Michael Jordan claimed Republicans buy shoes. This week, Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes avoided controversy as athletes have.
Clark and Mahomes urged people to register and vote instead of discussing the presidential election Wednesday and who they would back.
“It’s more than nothing, but it doesn’t put them on the front lines of the discussion,” said Dave Niven, a University of Cincinnati political science associate professor who teaches sports and politics.
Compared to LeBron James, who was more vocal, Niven saw it as a retreat. Political activism is still high compared to Derek Jeter and Michael Jordan.
In 2020, WNBA flipped the Senate. This year's Commissioner's Cup contributed money for voting and reproductive rights. Common politicking, especially by athletes, is new.
Muhammad Ali, James Brown, and Billie Jean King were outliers despite their activism. Jordan, Jeter, and Tiger Woods, who avoided alienating fans and sponsors, were more likely to inspire star players.
“There’s absolutely a risk if you get involved,” said Niven, who found that NFL players who knelt to protest police violence against Black and brown people had lower contracts.
Clark plays a league where politics and standing up matter as much as lockdown defense. The game's biggest celebrity was asked to weigh in when the presidential candidate is a former prosecutor
Clark and Mahomes could advocate voter registration without jeopardizing their lives. “It’s the split-the-difference thing,” Niven said. “It’s healthy and possibly safe.” Elite athletes are born talented and determined. This week shown that few have moral courage.