Things I've been thinking about the sports boycotts/strikes:

1) I think some (much?) of the sentiment I've seen from athletes is sincere. I believe they want change to our criminal justice system, and I believe they want to affect that through their words and actions.

2) I also believe that at least some of what I'm seeing and hearing athletes say is opportunistic virtue signaling for the purpose of self-aggrandizement or a grab for affirmation.

3a) I believe Americans especially, and humans in general, have made an idol out of sports and professional athletes. This is because we will literally make an idol out of anything, including making an idol out of hating sports.

3b) This has led us into the trap that professional athletes' and celebrities' opinions are more informed and more valuable than that of the average citizen.

4a) I believe that much of the media (and especially sports media) is running dangerously close to one-sided reporting on this and is getting swept up in the significance of the moment instead reporting what is happening and why it is happening.

4b) For instance, I have seen very little reporting on whether or not pro athletes and celebrities understand the difference between the phrase "black lives matter" and the organization Black Lives Matter. This is an important distinction, and it is severely underreported.

4c) I suspect a lot of this is due to a reaction (or overreaction) to the "stick to sports" mantra that is often used to belittle sports journalists (and athletes, for that matter) as second class citizens in the media universe.

4d) This has led to many people (athletes, journalists, fans, celebrities, etc.) to forget that all forms of entertainment (including sports) work best as a diversion, distraction, and an escape (or at least relief) from the problems of day to day "real" life.

4e) This is not to say athletes shouldn't have a voice or use their elevated platform for good. They absolutely should. But there's also something to the notion that perhaps having untrained men and women dictate our political practice may end up as unwise. Mob rule and all that.

5a) What will end up fascinating me most about all this is what the fallout will be for professional sports in general.

5b) This pandemic has created the illusion that professional sports can exist without the fans. The pro sports experience (especially attending games in person) was already lending itself to being available only to the wealthy elites of society.

5c) If the bent of sports moves from momentary activism for the sake of affecting change to being one primarily of social commentary and political punditry, will the major leagues lose the common fan altogether (especially in our already divided climate)?

5d) For instance, crying out for justice in the case of police brutality & the need for criminal justice reform is well & good, but the NBA (& LeBron James in particular) has been more than willing to turn a blind eye to what's going on in China (both w/Hong Kong & the Uighers).

5e) Many (most?) people I know are sick of having the elites tell us what to do and how to think. People are sick of others stating there is only one acceptable plan of action and path to progress (think of the clip of BLM protestors demanding fealty from the cafe diner).

6) Will all this have a tangible effect professional sports consumption in America?

I suspect it will not be as much as some people hope, but it will be more than others expect.

The center is generally boring, but incredibly important.

Anyway, thanks for your time.

Pray for peace, and love your neighbor.