Let’s start at the beginning. LeBron James made a few politically charged comments towards President Trump, which he’s been known to do, in an appearance for UNINTERRUPTED; saying Trump “really doesn’t give a f#@$ about the people.”

Laura Ingraham, a national radio host and Fox News contributor, followed up to James’ comments with her own take on “rich, spoiled pro athletes” speaking up on Trump.

First thing that jumps out to me is Ingraham’s blatant attempt to character assassinate LeBron. It’s a common debate tactic. Don’t have a valid point to make? Better ensure at least no one will listen to your opponent. She calls him a “jock” that shouldn’t be speaking out about politics because he didn’t go to college and recommends he “shut up and dribble”.

First of all, LeBron didn’t go to college because he was preoccupied collecting $4 million in his rookie contract with the Cavaliers and inking a $90 million contract with Nike. Oh yeah, and becoming the best basketball player on the planet. Give any half intelligent human being the option of that kind of money or a college degree; you tell me what they’re going to take.

Along with making an absurd amount of money and being the best basketball player on the planet, LeBron is a well known philanthropist. The LeBron James Family Foundation has a specific mission of helping educate kids in underprivileged areas of Akron, OH. In 2016, The LeBron James Family Foundation partnered with the University of Akron to provide scholarships for more than 1,000 kids, which totaled upward of $41 million. The LJFF has plans of supporting potentially 2,000 full scholarships starting in 2021. James has also donated more than $2.5 million dollars to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and another $2.5 million to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (which included an exhibit of follow athlete and social commentator Muhammad Ali). When it’s all said and done, James provides funding to six different charities.

Along with being incredibly charitable, LeBron has managed his personal life in the spot light. James married his high school girlfriend in 2013. They have three children together and by all accounts have a great relationship. All of this despite James growing up in a single parent family with no male role model in the projects of Akron, OH.

And yes, LeBron James plays basketball. But, what clout does that hold on his political opinions? We have always had athletes with strong social and political identities. The aforementioned Muhammad Ali for one. Ali took a strong stance against the Vietnam War…he was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Post 9/11, Pat Tillman made the decision to quit his career as a safety in the National Football League and enlist in the Army, despite being a critic of President Bush as well as the war efforts. Tillman was tragically killed during his service, but his legacy lives on through the Pat Tillman Foundation, which has raised more than $15 million in academic support for servicemen and women. Perhaps, that “jock” should have just stuck to his silly football game, instead of thinking too much about politics.

So, please explain to me how LeBron is a “spoiled” athlete. Do you think that the thousands of impoverished children he has affected would share in your opinion that James should “stick to dribbling”? Try to make a rational explanation that your political opinion means more than James’ because you have more pieces of paper.

We have an issue in this country with only wanting to hear opinions that support our own (a.k.a “confirmation bias:”). We want our sports to stay out of politics, unless it agrees with us. Fox News personifies this. They don’t want LeBron talking about politics, but let’s not forgot them inviting former baseball player and Republican Curt Schilling on for some political commentary.

And again….

Annnnddd again…..

And one more time!

Trying to paint LeBron as a spoiled, uneducated athlete doesn’t work for the millions of us that know James’ off court character. Unfortunately, those are probably not the same people that are watching Fox News.

photos courtesy of Hollywood Life.