Mixing Sports And Politics Is A Bad Idea

Ah sports. The highest quality in athletic competition. Most of us who follow sports do so as a way to escape everyday life. That's part of the fun of watching, and playing sports. Things can get a little bit dicey when they get mixed in with the world of politics. Over the last week or so, we've had a mixing of the two with the NBA and politics and that should never be.

It all started at the end of last week with Rockets GM Daryl Morey when he tweeted: “Fight for freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.”

To this point, so far as I know, the NBA had had a good working relationship with China, as far as TV rights from here in the States, marketing, and even playing a few exhibition games there every year. I get it that he was trying to show support, but now maybe wasn't the best time to do it./ Or at least keep it to yourself.

I got nothing against sharing your political views, or showing support over an issue that's in the public eye. everybody has the right to do stuff like that, that's the beauty of being able to live in this country. Having access to platforms such as Twitter and Facebook can be great for being able to express yourself. I do it all the time with this podcast of mine. But I just feel its not the best idea for sports and politics to be getting mixed up.

I've seen political arguments that have gotten very heated, even if its over the smallest thing. I've always seen the world of sports, just like any other form of entertainment, as a way to escape from the reality of everyday life. Don't get me wrong I've gotten fired up and gotten very emotional, from happy to angry and everything in between during a game. But once the game ends, so does the emotional high and lows. Sometimes I've seen it happen the opposite in the political world.

Again I understand the need to take a stand on something, but I just feel that maybe if your in the public eye as a pro athlete, or even somebody running a pro team, maybe mixing the two while still involved in the game, isn't the smartest thing to do. When you out of the spotlight when your playing career is over, and you go make a political stand, that's one thing. By being out of public view as somebody out of sports that's fine because It won't hurt relations between both worlds. But making a statement while still active in the game can be harmful to both worlds and you as a person who's trying to make a living playing a sport, or running a team.

Once you no longer have a financial stake in the sports world, you can run your mouth to your hearts content. But while you're still involved, its a bad idea to mix the two.