Voicing Concerns Should Not Be A Concern For Those In Sports

Today’s shooting in Newtown, CT has caused unspeakable heartbreak for too many families at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Yet, the tragedy has already seemed to find a voice on numerous social media outlets. More specifically, people are talking about the unbelievable loss of life in the context of a larger debate about gun violence. The debate has centered on whether there should be a debate at all. Can a tragedy as terrible as this one be used to examine second amendment rights and gun control laws? 

For many sports fans, this unfortunately sounds eerily similar to the conversation that happened after Jovan Belcher’s death two weeks ago. The former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker shot and killed his girlfriend before driving to team’s stadium and shooting himself in front of Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli and Head Coach Romeo Crennel. Many players, fans, and media members sought to express their opinions about this tragedy and spark a larger conversation about gun violence and professional athletes. NBC broadcaster Bob Costas used the halftime of a Sunday night NFL game to question whether the deaths of Belcher and his girlfriend would have occurred if he not owned guns.

This blog post is not to debate the merits of second amendment rights. It is a complicated issue in which both gun control advocates and critics have valid arguments. However, there seems to no debate that those in sports, whether players, coaches, or media members, should not be talking about issues outside of sports. Many people may not have agreed with Bob Costas sentiments about the Belcher tragedy. Yet, the larger controversy has come from his saying anything about killings at all. Because he was “simply” a sports broadcaster, Costas should not have use a football game to present his gun control views or provide his take on what happened with Belcher.

This sentiment is not just shared by people outside of the sports industry. Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has been outspoken voice on numerous issues. Kluwe wrote an open letter to Maryland state delegate Emmett C. Burns criticizing his efforts to have Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti fine Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo for supporting the state’s gay marriage bill. Recently, Kluwe’s special teams coach stated that he was tired of Kluwe’s taking stances on controversial issues. “To me, it’s getting old,” Mike Priefer said. “He’s got to focus on punting and holding.”

When it comes to sports players, coaches, and media members talking about issues outside of sports there should really be no debate. To say that Kluwe cannot punt or holder as well as he possible could because he voices his opinions makes little sense. To criticize Costas for just talking about gun violence within the context Belcher’s death and claiming he is not doing is job as a sportscaster is upsetting.   

We understand that players, coaches, and media members have a large platform from which to share their opinions simply by being associated with professional or major collegiate sports. And yes, athletes, coaches, and media members can and will say things that are offensive to most people. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rahshard Mendenhall’s comments about September 11^th or Ozzie Guillen’s comments about Fidel Castro are a particularly egregious example of people using their fame from sports to loudly and widely broadcast some asinine thoughts.

However, those in sports do have a unique opportunity with which to bring a spotlight to issues. It is their right to talk about issues that are important to them. There really should be no debate that those in sports have a right to start a debate.