Rebuilding Rob

This is tough because, as a casual sports fan, there are many different things for which I respect certain athletes

If you’re talking about overall human beings, I would probably say Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente are the two athletes whom I respect most I don’t agree with a lot of Robinson’s political views, especially after his baseball career ended; but I can understand where he was coming from, and respect his views.

Roberto Clemente has been deified in his native Puerto Rico. Even across America, there are countless with schools named in his honor. He’s another athlete who endured racism and persevered. That he was tragically killed in a plane crash, delivering humanitarian supplies only further cements his legacy.

While I absolutely loathe the hype that preceded him on the basketball court, I do have a lot of respect for LeBron James. As a basketball player, I’m sick to death of the hype surrounding him. When someone’s advertised in sport with that much hype, they better obliterate every record in the books. and while media hype isn’t his fault, he certainly played into it and perpetuated it.

However, LeBron James, the human being is and athlete I do very much respect. He’s gotten involved in television and film production. He funds a school – albeit it with questionable results Furthermore, his political views are very much in alignment with mine. LeBron James is a great example of a contemporary athlete who is already thinking about life beyond basketball.

As for a entire sport of athletes, I probably have most respect for basketball players collectively. Physically, I think they are in the best all-around shape of any athletes.

Likewise, I do have a lot of respect for American football players as well. These are men, in some cases, women, who know about the extreme brutality and risk for injury, let football presents; yet they play the game anyway. Whether it’s for money or whether it’s because they love it, they soldier through.

As he may have surmised, I have very mixed feelings regarding professional athletes. We live in a society that deifies them. but at the end of the day, they are just human beings, like the rest of us, with all of our imperfections. But I have tremendous respect for athletes who get involved, politically, at least athletes, whose political views lineup with mine.

A lot of people will tell you that athletes should just “shut up and play”. I could disagree more with this. Professional athletes are obviously on an elite level in their trade. They are free to espouse their political views, just as much as the rest of us are. I know that if I had the type of media presence that many of our pro athletes have, I would absolutely be using it to my advantage

Who are the professional athletes you respect the most? Why?

Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like, comment and subscribe to my blog below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media as well! Check out my most recent posts as well as some earlier, related posts:

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• A Death in the Family (And My Disposable Income): My Life in Comics
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• Life is What Happens: A Look Back at My Non-Existent 2025 Vision
• The Moment I Walked Inside a Hallmark Movie

The article “Jackie, Roberto and LBJ” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.