Sports/Politics

Dave Zirin's documentary was awesome! I had never made the connection of sports and politics, and I don't know how myself and so many others have missed this OBVIOUS connection. Not only with advertisements, but with the amount that broadcasting women's sports has diminished, and the role of the military. There are so many different aspects of politics that are in sports that we have become immune to.

I think there can be good things that can come from politics in sports, and also bad things. The bad things being that they use their known reputation to create negative attention on political topics. However, I think if athletes used their reputation in politics in positive ways the world may pay more attention to problems that they don't pay enough attention to now.

I think two great examples of pro athletes using their reputation for the better are Matt Overton and Pat McAfee, two NFL players currently representing our very own state. Both of these men spend a lot of time during the season and not during the season spreading awareness for different causes that they care about. They make multiple visits to the kids at  Riley Hospital and participate in events that raise awareness and funds for different causes. Matt Overton focuses a lot of his time and attention on Riley Hospital. He shows the world how proud and compassionate he is for all of the children he meets and you can tell he does it out of the goodness of his heart. I think some of Matt's want to help others comes from the fact that he made it to the NFL truly from his own hard work and patience, and he wants to help others who are in the same position.

Pat McAfee has created his own foundation, called The Pat McAfee Foundation. His foundation is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing scholarships to children of US Military Officials. This past football season Pat surprised a family during half time by bringing their father/husband on the field and also gave them a new car.

Now yes the car may have been a part of advertising but never the less it was still a very wonderful act that Pat did. I wish that more NFL players and other pro athletes would use their fame and money to do such good things as these two have. I truly respect both of these wonderful men and am glad they are setting such a good example for others.