Former NFL QB Robert Griffin III Reveals Why He Hates When Sports activities TV Reveals Delve Into Politics
Politics and sports activities media have been mixing increasingly these days. With Stephen A. Smith teasing a possible run as a Democratic candidate and the latest debate round Jackie Robinson lighting up sports activities discuss exhibits, there’s been quite a bit to unpack.
One voice pushing again is former NFL quarterback and present sports activities analyst Robert Griffin III. Not like many within the media house, he’s made it clear he doesn’t suppose sports activities exhibits ought to combine in politics. In a latest dialog with Smith, he defined precisely why.
Robert Griffin III Talks Politics and Sports activities
When the subject of Jackie Robinson got here up, many sports activities journalists — like ESPN’s Mina Kimes and Stephen A. Smith — spoke out strongly. However RG3 fired again with a tweet disagreeing, saying politics shouldn’t be a part of sports activities discuss.
Smith responded by inviting Griffin onto his podcast. Ever the showman, Smith gave Griffin the ground to clarify why he needs a transparent line between the 2 worlds.
“That is why I consider sports activities exhibits on TV needs to be about sports activities, not politics, or made private,” Griffin stated. He tied that view to 1 second that formed his life and profession. “13 years in the past, Stephen A, on ‘First Take,’ there was a dialog that occurred on that present involving Rob Parker.”
Parker, who’s not with ESPN, had questioned Griffin’s id, asking: “Was I a brother? Was I an actual brother? Was I actually down for the trigger?” Griffin stated that second deeply affected each his private {and professional} life.
He added, “Have you learnt what his level was for why he requested that query? It had nothing to do with sports activities. It had nothing to do with my efficiency on the sphere.”
As an alternative, Griffin stated, “It was as a result of my fiancée was white. It was as a result of he thought I used to be a Republican. He made ‘First Take’ in that second a political discussion board for private assaults and political conversations. Stephen A, that single dialog has adopted me for 13 years of my skilled profession, as an athlete and in addition within the media.”
Griffin believes that second opened a door to criticism he had by no means confronted earlier than. “You’ll be able to’t discover a single occasion of somebody questioning my Blackness earlier than that dialog occurred on ‘First Take.’”
Whereas he acknowledged that sports activities and politics will at all times intersect, that second made him understand there should be limits.
“Sports activities and politics at all times intertwine. What you stated about Jackie Robinson wasn’t making the present political. That’s what you’re supposed to speak about. However then, eradicating it and turning it right into a presidential marketing campaign, to debate these guys or this and that.
“To me, that was emblematic or consultant of what I went by means of with Rob Parker. That stuff sticks.”
Smith has stated he’s not severely contemplating a political run, however his latest feedback have gotten individuals speaking.
