It's time to stop telling athletes to 'stick to sports'

Monday, June 1

What was the moment or reason we fell in love with sports?

This is the story of Rick Kosek, a reader from Atlanta:

I never planned to go to college. Sports gave me the opportunity and I seized it. My grades were not good in high school. ACT score was terrible. Too hyper. I guess they call it ADD now. Never applied to college and was working in a metal fabrication plant welding and burning beams for new construction in summer of 1981. While playing summer baseball after barely completing high school, a competitor's parent asked me where I was going to college. I said I am not going. He said "you have some of the most talent around here. My son is going to a JUCO in Florida so tell your mom to call me." That call led to a JUCO and ultimately to a College World Series title. All heart, buddy. Like sports, give it your all and you can overcome adversity. That's why I like (any) sports every day and that's my story. (Read more of Rick's story here.)

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Jamela J. Pettiford sings during a protest with Former NBA player Stephen Jackson in response to the police killing of George Floyd outside the Hennepin County Government Center on May 29, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jackson, who was friends with George Floyd, spoke at a press conference before joining the protest.

As America burns, 'stick to sports' for athletes should be over

Athletes aren't going to stick to sports anymore. Not just black and brown athletes but more white athletes. They're going to call racism by its name.