Be swifter, higher and stronger. But don't kneel

Athletes barred from taking a knee, raising fists at 2020 Olympics

 

I didn't realize Clay Travis was on the IOC.

 

Wouldn't surprise me if a couple American athletes do it anyway, then are paid by some American advertiser for having done so. Wokenomics.

 

Is someone going to drop Simone Biles if she raises a fist on the podium? I don't see it. Top-flight, well liked (or even beloved) American athletes get a lot of leeway. Do you think Michael Phelps would have lost endorsements if he raised a fist while winning the most gold medals of any athlete ever?

I agree that the IOC should have kept its corporate trap shut.

 

I think they’d lose some deals and pick up replacements in short order. No net change but still eventful.

 

Yeah, I was only moderately aware that Olympians recently had made political gestures and the like when given the stage. Saying "don't do it" is just going to create an environment that actually induces athletes to do it. Most of these people are not well-known outside their niche sports, but if they can make a grand gesture on the world's stage, they can up their profile tremendously. Sure, that's a bit cynical, but it's naive to think such gestures are always borne of a political or moral conscience. Sometimes it's straight cash, homey.

 

Word.

 

The IOC could have made this rule in 1968 after Mexico City and chose not to. What changed?

 

There weren't faint-hearted, pussified magas around back then.

 

Just Avery Brundage.

 

Duh, he’s the kind of slug who would demand 9 year old boy prostitutes as part of a his bribe.