Source: CBS Evening News
Why do athletes protest? Is it because they want to make the world a better place? Yes. Is it because they want justice to be fair? Yes. Is it because they want equality and a feeling of security? Yes.
It is for all those reasons that we see athletes–high school, collegiate and professional–speak up and take a stand. While many will complain about players taking a knee or speaking against police brutality or gun violence, maybe folks will think about those political active athletes differently under the current government shutdown.
Why? Because the current government shutdown was created by President Donald Trump and our Congress over immigration, and more specifically a border wall to separate the United States and Mexico. This political issue has not only shut down our federal government, but that very shutdown could have ripple effects in our entertainment–sports.
In a few weeks, the NFL will hold the Super Bowl–the world’s largest sporting event. Flights will be heading to Atlanta, Georgia from all over the world. Then, there is the All-Star Games for both the NHL and the NBA being held at the end of January and mid-February, respectively. Folks will be flying into San Jose, California and Charlotte, North Carolina to see those games. But what if they can’t get there?
That’s right. What if they miss their flights because TSA is so backed up like at LaGuardia (2 hour delay)? Worse yet, what if TSA is not available at all with agents calling out because they are not being paid due to the government shutdown?
Sure, the games could still be played . . . but who would be there? That’s money lost for fans, teams and sponsors. Immigration and national security is important; it’s important in the sports and entertainment industry as well. But isn’t it time to end this shutdown? And maybe, we should be a little more supportive of our athletes for caring about more than the plays on the field the next time they kneel.