For people long accustomed to the separation of sports and politics, the last couple of years have appeared a dizzying shuffle as the world straightens. However the simple contrast here is musical taste. Many peoples musical tastes are formed when theyre in high school, and absolutely nothing that comes later ever rather measures up. (Admit it: you believe music was much better when you were more youthful, right?) The tendency is to dismiss younger generations music as horrible– while at the very same time ignoring older generations that slammed our music the same way. The same viewpoint applies with political viewpoint.
Approved, a lot of people tend to grow more conservative in their political views as they get older. But when youre now beginning with a worldview so supportive of diverse viewpoints, even a little slide right will still lead to a sports environment even more political than in years past. This isnt a “good” or “bad” thing per se; its a matter of whether each fan is willing to accept the greater tidal drifts of sports and society.
The only constant in life is change. The NFL has made the choice to roll on with it. At some point, we all make a choice, to remain on the train or get off.
Story continues.
Self-described football fans break down along similar lines; 59 percent believe kneeling throughout the anthem is appropriate, while 64 percent are fine with professional athletes speaking their minds on social problems. (The telephone poll of 1,001 grownups was conducted Sept. 1-6, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 points.).
Like every other aspect of this now-politically-weaponized NFL season, this survey will be embraced by those who concur with its conclusions. Those who disagree with the surveys findings will brush it off with some mix of overlooking the source, the methodology or the whole idea of polls in general. Both sides will wait for this weekends TV rankings to come in, and spin whatever information gets here to fit their own preconceived conclusions.
Its worth keeping in mind, in that context, that even a 42 percent minority is still a significant percentage of the American public. If 42 percent of the viewing public– and even 4.2 percent– decided not to tune into NFL video games any longer for political factors, that would be a catastrophic blow to a league currently reeling from the pandemic. Fans of the right to protest might not want to do any celebratory triumph laps simply.
On a bigger scale, however, this poll shows how attitudes alter as times do. A 2016 Yahoo/YouGov poll found 47 percent opposed to the kneeling protest of Colin Kaepernick and 32 percent in support. A 2020 poll discovered that support had increased to 52 percent, while opposition had dropped to 36 percent.
The changing surveys are reflective of bigger social patterns. This past summertimes protests werent simply restricted to generally progressive areas of America; they reached deep into the heart of suburbia, where lower-case C conservatism is the prevailing principles. Thats a sign of extensive approval of modification.
The poll reveals this shift in its 2nd concern: whether professional athletes must utilize their platform to reveal social views– that is, not just “shut up and dribble.” Older Americans want their athletes would just adhere to sports; only 45 percent desire to speak with athletes on social issues. A complete 70 percent of Americans under 50 are fine with athletes being spokespeople for larger causes.
Sports sponsors and leagues have paid attention to which way the winds blowing. Its why the NBA has actually plastered social justice slogans all over its courts and its gamers backs; its why even traditionally hardcore conservative sports like NASCAR have let progressive messages slip into their conversations.
Kneeling will be more widespread this year in the NFL. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald) More.
_____.
Jay Busbee is an author for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jaybusbee or contact him with tips and story concepts at [email protected].
More from Yahoo Sports:.
If 42 percent of the seeing public– or even 4.2 percent– decided not to tune into NFL video games any longer for political factors, that would be a catastrophic blow to a league currently reeling from the pandemic. A 2016 Yahoo/YouGov poll discovered 47 percent opposed to the kneeling demonstration of Colin Kaepernick and 32 percent in assistance. A 2020 survey found that support had actually increased to 52 percent, while opposition had dropped to 36 percent.
Older Americans wish their professional athletes would just stick to sports; only 45 percent desire to hear from athletes on social concerns. A full 70 percent of Americans under 50 are fine with professional athletes being spokespeople for larger causes.
As the NFL prepares to raise the curtain on a season that promises to be unprecedented in so numerous ways, a new Washington Post survey reveals some striking changes on Americans attitudes about gamers rights to object and speak out on social problems.
A bulk of Americans, 56 percent, now think it is suitable for athletes to kneel throughout the nationwide anthem as a type of protest; while 42 percent disagree. An even larger bulk, 62 percent, thinks professional athletes can express themselves on nationwide and social problems.
