By Nunnie Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor
With the national and international political climate drenched in toxicity, sports offers a respite from the trauma and polarization associated with unjustified wars and an American citizenry exacting greater condemnation on a sitting president because of poor debate performance -Senior moment – while overtly giving a pass to a lying, racist, insurrectionist leading 34 times convicted felon. It says a lot more about the voters and their character. Think about it!
The respite offered by sports is scintillatingly compelling: MLB, the all-star game and the home run derby; the much anticipated Paris Olympics and financial implications for world class athletes based on performance results; the impending WNBA all-star game in conjunction with the continued ascension, play and rivalry of rookie stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese; anticipated trades of key players like Jazz Chisholm by the Marlins brass; NBA player signings like Paul George leaving his Los Angeles Clippers/ hometown to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers or Klay Thompson shunning the Golden State Warriors to ink a contract with a Dallas Maverick team, a month removed from the NBA Finals; LeBron James signing an under max contract with the Lakers after Los Angeles drafted his son Bronnie in the second round; the NBA team that had the best draft in ‘24; and the upcoming college and NFL football seasons.
I haven’t even mentioned the NHL champion Florida Panthers, their recent signing of key players and the resulting momentum from winning the Stanley Cup and upcoming draft. Additionally, the soccer craze is only continuing to gain traction in South Florida. In August we HBCU diehards can look forward to the exciting pageantry of the Orange Blossom Classic featuring the Hornets of Alabama State University and the North Carolina A&T Aggies and their marching bands.
My emotional involvement in the results of the November presidential election and the existential threat to democracy if we don’t re-elect President Biden illustrates the importance of sports in our lives. Let’s play ball…..
