One of the best things about sports is that politics rarely gets involved -- at least in terms of knowing and reporting the political views of the athletes you root for and we cover.
I mean, that's their business. I won't share my political views with them and I don't particularly care whether Eddy Curry leans to the right or the left when he's reaching into the fridge for a late-night snack.
But since Gilbert Arenas and Baron Davis are having a little political debate in their blogs, it's news. Not only is it news, I have to admit, it's interesting.
Last month, Arenas announced in his blog why he's voting Republican. Apparently, he's a fiscal conservative, meaning that he has no desire for the federal government to get any more of the $117 million contract he signed this summer than it currently is scheduled to reap.
"Since I’ve been in the NBA I’ve been in the upper class, so I’ve been a Republican," Gil wrote. "If you have any type of money, you’re a Republican, period. So, it’s hard because you see a better looking president in Obama – I don’t even want to say because he’s black, but he just looks the part – and then you have McCain who is Republican and I’m like, man. I know Obama is going to raise taxes on the upper class from 20-60 percent, that’s what I’m looking at."
Davis went on a political rant in his own blog, praising Obama for his convention speech last week. And just to let Arenas know the origin of at least one of his page views, Baron made reference to Gil's blog: "I know he said he's gonna raise the taxes on the top income bracket, Gil, but if he uses that money to improve our schools then you won't have to worry about some kids trying to sell pictures of your pool online cause they couldn't get a better job.) LOL."
Touche. I'm still not sure that I want to know the political leanings of NBA players, but I have no problem if they want to throw it out there. And I agree with Ray Ratto (of the San Francisco Chronicle and CBSSports.com) that the musings of Zero and Dizzle are more interesting than 90 percent of the political commentary we are watching on the major networks.
Comments (1)
20-60 %?
Gil needs to do his research! From what I've read, Obama wants to increase the taxes of the "rich" to where it was in the Clinton years which wasn't 60%...from where they are now.
With his type of money and where he came from its crazy to hear that all Gil cares about in this election is money...
But then again he shows it on the court...and we wonder why his team plays better without him...