Why athletes shouldn’t endorse candidates

By Tiger Bjornlund

Graphic by Charlotte Alden
Graphic by Charlotte Alden

Note: The author of this post has since issued an updated article, reversing his opinion: “I was wrong: athletes should have political opinions.”

Last week, a major endorsement in the 2016 presidential campaign was announced with a chance to actually affect the outcome of the election—it wasn’t by a major newspaper, international figure or even a politician. The endorsement came from Cleveland Cavaliers star Lebron James, who declared his support for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Athletes like James have almost no qualifications to legitimize their endorsements. But, the endorsements can have a real impact. They are highly publicized and widely talked about and involve some of the most recognizable figures in the U.S.

James is not alone—fellow NBA players Stephen Curry and Carmelo Anthony also endorsed Clinton, while other athletes, such as baseball player Jonathan Papelbon and golf legend Jack Nicklaus, have endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Of course, athletes have the same first amendment rights as anyone else: they are allowed to say what they wish and talk about politics if they want to. But their fame comes with responsibility. Using this platform to influence the direction of the country without well-defined reasoning is irresponsible.

It’s important to note that James’s endorsement could significantly affect the outcome of this election. NBC News called him the most influential man in Ohio. Given Ohio’s crucial role as a battleground state in the upcoming election and the fact that it is currently polling at or near even between the two candidates, James’s popularity may actually be a factor that helps swing it in Clinton’s direction.

Many athletes’ endorsements are short and not substantive. They often come in interviews and rarely delve into any facts or reasoning for their support. Elections shouldn’t be affected by a flippant comment on which candidate an athlete happens to like. They should be decided on policy and substance. To his credit, James did make an attempt to provide a reasoned endorsement in the form of an op-ed for Business Insider, but even his was largely superficial. It mostly resorted to sweeping statements on James’s personal experience with Clinton and current president Barack Obama, rather than specific detail on the merits of her policy.

Endorsements should be reserved for a qualified expert, compile a detailed review of policy and reach a conclusion on which candidate’s policies will be better for the country. Most athletes are not qualified political experts; they are paid to play sports, not provide opinions on presidential elections.

Athletes are entertainers, and they don’t have a role being political commentators. Let’s keep it that way.