MIAMI — LeBron James is hearing the silly noise again, and all it does is make him dig deeper, stand firmer, speak louder.
One year ago it was conservative commentator Laura Ingraham on Fox News advising LeBron to “shut up and dribble” instead of speaking out against racial and social injustice.
Now it is international soccer superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic lecturing LeBron on what the parameters of his conscience should be.
“[LeBron] is phenomenal at what he does, but I don’t like when people have some kind of status, they go and do politics at the same time,” the AC Milan striker said in an interview in Sweden. “Do what you’re good at. Stay out of politics. Just do what you do best because [the rest] doesn’t look good.”
Politics. When did that become the word for standing up for what you believe is right? Why has speaking out for social justice and voters’ rights become a font of controversy?
Ibrahimovic doubled down this week, saying, “Athletes unite the world, politics divide us “ — again misrepresenting social conscience as political, in much the same way critics misrepresented Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the anthem as anti-American instead of as a protest of police violence against unarmed Black people.
Ibrahimovic reopens the dumb notion of “stick to sports!” as more and more athletes, the L.A. Lakers’ LeBron seemingly always at the forefront, use their platform and voice for positive change.
The message from activist athletes is simple: We are here to do more than entertain you.
LeBron needing to shout (again) that he will not shut up and dribble comes as the NBA prepares to take its All-Star Game break in Atlanta.
Atlanta, that Blackest of major American cities, the one that got out the vote in numbers enough to turn Georgia from red to blue and turn the presidential election.
Atlanta, where outspoken activism by the city’s WNBA team, the Dream, forced out white right-wing owner Kelly Loeffler, the state senator.
It also comes at a time when a movement is born to change the NBA’s iconic silhouette logo from that of white 1960s star Jerry West to that of Kobe Bryant, the superstar who died tragically in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Bryant’s widow Vanessa and league star Kyrie Irving are out front on the suggestion.
I have zero issue with an updated logo whose silhouette better reflects the indisputable influence of Black people in the league’s history on the court and influence off it, beyond it.
A Michael Jordan likeness might be better; certainly less controversial. Heck, if he weren’t still active (and showing little sign of any letdown at age 36), I might even suggest the new logo silhouette should be that of LeBron — for his greatness with the basketball but as much for his beacon’s role in social activism.
Ask me what current athlete might merit the Presidential Medal of Freedom. For me, an easy question.
It is not a revelation in multitasking, the idea that LeBron can dribble and speak out for positive change at the same time.
