When football and politics collide

September 8, 2007

Oddly enough, this was one of the more talked-about news items of the day yesterday among conservative bloggers.

Are you still fans of Matt Hasselbeck and Mack Strong after they visited President Bush last week in Bellevue? Or have their political leanings turned you against them?

The Seahawks quarterback and fullback gave the 43rd president a No. 43 jersey with his name on it at a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser for Rep. Dave Reichert at the Hyatt.

At the time, Hasselbeck called it a thrill and said it was a win-win, this opportunity to meet the president and get out of a team meeting. But as soon as he saw the picture of the two players with Bush, Gary Wright, the team’s vice president of administration, said he was concerned about negative reaction.

Maybe in really red Republican states, it would not have been a big deal. But Washington is a blue state, and deep, deep Democratic blue in King County. So objections were raised, and Hasselbeck heard them and read them. He got nasty voice mails, e-mails and text messages.

Now, sports teams routinely meet with presidents at the White House after a championship, but this was a little different. Two Seahawks players attended a GOP fundraiser, where they decided, on their own, to honor the president.

Apparently, Bush isn’t particularly popular in Seattle, where fans told Hasselbeck and Strong how offended they were with the gesture towards Bush. Then, conservative bloggers argued yesterday how offended they were by Seahawks’ fans.

Apparently, the right’s argument seems to be that entertainers like football players should be able to express political preferences without hearing vitriolic reactions from fans. It’s a free country; going to a GOP fundraiser and applauding the president isn’t a crime. Frankly, I don’t disagree.

But I am curious about those making the argument. If football players should be able to express their support for Bush, should the Dixie Chicks be able to express criticism of Bush? If Democrats in Seattle who are bothered by Hasselbeck and Strong are crazy, are conservatives who crushed the Dixie Chicks’ CDs with steamrollers expressing mature political opposition?

Just asking.

It’s ok to make political statements as long as they favor Republicans. Anybody else, it’s treason. Are we clear on that now? Good.

/snark

  • Sports is showbiz. While Hasselbeck and Strong certainly are free to express their support for Bush their fans certainly are free to express their displeasure.

    I’m just wondering how, in today’s NFL, the two were allowed to play without helmets for what must have been many quarters.

  • Hasselbeck sucks. Just a washed-up quarterback who should retire next season. Mack Strong is weak!

  • That’s nice, Steve. But what’s even more curious, is exactly how many people have Matt Hasselbeck’s cell phone number? Isn’t this just a tempest in a teacup here?

  • I was thinking recently about arguing with other kids when you’re a kid. It’s almost as if you don’t have much capability for reason yet, and can’t “run that program” very long- what basically happens is you’re both sure you’re right, and you just get angrier and angrier the more and more the other kid says, and are none the more convinced that’s he’s right and you’re wrong.

    Hardcore conservatives are like that.

  • They have as much a right to express their political opinions as you or I do. I may not agree with their views, but I’ll defend their right to say them.

  • When I was a kid I enjoyed professional sports as much as anybody. A red-letter day during my eight-year, college-era stint in San Francisco — most it living in the Haight — was when my one0time boss, Mayor George Christopher (a good Republican, the unfortunately an extinct species), brought the NY Giants to San Francisco. When I was in grad school, in Eugene OR, it was our delight to go to the only outdoor beer bar in the state: Eugene Emeralds baseball games. For years here, until the city fathers became stingy causing the team of move on, we used to enjoy summer evenings watching the Bellingham (WA) Mariners (the “baby M’s” short-season A).

    I loved the original Seattle Seahawks (Zorn, Largent, Herrera and company) as, under ownership of the Nordstrom family and play-direction of Jack Patera, they bamboozled much better teams in the ugly old Kingdome. And I still have a five-album collection of every Seattle Mariners baseball card ever printed, from their beginning in 1977 until the strike of 1994. Somehow, since then, baseball cards (like postage stamps) have become yet another marketing scam.

    Modern sports and sports figures just leave me cold. They’re all gazillionaires, more interested in contracts and investment than fans. I know: their “owners” are hyper-gazillionaires, but knowing that doesn’t make me like the players any more. Virtually all them are GOP, with the personality traits to match. Screw ’em.

    Every time I see a professional athlete these days I recall my resentment, back in grammar school, over the way jocks get favored in our society and its school systems. Wasn’t it William James who regarded sports as the preferred “moral equivalent of war”? I’m sorry, but based on today’s athletes I’d say war has more morals to it. Maybe I don’t know enough soldiers.

  • Well, normally I wouldn’t give a damn who athletes support, but when the support is for a liberal, there always told to keep your opinions to yourself, blah blah….It’s ok for celebrites who are conservative to speak up, but if your’re a liberal, you better shut up…Big time double standard there, to say the least…

    Hasselback is not a very good QB, Shaun Alexander carries the entire offense on that team…Jeff Garcia is a way more effective QB than MH….Maybe if Hassdelback spent more time on a playbook, he might actually do something productive in what has beena very average NFL career….

  • If any of you watch “The View,” perhaps you can let us know what Hasselbeck’s wife Elizabeth (or is it Elisabeth with an S?) has to say about all this on Monday. She’s “The View’s” token wingnut.

    Great point about the Dixie Chicks, CB.

  • Football and politics? Two of my favorite things. Boomer Sooner!

    Of course you’re right CB, they can support whomever they wish.

  • It is an overstatement to call King County deep, deep blue. On the eastside (where Bellevue is) the voters are more red than blue. After all these are the people that voted for Dave Reichert. It is not surprising that Hasselbeck would support Bush. What is a relief is the vigorous response to the gesture. It is good to see people seeing Bush for the fraud that he is.

  • Check this out this column, and be sure to check out the comments in Sound Off.

    Don’t like how unpopular Bush is? Live with it

    It should hurt when you support something that’s wrecking the country.

  • Ed Stephan wrote:

    Every time I see a professional athlete these days I recall my resentment, back in grammar school, over the way jocks get favored in our society and its school systems. Wasn’t it William James who regarded sports as the preferred “moral equivalent of war”? I’m sorry, but based on today’s athletes I’d say war has more morals to it. Maybe I don’t know enough soldiers.

    I think sports really do a lot of good socialization for kids. It can probably be really destructive if it’s a poor environment- if you have a team with a lot of assholes on it, or a poor coach- I’m thinking of a hazing environment, or a Bobby Knight coach, but without redeeming qualities. But, when I recall my childhood, my happiest periods were when I was involved in extracurricular sports or karate, and probably my healthiest friendships were when I played pick-up games of basketball, football or baseball almost every afternoon after school with a bunch of friends during a 2-3 year stint during junior high. I had various positive male role models throughout my youth, besides my dad- I think if you have a good coach, he can teach the kids through sports a few life lessons they may not get from their dad, since not everyone can know everything, of course.

    That said, I think the jock culture can be destructive and cause problems in a lot of ways. It kind of institutionalizes acting and thinking a certain way that creates disrespect for people in society that have a lot to contribute. Because of this socialization, for a lot of athletes, athleticism becomes part of the attitude of assuming your right and not thinking about what other people have to say.

  • Point well taken CB.
    There’s only one flaw in the thinking leading up to your conclusion:

    The Republican mind isn’t interested in logical consistency.
    Never has been. Never will be.
    The Republican mind is all about ends via any means…
    Lie. Steal. Spin.
    Play footsie in the bathroom.
    Rail against gays in the cloakroom.
    Just win baby.
    Just win.

    These are the underpinnings of the Republican mind.
    Sure… pointing out there logical foibles is fun, but…
    It ain’t going to stop their Mighty Wurlitzer.

    I once put it this way:

    You can lead a Republican to the cool waters of reason…
    But you cannot make him drink.

    Republicans are beasts–not of the syllogism–but of the club.

    They have no problem beating on fans for expressing themselves, while extolling the two players for expressing themselves.
    No problem whatsoever!
    For Republicans: Life is a club.

    Understand this about them.
    It is a fundamental truth.
    And be prepared for 2008.

  • I’m with Dee, football and politics are all I’m about.

    Matt, buddy, look at the smashing success Dennis Miller has had since he became a GOP apologist.

    On the other hand, after a bit of a dip in popularity, the Dixie Chicks have bounced back rather successfully.

    Speaking of football, Huskers just pulled a W out against Wake Forest.
    Better wake up before USC comes to Lincoln, guys.

    Good win today, Dee Loralei. Can’t wait for that rematch in San Antonio;)

    Go Big Red.

  • Sure, football players can make whatever political statements they want, just like the rest of us.

    The corrollary to that, however, is that we can make statements about the football players and who they support. If they can’t take the heat, they should consider that when they decide to exercise their speech rights.

    It is a little different to give a jersey; the teams own the intellectual property and the goodwill that goes with it – it looks like the team officially supports Bush, which Matt’s bosses have every right to be upset about.

    But I’m overthinking it. Steve’s basic point – yet more IOKIYAR – is oh so accurate. hypocrits, all.

  • All Americans have the right to support any GOP or Democratic politician and to be criticized for that support.

    Rightwingnuts overreacted to the Dixie Chicks. If you watch “Shut Up and Sing,” Natalie was giggling when she said she was ashamed that Bush was from Texas. That’s not treason, and I love the Dixie Chicks!

  • What about that ‘incident’ when Bush II invaded Iraq and the stars of Bull Durham, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, who were vocally critical of the Bush War, were UN-Invited to the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown by the Baseball powers that were at the time.

    I don’t recall hearing any conservative criticism of that ‘incident’.

    Conservatives stifle dissent—screw ’em and welcome to the jungle.

  • So these two guys decided to blow off a team meeting to hand Bush a jersey. Last time I checked, team meetings were not “an option” for professional football players—they’re part of the job requirements. If “Hassel-Hack” and his snail-back pet can’t do their jobs, and then decides to not even show up for part of the job, then maybe they needs a good, old-fashioned slapdown by team management. Park their butts on the bench for a home game—and don’t even let them suit up. Make them sit there, in front of the fans, in their own off-work clothes. If they decides to “protest” by walking out, then let’s call it “job abandonment” and stop giving them those obscene paychecks….

  • Of course celebrities have the right to do the right thing. The way the fuckwits have gone after Jane Fonda for 37 years, the way they go after Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, or any other celebrity who “leans left” is merely proof that these celebrities have failed to is merely proof that “the right thing” is correctly spelled “the Right thing.”

    God, how I wish my great-great-grandfathers had ethnically cleansed that swamp back when we had the chance.

  • What is with these Hasselbecks?

    Ten to fifteen years ago, Hasselbeck’s public political support would not have bothered me, but now with the current political climate, I feel I must say something. Because, if I was famous and actively supported a Democrat, I would be ridiculed by the Neo-con’s media echo-chamber (tv, radio, newspapers, magazines…) and I and my family would probably receive scare threats.

    Since Hasselbeck has chosen to support an alleged homicidal maniac, I have chosen not to support the Seahawks. I will keep my memorabilia in hopes that he will be benched or better yet traded.

    Go ‘9ers (assuming that Smith can keep his mouth shut).

  • Ok, let’s compare the Dixie Chicks with Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck was at a Republican fund raiser (nothing wrong with that is there?) and presented the President of the United States with a Seahawk jersey (so far are you with me on this? There is nothing wrong with that is there? ) One can only conclude that Hasselbeck is simply guilty of picking the wrong President. But then there is really nothing wrong with that either. After all we do have a two party system don’t we?

    So how does this compare to what the Dixie Chicks did. There is no comparison. Your attempt to compare the two incidents is not even close. The Dixie Chicks, in a public forum condemned our President while on foreign soil. Big, huge mistake. So yes, the conservatives who crushed the Dixie Chicks’ CDs with steamrollers were expressing mature political opposition.

    Kind Regards,

    Bill

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  • The problem is Hasselbeck unlike the Dixie chicks are supported like in most NFL cities by our tax dollars ( Millions) not just ticket sales, they do in effect represent the city they play in.
    I dont care who any “dumb jock” supports however for those of us who do pay attention to current events, it was a major issue.
    As far as I am concerned matt can move to a red state, with simple folks who thnk like he does.

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