COLUMN: Where have all the athletes gone?
What’s good about the current state of world unrest is that people are making statements. Some are better than others, and some are just downright bizarre.
We’ve got anonymous women posing nude in the shape of “no war” for peace — not a bad idea. But let’s face it, if men tried to do the same thing Ghandi would personally rise from the grave and club baby seals to clothe us. Nobody wants to see a bunch of naked guys — even in the shape of a peace sign.
Other people are getting run over by bulldozers for peace. Brain-melted rock stars are in “agreeance” for peace and every actor who has ever been an understudy for a Hyundai commercial is speaking up for peace. OK, maybe Charlton Heston still thinks the National Rifle Association and another “Planet of the Apes” sequel can bring world order.
Some of the aforementioned groups are also speaking up for the full-scale invasion of Iraq, but they are at least speaking up. Where are all the athletes in this mix?
How about French Canadian players refusing to play NHL hockey games held in U.S. cities? Or maybe the Williams sisters could vow to boycott the next French Open? Athletes could make a difference because things would actually stop happening that the public takes for granted. Actors and rock stars can posture and help raise money, but really, if we go for another two years without a Sean Penn movie will anyone notice? And, if we ever begin to take him too seriously all we have to do is rent “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” off the 49-cent rack.
Other than one basketball player at some obscure college choosing not to face the flag, I have heard nary a grunt from the physically elite of the nation. It is hard to believe in an age of tattooing your heart on your sleeve, that nobody has made an anti-war statement on his biceps or shaved “no war” into his hair. Nor are there any number of the testosterone resplendent dropping their pads and enlisting in the armed services.
Mohammed Ali went to jail for his anti-war beliefs. Ted Williams gave up two years of his prime to volunteer for combat. Today’s athletes are physically imposing wimps.
At a time when the economy is tanking and the world is in disorder I don’t even see pro athletes backing down on their salary demands. I was not so shocked that LeBron James, (the predicted heir to Air Jordan) was caught accepting free $400 jerseys.
I was surprised that there actually were $400 sports jerseys. Is it any wonder so many countries hate us? The other part of this story is that his mother gave him a $50K Hummer for his birthday. Again, it is not so much the $50K Hummer that seems obscene as much as the fact that we have made an SUV version of a military vehicle for the public. Of course James could have really made a statement by enlisting in the Army where he could drive a $100K Hummer for free.
I can’t open a magazine without seeing Bono, lead singer of the ironically named band U2, brunching with some world leader and sporting some ridiculous eyewear. I’m not always sure what Bono’s statement is, but at least he is making one. However, the swimsuit issue and Dick Vitale’s caffeinated yammerings go on as if nothing at all were happening differently in the world.
Athletes are wimps, albeit wimps that can all beat me up for saying so. But, if athletes want to be idols they ought to first start standing up for some ideals.
Dennis Hinkamp’s column appears every Friday in The Statesman. Comments can be sent to slightlyoffcenter@attbi.com.