What do LeBron James and Chris Gayle have in common?
A lot.
They are both Africans, both big, strong athletes who are at the pinnacle of their respective sports disciplines, basketball and cricket, and both, it seems attract controversy like only superstar athletes can.
Both James and Gayle are among the highest paid athletes in their respective sports, James, as an NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Gayle, as a roving T20 player for hire who is by far and away the best T20 player in the World.
Both James and Gayle have been in the news recently albeit for different reasons.
In the case of James, he has been criticized for not taking a stand in the Tamir Rice case.
The 12–year-old Rice was shot and killed November 22 last year by a police officer following a report that a male individual was sitting on a swing in a Park pointing a gun at people, according to reports.
Rice’s gun, it was later discovered, was not a real firearm.
James, probably because of his standing in the Cleveland community, was requested to come out in support of Rice.
He declined, stating that he was not in possession of all the facts of the incident, a stand for which he was criticized by Rice’s mom, Samaria.
“I think it’s quite sad that LeBron hasn’t spoken about my son,” she said.
“I’m not asking him to sit out a game. I know his kids got to eat too, but you can at least put on a shirt or something. Some of the other athletes, some of them have said something, some of them haven’t. I think they should just make a statement. I’m not asking nobody to quit their job or anything, but make a statement for us Black people out here.”
If anything, James might have brought this upon himself for he has, in the past, spoken or shown support for similar causes.
He wore a hooded sweatshirt to show solidarity in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and wore an `I can’t breathe’ T shirt in December 2014, in
obvious protest at the killing of African American Eric Gardner.
Samaria’s Rice’s comments make it clear that the opinions of superstar athletes are courted and valued simply because of the tremendous weight they carry in today’s society where Facebook and Twitter posts of star athletes are followed by thousands of their fans.
Athletes such as James, though, are cognizant of their role-model status and are very careful in expressing opinions simply because of the tremendous polarizing effects that occur as a result.
Which brings me to Gayle.
Although he might have a lot in common with James (minus James’ incredible wealth) one is not sure that Gayle understands (a) that he is a role model and that (b) his every action will be dissected and commented upon.
He showed that he was full of himself (and probably a bit naïve) in his recent comments to Chanel 10 reporter Mel McLaughlin.
Gayle, who was being interviewed by McLaughlin following his Melbourne Renegades defeat of Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash league in Australia told Mc Laughlin…..”Hopefully we can win this game and we can have a drink after,” before adding “don’t blush, baby.”
Of course when you are a superstar athlete, you are aware of your importance simply because of the demand for your services.
Gayle knows that because of his exploits with a cricket bat, he is in great demand to play T20 leagues simply because he is a crowd pleaser and puller.
He knows he can get and demands top dollars to participate in leagues such as the IPL, Big Bash and others.
He also knows that there are a lot of female cricket fans who might wish to meet him for various reasons. Unfortunately McLaughlin was not one of them.
She was a reporter, a professional, doing her job and as such Gayle’s comments were undoubtedly out of place.
Gayle seems to be unaware that his every action, his every word, his every move is being scrutinized simply because of who he is and though there will be fans who support him through thick and thin, there will also be fans who will not.
What the McLaughlin issue will bring home forcibly to him given the strength of the reaction in some quarters, is that he should be extremely careful in his future actions not only because he is a role model and his actions will undoubtedly influence some young athlete who desperately wants to emulate him, but also because of the tremendous fallout that will occur if he doesn’t.
Here in Guyana, associations also need to ensure that they drum home the need for their athletes and coaches to conduct themselves as role models.
This is not to say that there will not be the usual dressing room ribbing or `tantalise’ but there must be boundaries which must be respected.
Insults, sexual or other comments to females which border on harrassment, though common in and around sports teams, and at competitions and such like, should be abolished forthwith and team management must be able to take control of such situations.
Far too often managers are powerless or sometimes reluctant to deal with insubordination and such like especially if a superstar player is involved.
Curfews for players must be rigidly enforced. In the past, players have been known to leave their rooms through various schemes such as jumping through windows after the manager would have gone to sleep and while one recognizes that young athletes will want to enjoy themselves when on tours, they must not overdo it.
Going forward, it behoves sports associations to let their managers, coaches and athletes be aware of the tremendous responsibility vested in them to not only be good ambassadors but also good role models for those who aspire to emulate them.
Or the associations might be forced to deal with more than “Don’t blush, baby,” comments.
