Athletes who take the time to give political statements either make us proud or crash and burn. There is usually no middle ground. Either they have a cause which they are passionate about, or they remind us why they get paid to play, not to talk.

For instance, Muhammad Ali put his title on the line (and even got it stripped) because he refused to go to war for a country that wouldn’t take a stand for him or other people of color domestically.

“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs?”

On the other hand, His Airness Michael Jordan crashed and burned when choosing to remain apolitical in the pursuit of profit, reportedly making the following comment.

“Republicans buy sneakers, too.”

Today’s athletes are often faced with the same dilemma of whether to take a stand on a cause or keep quiet. Sometimes, the latter choice isn’t a bad idea at all.

Baltimore Orioles hitman Luke Scott sat down for an interview recently and went after the President in that all-too-familiar Tea Party manner.

When asked about President Obama, Scott had plenty to say. So much, in fact, that you may forget he’s an athlete and think he’s some type of extreme right-wing talking head.

“Obama…hmm…Obama does not represent America. Nor does he represent anything what our forefathers stood for. This country is basically built on an attitude. It’s a way of life. It’s not because you’re born here. It’s not that you’re supposed to take from those who have and give to those who haven’t. That kills a country. It killed Russia.”

Please note the fact that Scott took a pause to think, and the socialism/communism argument was still the best he could do. This one gets thrown around a great deal because, evidently, we no longer have an obligation to those at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.

“Obama, he doesn’t represent that. He represents, ‘Hey, everyone. Give me votes and I’ll give you stuff.’ And there’s even people on TV who [are asked], ‘Hey, who you voting for?’”

“I’m voting for Obama.”

“Why?”

“So I can get more free stuff.”

I’ve never seen these people on TV. Just sayin’. If you think that’s as bad as it gets, guess again.

“He was not born here…That’s my belief. I was born here. If someone accuses me of not being born here, I can—within 10 minutes—to my filing cabinet and I can pick up my real birth certificate and I can go, “See? Look! Here it is. Here it is.” The man has dodged everything. He dodges questions, he doesn’t answer anything. And why? Because he’s hiding something.”

President Obama has a birth certificate from Hawaii, which the editor was smart enough to post an image of underneath the interview (most likely because there are enough people who still believe that the president is a fraud).

To the athletes of the world, please gather actual facts before making public comments about people or issues. Not doing so only reinforces the dumb-jock stereotype.

On a lighter note, when Scott finally puts away his bat, he may have a lucrative career as a Fox News broadcaster.

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