the answer is too easy.

Yes, we should.

And no, I'm not talking about on a parasocial level. Because we don't know these people. We enjoy their music, books, athletic accomplishments, and entertainment, but we don't know them.

Until they give us a reason to.

There was a recent report put out by The Independent that broke down how athletes voted or identified as far as their political affiliations go.

As you may imagine, MLB and NHL had the most republicans, while the WNBA led the way in being the most left-leaning league.

My initial takeaways is that I'm not surprised.

At all.

Surprising would be seeing the numbers reversed in the NHL or MLB. We know that players in the big leagues are primarily republican – and if we didn't players like Matt Shaw, Clayton Kershaw, and Blake Treinen have done their part to remind us over the last year-plus.

The W isn't surprising where the numbers fell overall, but I expected it to be closer to 75-80% left-leaning given how often the players are at the forefront of social issues. The 2.3% republican number is actually lower than I thought it would be.

But it's like if someone is listed as a moderate on a dating app. You know what they really mean.

Looking at you, independents (half of you, at least).

When it comes down to it, we shouldn't look to athletes as role models. We never should have to begin with just because they are studs on the field and court.

But what we can do is decide who to invest in and who not to. Right now, more than ever, it's important to use our money and time in places that matter, not where it doesn't.

Because we are way too quick to pick and choose who gets a pass and who doesn't.

Look at the recent MLB Hall of Fame discussion if you need further evidence of this.

Both Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones got in this year, but there was discourse around the former getting in due to cheating allegations with the Houston Astros.

It's a fair argument, but not when it's being compared to what Jones did in his past.

Did you know that Jones was arrested on Christmas during 2012 for a domestic violence incident? It's not discussed enough.

See, baseball Hall of Fame voting has guidelines. Unlike the NFL, MLB requires voters to take into account off-field actions.

Too many year over year are fine with including the likes of Jones but won't include known or assumed steroid users such as Manny Ramírez.

It makes. No. Sense.

But hit ball far. Throw ball hard. Catch ball well.

That's what matters, apparently.

I think back to "Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back," a book that I often reference.

In it, there's a chapter about players who are accused of and have committed domestic violence.

What it boils down to is if you're a good player, you're forgiven.

We see this all of the time in the NBA with Kevin Porter, Jr. and Miles Bridges being recent examples.

If you let enough time pass and you have a fun character, you're forgiven.

Look at Conor McGregor and Mike Tyson.

If you ignore the accusations long enough, they are forgotten.

Look at Chris Brown and Josh Brolin.

But we pick and choose who we do this with.

We pile on voters because they won't vote Barry Bonds into the Hall of Fame because of his steroid use, but we ignore the domestic violence accusations against him.

We are angry that Roger Clemens won't get into the Hall because of his steroid use, while ignoring his confirmed statutory "affair" (rape. The word is rape) with a 15-year-old.

We pick and choose what to be mad about and who to be mad about, but even when the athletes or celebrities that we admire show us who they are, we decide to ignore it.

Don't.

Hold them accountable. Don't stop telling people about Karl Malone the human, not the player.

Tell people about the genocide apologist Deni Avdija, not the player.

Don't forget to tell people about Marty Scurll the pedophile, not the wrestler.

About J.K. Rowling the TURF, not the author.

Because the more we stop talking about the bad things about them, the more people will continue to focus on the good things.

These people are showing who they are. We need to believe them or no one will care anymore.

Until Next Time

Continue to take care of yourself.

Protect survivors.

Fuck ice.

Go Blue Jays.

I love you awesome nerds.