The politicization of sports has been a terrible development.
Superstars in various leagues are being patted on the back for spouting progressive positions.
Now LeBron James is steamed at the Olympics for one anti-American reason.
It’s become disturbingly en vogue for athletes to disrespect the American flag and the national anthem.
Colin Kaepernick popularized the trend in 2016 when he kneeled for “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and it’s only gotten worse since.
Hammer thrower Gwendolyn Berry finished third in the Olympic trials, and covered her face with a shirt in protest against the national anthem.
And Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James wants to see more shows of disrespect.
James’s company the Uninterrupted posted a message on Twitter denouncing an Olympic rule that prohibited athletes from protesting at the podium.
The statement said:
“Rule 50 is a rule in the Olympic Charter that bans any kind of demonstration and prohibits any opinionated political, religious or racial propaganda at the Olympic site in 2021…The only time an athlete is able to speak freely is at press conferences and to the media, but not on the Olympic podium when the world is watching…Simply put, we see this as a way of silencing voices, and as advocates for Athlete empowerment, we take a stand against it.”
However, the tweet from the company was ratioed, which means it received more comments than likes and retweets combined.
A ratio almost always indicates a tweet that did not go over well with the public.
Here’s what you need to know about #Rule50 and how Olympians around the world are being silenced before the #TokyoOlympics start 🗣👉 pic.twitter.com/bMPikWnF4x
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) July 20, 2021
Violent protests and riots have come to define the country since the summer of 2020.
Democrats, the corporate press, and celebrities like James cheered on the riots for months as cities descended into chaos.
The so-called mainstream media have incentivized athletes to spout Democrat talking points by giving them plaudits.
But athletes like James have made the country worse with deeply divisive rhetoric.
Patriotism is met with contempt from the Left.
They don’t even try to hide their antipathy for the country at this point.
The Olympics should be a time for countries to come together in good sportsmanship.
But they have turned into yet another vehicle for leftist politics.
The same people advocating athletes engage in protest would faint if an athlete worse a pro-life shirt at the podium.