Sports are, quite literally, on a level playing field — or are they? The prominence of nepotism, both at the league-wide and individual levels, taints sports’ reputation as a meritocracy. Athletes like Bronny James have made millions cashing in on their family name en route to a professional career in the NBA, a league where many players come from nothing. Meanwhile, the million-dollar entry fee required to make it in a racing league like Formula 1 necessarily excludes everyone but the extremely wealthy. Who you know gives you access to coaching positions, roster spots and a foot in the door in the world’s most prestigious sports organizations, a process that often leads to whitewashing at the administrative levels. The name sports professionals are given can bear stigma or prestige - it’s up to them to make it their own.

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