“Shut up and dribble.” Laura Ingraham’s self-righteous criticism of Kevin Durant and LeBron James’s decision to publicly express their political views in 2018 embodies the distaste that surfaces when sports and politics collide. Some sports fans view athletes as monoliths whose comments on personal issues and social justice advocacy disrupt their entertainment. For some athletes, the fact that they command the attention of millions imbues them with a responsibility to use their platform to combat racial injustice, gender inequality, injustices against the LGBT community and more. Brands face a difficult choice when their athletes are embroiled in the inevitable controversy: support them wholeheartedly, as Nike did with Colin Kaepernick, or cut ties with them. People may argue that sports are supposed to be a form of escapism free from political c ...