On Wednesday, in an effort to feel like they were making a difference, the Milwaukee Bucks essentially decided to delay their playoff game by a few days. Seeing their friend jump off a bridge, the rest of the sports world was quick to follow them.
The rest of the NBA came to a standstill, followed by a few games across Major League Baseball. NFL teams, in an effort to show they also sit at the cool kids’ table, suspended their practices. The WNBA, looking to receive more press coverage than it has in years, also hit the pause button. Then, the NHL.
Their “boycott” is rather meaningless; the games are just being postponed, not canceled. But each sports league wants to be able to claim that they, too, are “woke.” The players want to show that they are also transgressive difference-makers by falling into line with the dominant culture with the support of their leagues, the media, and the entertainment industry.
This lemming effect was put in practice earlier this year, when each league tried to one-up each other with how supportive of Black Lives Matter they could be. Players still haven’t given any indication of what they want to see come out of their symbolic stands, aside from some vague support for “justice” and “change.”
Those who don’t are browbeaten into submission. Take Drew Brees, who was forced into two apologies for saying he would “never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America.” Now, in the second go-round, it’s former NFL star Brian Urlacher being raked over the coals for offering a perspective that runs counter to the social justice sports narrative.
There’s nothing special, or brave, or transformative about running with the cultural narrative, especially when you’re just following the lead of everyone else. It’s especially meaningless when anyone who doesn’t toe the line is browbeaten into submission.
Temporarily postponing games doesn’t mean anything, nor does it help solve any of the issues players are ostensibly worried about. Even if the leagues were to make an actual stand and cancel the games, with no rescheduling, it would still accomplish nothing. Playing follow the leader and reciting progressive talking points isn’t “taking a stand,” no matter how much sports media want to push that narrative.
