There's been much debate during President Donald Trump's first days in office, including pointed commentary about his inaugural address from San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and a crack from Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr about Trump's press secretary's use of "alternative facts." Neither coach seems particularly interested in "sticking to sports," and I can't say I blame them. While the NFL's conference championship games and the Miami Heat's surprising win over the visiting Warriors on Monday night might take our minds off politics for a few hours, sports feel very small when compared to the goings-on in our nation's capital.
All Americans can agree that the country is in turmoil, feeling its way through a very difficult transition period. Many in the sports world, from owners to athletes, have been active on social media and in interviews, sharing their political opinions, concerns and endorsements. But not all Americans are glued to their televisions and computers, digesting all the information they can and considering their role in the political process.
I've seen a lot of people on Twitter using phrases like "it's over" or "your team lost" in political discussions. But the presidency isn't a game with a shot clock that runs out on election night. It's a job -- one that Trump has just begun. As such, it's downright impossible for informed citizens to avoid discussing our changing country.
Sports are an incredible source of entertainment and can often shine a light on some of the biggest issues in our country, but there are other conversations that need to be had.
This week's "That's What She Said" podcast guest Travon Free spent several years as a staff writer on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" before moving to Los Angeles last year to work for Bill Simmons' "Any Given Wednesday" on HBO and other entertainment projects. Changing his focus to sports and pop culture made him realize how much he genuinely cares about politics and helping shape the discourse. He still communicates regularly with host Trevor Noah and other "Daily Show" staff members, suggesting ideas. He also uses social media as a direct outlet for his thoughts on social issues.
"In sports you have to wait for a big story -- so like Ray Rice, for example," Free said of finding it more difficult to mine content from the sports world than from the political sphere. "That's a big, ongoing story. It has so many legs. You can talk about domestic violence; you can talk about the NFL; you can talk about the history of the NFL with women and domestic violence. Whereas, after that story goes away, if there's no big, meaty story like that in sports, you're only talking about the day-to-day -- whatever upcoming playoff or championship is happening. But it in politics and pop culture, those kind of things, you have such a broad spectrum of things to talk about."
The same curiosity that inspired most journalists and entertainers to become storytellers and observers drives us to understand and explore the political landscape, as well. As long as the conversations are informed and respectful, with a mind toward uniting, that discourse is meaningful.
