Bane of America’s “Quiet Athletes”

What America truly needs is for sports icons to speak out about issues they believe in.

The truth is that sports is a big-business entertainment industry powered by entertainers called athletes. It always has been, and it always will be. But unlike other facets of the entertainment business where performers openly speak out on issues that concern them, most of today’s athletes mimic Marcel Marceau or Harpo Marx.

It wasn’t always like that. In my opinion, the current silence is a shame because sports journalists—especially team broadcasters (if you want to be generous enough to call most of them journalists) often portray athletes as “leaders.” But the truth is this: real leaders should lead.

Jackie Robinson with Branch Rickey (170baseball.com)

One athlete who did lead was Jackie Robinson, who broke the color line when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Branch Rickey, the Dodgers’ general manager, told Robinson that he was looking for a ballplayer who had “guts enough not to fight back” against the racial abuse and insults he would inevitably face. Despite being called all sorts of names by opposing players, Robinson did exactly that, letting his immense athletic ability speak for him. Without a doubt, Robinson paved the way for later athletes who used their prominence to draw attention to political and racial problems in America.

An abridged list from an internet search highlights other athletes who were not afraid to speak out about political, social, or prejudicial matters:

–Muhammad Ali: Refused to be drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War based on his religious beliefs and opposition to the war. As a result, he lost his heavyweight title, faced a prison sentence, and was barred from boxing for years at the peak of his career.

—Bill Russell: Consistently fought against racial segregation and discrimination. He marched alongside civil rights leaders and famously boycotted an NBA exhibition game in 1961 after Black players were refused service at a restaurant.

Smith (center), Carlos (right) at 1968 Olympics (photo, CNN)

–Tommie Smith and John Carlos: Stood on the medal podium at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics with black-gloved fists raised in a Black Power salute to protest racial discrimination and poverty. They faced immediate expulsion from the Olympic Village and years of personal hardship.

—Colin Kaepernick: Began kneeling during the U.S. national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial injustice. The silent protest sparked a global debate and led to him effectively being barred from playing in the NFL.

—Megan Rapinoe: Used her position as a star on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and equal pay for female athletes, frequently facing political backlash.

–LeBron James: Formed the voting rights organization “More Than a Vote” and has openly spoken out against systemic racism and police violence, despite critics telling athletes to “stick to sports.”

–Naomi Osaka: Wore face masks bearing the names of victims of racial violence and police brutality during her run at the 2020 U.S. Open, drawing global attention to social justice movements.

Of course, there have been others, but because of their immense fame, headlines followed whenever these individuals spoke out.

Athletes, just like non-athletes, have opinions about political and social issues. Most keep quiet, I assume, because they don’t want to anger their employers or lose potential endorsement contracts.

Covering up the seedy side of an athlete’s behavior is not new. It dates back decades, to when sports writers traveled by train with ball clubs and teams paid for their travel expenses. The resulting closeness between writers and athletes created what was, and still is, known as “homer” reporting—favorable media coverage completely stripped of objectivity.

This landscape began to shift in the 1960s, when a new breed of print journalists declared teams paying for travel costs unethical. However, that shift largely bypassed TV team broadcasters. Today, as I watch television coverage of sporting events, the word “homer” no longer refers only to home runs.

On Sept. 4, 2026, Ben Sasse, a former U.S. Senator from Nebraska, authored an essay in The Wall Street Journal titled, “America Needs Its Boys to Play Football.” The article argued, in part, “The sport forms character by harnessing wild masculinity and directing it toward the good and the pure.” Part of what Mr. Sasse says is correct, but I disagree with his main point.

In 1967, Simon & Garfunkel wrote the song “Mrs. Robinson” for the movie The Graduate. Its famous lyrics included:

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Joltin’ Joe has left and gone away.

The reference to Joe DiMaggio suggests that America needs heroes, and that when the song was written decades ago, there weren’t many figures people could look up to. In my opinion, that’s still true today.

With the rise of international and women’s sports, more players are more famous than ever. Unfortunately, few speak up about issues outside of their sport.

I do not expect star athletes to make polarizing political statements that might upend lucrative brand endorsements, though many have. However, participating in public service announcements (PSAs) on non-political matters aimed at helping impressionable youngsters is both reasonable and necessary.

Doing so would truly make an athlete a “leader” for everyone, not just teammates.