by Ray Keating
The Keating Files – July 22, 2020
No matter where one sits on the religious, philosophical and political spectrums, we all seem to like it when discovering sports or Hollywood stars who agree with us. At the same time, however, we’re bothered when people famous for making movies or excelling on fields of competition serve up views with which we disagree.
Well, okay. I’ve certainly been guilty of this, and my guess is that most people who care about issues have been as well.
The question is: How do we react when presented by opposing views – indeed, views we might disagree with quite seriously?
Unfortunately, reactions on both the Left and Right these days tend to be, well, whiny. And does anyone really like whining? I don’t think so.
Among my fellow conservatives (including a good number who call themselves “conservative” but have no idea what it means), too many ramp up the whining because Hollywood is overly populated by liberals (and it is). The assumption is that everything, therefore, coming out of Hollywood is hard-core left wing. It’s especially whiny when some conservatives attack movies or television shows without seeing them, even taking on movies that haven’t been released yet (for example, that was the case with the fine 2018 film First Man). However, if individuals spent more time watching assorted movies, rather than whining about them, they might not only discover some solid storytelling, but also – to quote Arnold (Sam Jackson) in Jurassic Park, “Hold on to your butts” – some conservative themes.
And then there’s the latest controversies emerging as pro sports leagues prepare to return to action.
This fan is especially appreciative that baseball will return on July 23, followed by the NHL on August 1, and the NFL in September, with golf, NASCAR and beach volleyball already back. (Yes, the NBA will be back at the end of this month, but I’ve never been a big NBA fan.) The sports drought due to the coronavirus pandemic has been too long for this fan, and I greatly appreciate the efforts being put forth by the respective leagues and players in being willing to step back on the field of play even as COVID-19 continues to spread in the U.S. I pray for their safety, and thank them for their efforts in bringing some enjoyment to Americans.
But there’s more in the mix now. The death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody has justifiably led to an assortment of peaceful protests, and an expanded discussion of police brutality. Not surprisingly, many people, especially in minority communities, want to say their piece. That includes pro sports players.
No doubt, people will say and express opinions that others are going to disagree with, but that’s not a negative. Instead, it ranks among the many freedoms that we enjoy in this country, thanks to the ideas and principles expressed in and springing from the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Conservatives should understand this – perhaps more so than others given that conservatism recognizes the historic importance of the American founding documents and ideas.
The discussion should be robust but also civil – again, preferably absent of whining.
Players are free to express themselves on the field of play, as long as their employers provide a thumbs up to do so on “company time,” if you will. If employers are reluctant to do so, then professional athletes also have the wherewithal and soapbox to express their opinions off the field.
In a statement, Farhan Zaidi, the President of Baseball Operations for the San Francisco Giants, said in part: “We support those who knelt peacefully to protest racial injustice and those who stood to express love of country. We do not see these as mutually exclusive sentiments and believe the freedom to express both is what our country is about.” Even if one disagrees with kneeling during the National Anthem, that’s a solid sentiment.
At the same time, sports fans who want their sports “politics free” can express their points as well. And of course, they are free to not watch sports.
I have noticed, though, that those who declare that they will not watch sports in which a minority of players, for example, kneel during the National Anthem often seem to just be whining about individuals expressing views they don’t like. Many of these same people, after all, are simply delighted when a player blesses himself or points skyward as a thank you to the Lord. Are they outraged by all expressions of views or simply the ones with which they disagree?
Then there’s the occasional piece written that serves up some strange arguments amidst this controversy. Consider a column written by Victor David Hanson running at National Review. The author of The Case for Trump doesn’t generally seem too keen on the NFL, but the title of the piece boldly declares “The NFL is on the Brink.” Whoa! The brink of what?
Before I highlight a few points, I did wonder if the headline overstated the article’s point, given that most columnists don’t have the final say on column titles and I have been victim of poor titles myself. But the title deftly captures Hanson’s prediction that “the NFL is in deep trouble like never before.”
Hanson makes some grandiose claims. For example, he writes, “Kaepernick’s rejection of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ eventually spread throughout the NFL.” Not true. Anyone watching games would have seen that a small fraction of players took a knee.
Hanson also writes, “Then game attendance fell. So did television viewership.” While NFL attendance has declined ever so slightly since 2016, it still remains strong, and other factors must be considered, especially the high cost of tickets (which have been rising relentlessly), when examining this recent small decline. As for television ratings, after a one-year dip, ratings have bounced back, and the NFL ranks as a juggernaut in the fast-changing world of television – with even bigger dollars likely to be raked in by the league when current television deals are up at the end of 2021 and 2022.
After some sarcastic ranting about proportional representation, Hanson predicts grave consequences for the NFL if players are allowed to express political views.
Hmmm, maybe. But I have my doubts considering where the nation is today. We’ll see. But my strongest takeaway from this piece was the following: More whining. It didn’t really contribute anything of value to the discussion.
As a conservative, I’m distressed when players take a knee during the National Anthem. I think it reflects an ignorance about what the flag stands for, and about the freedoms guaranteed by the foundational documents and principles of this nation. We are a nation of strong ideals, a love of freedom, and a respect for justice, and at the same time, we fall short and struggle to claw closer to those ideals.
I also tend to favor my sports being relatively politics free in a society in which everything seems to be increasingly politicized – from face masks during a pandemic to baseball games. It’s tiring, and narrows the spaces in society where we are able to come together simply as fellow Americans without regard to political views. A healthy society, again, as conservatives should understand, is not a highly politicized society. Politics and government are necessary evils given the realities of human nature, and should be relegated to the back seat or trunk – available when needed – and certainly shouldn’t be in the driver’s seat.
At the same time, I understand – more so in recent times – the gross shortcomings and bias of law enforcement in parts of this country, and the need for checks and balances to be working in all aspects of government. I once more turn to the founders who, again, understood the need for checks and balances given human nature.
My hopes? I hope to continue speaking in favor of this nation’s founding principles, including freedom and individual responsibility, as I long have. I hope to engage those with whom I disagree in a constructive manner, and in a way that will help to persuade, rather than chase away. I hope to limit my own whining, and remind others to stop whining. And while political expressions that I disagree with served up before or even during sporting events, no doubt, will continue to annoy me, I hope to keep in mind that we live in the greatest nation on earth that allows for such disagreement.
Finally, I’m going to enjoy the games – after a long sports drought. I hope that Americans from across the religious, philosophical and political spectrums come together to watch some baseball, football, basketball or hockey. Indeed, we just might gain a better understanding of and respect for each other – and be able to persuade and learn – over a brew and ballgame.
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