Politics in Sports

As the election drew closer, politics are everywhere, and can be found in sports as well.           

Players, owners, and coaches from across the sports world are expressing their opinions across their collective platforms.            

Last Sunday night in an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco Niners, 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa showed up to the postgame interview in a MAGA hat after their 30- 24 victory over the Cowboys.            

"I'm not going to talk too much about it, but I think it's an important time," Bosa said after showcasing the hat.           

Although the league has ruled against a suspension, a fine could be possible for Bosa. In Rule five, Section four, Article eight of the NFL rulebook players are prohibited from wearing any gear that expresses any political message.            

Politics has shown up in college sports as well. Texas Tech kicker Reese Burkhardt. scored a touchdown in the second quarter off of a trick play, and then pulled up his jersey to reveal a sign that stated “Trump 2024! MAGA.”            

Burkhardt would go on to miss his only field goal and be replaced by kicker Gino Garcia. Texas Tech lost 35-34 to TCU in a tightly contested game.           

Legendary basketball coach Gregg Popovich had a lot to say about the upcoming election, criticizing president-elect Donald Trump and pushing people to vote for Kamala Harris           

“He’s a pathetic individual. He’s a small man who has to make everybody around him smaller so he thinks he’s gonna be bigger,” Popovich said of Trump. “And isn’t that the same thing we tell all of our kids in grade school? That’s not how you act. That’s not what you do.”           

Popovich then pleaded for people to be skeptical of what Trump said and for all people to vote. “Now, the danger follows the delusion and our kids and grandkids are gonna have to live with what this guy puts out there. I’m just hoping people who are already sold on him for whatever reason, I can’t figure it out… The ones that stay home and don’t vote are the ones that worry me because we need everybody to vote. I hope that they won’t stay home, that they’ll understand that this guy is a scam artist,” Popovich said.           

Popovich is well known for his liberal views, as he endorsed Joe Biden in 2020, his anti gun approach and now his views on the 2024 election. Popovich ended his 15 minute statement by questioning why college students are voting for him.            

Newtown High School sophomore Aarav Shetty agreed with athletes being able to share their personal opinions, but also disagreed with sharing their political views.           

“To me, I definitely think that there’s a difference. People shouldn’t be able to show (political) signs during the game, but what he (Popovich) did was fine because he was asked a question and it was separate from the game,” Shetty said.

“I don’t think athletes should be able to do that. They should stick to sports,” Newtown resident Jack Harmouh added.           

Basketball superstar Lebron James also endorsed Kamala for president on Thursday, encouraging people to vote for her.           

“When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!,” James wrote on X, formerly known as twitter.            

James has previously clashed with former president Trump. James criticized Trump for withdrawing an invite to the white house for the Warriors in 2017 after they won the NBA finals.            

Trump also heavily criticized players over kneeling during the playing of the national anthem.           

“I really don’t think the basketball community is sad about losing his viewership,” James fired back.            

As the nation elected its forty-seventh president, a large debate centers around politics in sports. Many people wonder if players should be speaking out on what they believe, or if they should stay in their lane and stick to sports. 

Former NBA superstar Michael Jordan famously refused to support either candidate in the 1990 U.S Senate race saying he was not a role model.

“I wasn’t a politician when I was playing my sport. I was focused on my craft,“ Jordan said. “Was that selfish? Probably. But that was my energy. That’s where my energy was.”           

Regardless of what people think about politics in sports, it’s seen everywhere in the sports world. Players, coaches, and owners have begun to speak out more than ever, and have taken advantage of their platform to do so.