Ricky L. Jones

Opinion contributor

Dear football and basketball lovers deeply invested in hate born of rivalries: Please check your fandom at the door. You can reclaim it at the end of this event. Thank you.

One of the most intriguing political scenarios in the offing is the possibility of Kentucky Sports Radio founder and media personality Matt Jones challenging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his seat in 2020.

For those outside of Kentucky who know little to nothing about Jones, the prospect of him running for office may come across as another example of America’s continued submersion into a dangerous obsession with politically immature local and national celebrities. That would be a mistake.

Jones is not an empty nincompoop. He is actually a Duke University trained lawyer who has expertise far beyond sports. He has engaged in political commentary and action for quite some time. He also has a concomitantly beautiful and befuddling agape love for Kentucky.

Jones, often frustratingly, pugnaciously defends the state’s citizens, who he sees as overwhelmingly overlooked and parodied, to a fault. Yes, he loves them! The question is, will they love him back if he challenges McConnell?

In such a political scenario, despite being a native son, Jones would become a potential homewrecker asking Kentuckians to walk away from a long-standing marriage to the Alabama-born senator.

More:Matt Jones yanked from TV show amid US Senate speculation

Like it or not, Kentuckians love McConnell and have repeatedly returned him to the Senate since 1985. That’s a long time. At this point, in many ways, Mitch is Kentucky and Kentucky is Mitch. Unfortunately for Jones and everyone else who has tried to take out the Republican “Night King,” change is hard.

Sometimes, people fiercely cling to bad habits, poor friends, unhealthy mates and even bacteria-infested old pillows, not because they’re good for them, but simply because they’re familiar. The same is true of politicians, and McConnell is certainly a known commodity to Kentuckians.

If he chooses to enter the fray, Jones will have problems before he ever gets to McConnell. He will also have to deal with Kentucky Democrats and the national party. Be clear, Jones is a liberal, but not of the radical left or revolutionary sort that are causing Democrats so much current angst. For the most part, his views are well within the boundaries of the mainstream. But, that may not be sufficient.

Unlike Kentucky Democratic darling Amy McGrath, Jones actually believes in something. He’s guided by a personal North Star that doesn’t shift depending on polls or pundits.

McGrath, on the other hand, has shown that she is another example of a Democrat shackled to scripts and talking points, but gets lost when forced to improvise and speak to actual personal beliefs and motivations. The truth is, malleable people like her seem to be willing to say anything and are guided by little more than the desire to obtain or retain office. That is a sad but true reality.

Related:Would McGrath have voted for Kavanaugh? Depends on when you ask her

Also:Matt Jones says McGrath’s interview with Samantha Bee mocks Kentuckians

Such shortcomings don’t seem to matter to many in the Democratic establishment who have often maddeningly chosen to run unimaginative candidates they think have a better chance of winning because they are “Republican-lite” and “safe.”

Operatives of their ilk would still prefer a milquetoast McGrath to a Jones who might not be unfailingly wedded to flaccid party lines on certain issues and practices. He’s not a loose cannon, but he is just enough of an outsider that some may see him as dangerous. Win or lose, dealing with such people in his own party would be a challenge.

To be sure, a Jones run (if he refused to be dumbed-down by uninspiring and ineffectual Democratic handlers) would be a breath of fresh air. It would bring honesty, expand the socio-political conversation and present interesting possibilities in a pushback against the languishing Democratic party as well as McConnell and the Republicans. For those reasons and more, he should throw his hat into the ring.

On the other hand, Jones has a very good and growing personal and professional life. He has impacted Kentucky as a political commentator and philanthropist and could continue to do so much more.

Should he give all that up to enter the insane life of a politician in a system so tainted that it’s hard for a truly good person to do any good at all?

Should he even try to change the minds of many people in his beloved state who may break his heart because, for good or ill, they deeply love Mitch McConnell? Those things considered, Jones should continue living his best life and probably leave that madness alone.

The ultimate decision is, and should only be, up to Jones. It’ll be interesting to see what happens.

Please don’t forget to retrieve your fandom as you exit.

Ricky L. Jones is chair of Pan-African Studies at the University of Louisville. His next book, co-authored with Marc Murphy, is titled, “Colin, Confederates and Con-Artists: The American Tragedy of Erasing History.” His column appears bi-weekly in the Courier Journal. Visit him at www.rickyljones.com.