Athletes who aren’t national disgraces
I’ve never understood the adulation and exorbitant wealth that gets lavished upon some people who serve as entertainers. In particular, their thoughts on political or scientific matters; people who are professionals in running or beating the tar out of other people or picking up heavy objects seem unlikely sources of wisdom on more intellectual matters. But… this is the world we live in, so one must accept the reality of it.
Still, there are some athletes who are really quite awful people when it comes to their opinions and politics. There are athletes who want to burn the US flag on the Olympic podium; others who get pissy and stamp their feet when their own national anthem is played.
But then…
On the far left is the loser in the Women’s Hammer Throw of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials. She came in third and is annoyed that the anthem is being played, so she turned her back on the anthem, her team and her nation. But in the middle and the right are the first and second place winners, DeAnna Price and Brooke Andersen. Compare the losers petulant annoyance with DeAnna Price (from 2019):
Someone here seems like a happier person, less likely to be an insufferably fanatical wokescold, permanently angry about crap that happened centuries ago or because people believe differently than her.
Also, from the world of non-US athletes, showing US athletes how it should be done:
Usain Bolt. 2012 London Olympics. Interrupts interview to show Respect to The US National Anthem. THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE!!! pic.twitter.com/myMmYnV52E
— il Donaldo Trumpo (@ilSharko) June 29, 2021