American Sports Are Letting Down America

Nearly 30 years ago, in a 1993 Nike commercial, professional basketball legend Charles Barkley fired the first shot at the “role model” concept popularized by Columbia University sociologist Robert K. Merton in the aftermath of the 1960s counterculture movement. “I am not a role model,” Barkley proclaimed in the half-minute spot. “I’m not paid to be a role model. I’m paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”

Barkley’s words landed with a force every bit the equal of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s National Anthem knee 23 years later. Former Vice President Dan Quayle defended Barkley, while Barkley’s fellow NBA superstar Karl Malone criticized him in Sports Illustrated. Leading news magazines, including Time and Newsweek, published articles exploring the controversy. Newspaper columnists from coast to coast—on and off the sports pages—also weighed in. The topic still sparks debate today.

Of the many phrases and concepts Merton coined—including “self-fulfilling prophecy” and “unintended consequences”—“role model” has had the most impact. On the surface, the argument that young people tend to model their behavior after high-profile, successful adults is harmless. However, in retrospect, the elevation of athletes and other celebrities as primary figures in the formation of behavioral norms for young people helped create the conditions that are powering the destructive Black Lives Matter movement today.

lebron is NOT a man. he is a woke cuck.

And not only is he not the GOAT he is not even the greatest of HIS time. He could not carry the jockstesps of MJ, Magic, Bryant, West, Worthy, McHale and so many others.

And do not waste time quoting stats. The game and skills have gone so far downhill the worst player of the West era would be a super duper star today.

>>If I was in charge of the NBA, one of the first things I would do would be to fire all the refs and hire a bunch of high school refs. I’d laugh my ass off - tweet, traveling! Tweet, traveling! Tweet, traveling! Half these guys take three or more steps across the court all the time...<<

You can thank Jordan for that. Sure, he “dribbled” the ball. One bounce got him from his basket to the opponent’s foul line.

Agree 100% PGA has one or two racism reminders but they're too busy to dwell on stupid stuff.

I play golf and really enjoy the game, so its an important part of my exercise and interaction with others now that I'm retired.

I'm still paying some attention to the Detroit Tigers strictly on the radio. Don't know what will happen with the Red Wings, but the Lions are the main concern. They have sucked so long that for maybe the last 20 years or so I figured the odds are someday they win. But it looks like the NFL is going to be the worst for torture the white fans. I don't think I can do it.

Trash me, and my country and I'm gone.

A couple of good quotes from the article;
Nelson Mandela

Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.

And oddly one of the best quotes I ever read from Barack Obama;

There’s a direct line between people loving Ernie Banks, and then the city being able to come together and work together in one spirit. . . . Sometimes it’s just a matter of us being able to escape and relax from the difficulties of our days, but sometimes it also speaks to something better in us. And when you see this group of folks of different shades and different backgrounds, and coming from different communities and neighborhoods all across the country, and then playing as one team and playing the right way, and celebrating each other and being joyous in that, that tells us a little something about what America is and what America can be.

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