Topic A

In today’s society sports figures have too much influence on the people who follow them. That being said, those same people who are influenced by their favorite sports figures complain continuously about how players should just shut up and play the game. I believe that athletes should take a stance on their beliefs even though they rarely do. The reason for this is because like American society, the athletes are continuously worrying about their public image. Many of them have image consultants or public relations people, who ensure that they get the maximum positive recognition. Most of what Ali said was good and needed to be said. However, when he said in the documentary that we watched in class, that 400 years ago he was a slave was completely mindless and ignorant. I understand what happened during slavery and remorseful for the way my ancestors treated blacks. That does not mean however that I am responsible nor does it allow a black man to walk around with a chip on his shoulder for something that harmed him in no way shape or form. To hear some of these guys talk, someone ignorant of the subject would think slavery ended yesterday. I do admire Ali because when he spoke, he backed up what he said. His words were not empty, he didn’t talk just because he liked to hear the sound of his own voice, he talked because he believed in what he was saying. If athletes believe that strongly about something, they should speak out on the subject regardless if what popular opinion says. Ali wasn’t always the most popular guy but he earned the respect of many people, including myself, by the way he acted on his words.