{"id":2344315,"date":"2024-09-21T16:15:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-21T20:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/usa-today-attacks-caitlin-clark-and-patrick-mahomes-for-not-being-political-jabs-mj-for-good-measure\/"},"modified":"2024-09-21T16:16:54","modified_gmt":"2024-09-21T20:16:54","slug":"usa-today-attacks-caitlin-clark-and-patrick-mahomes-for-not-being-political-jabs-mj-for-good-measure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/usa-today-attacks-caitlin-clark-and-patrick-mahomes-for-not-being-political-jabs-mj-for-good-measure\/","title":{"rendered":"USA Today Attacks Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes for Not Being Political, Jabs MJ for Good Measure"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fusa-today-attacks-caitlin-clark-and-patrick-mahomes-for-not-being-political-jabs-mj-for-good-measure%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2344315&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The \u2064article critiques Nancy Armour&#8217;s recent piece in USA \u200bToday, \u200bwhich accused athletes Caitlin Clark\u200b and Patrick Mahomes\u200b of lacking political courage for not endorsing \u200bspecific candidates in \u2062an upcoming election. The author \u2062argues that \u2063Armour&#8217;s article is\u2062 overly critical \u200band attempts to shame the athletes for their decision to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hong-kong-legislature-outlaws-movies-that-threaten-national-security\/\" title=\"Hong Kong Legislature Outlaws Movies That Threaten \u2018National Security\u2019\">stay politically neutral<\/a>. The writer defends Clark and Mahomes, suggesting that\u200d their\u200b thoughtful\u2062 responses to political inquiries reflect maturity rather\u2062 than cowardice. Furthermore, the piece highlights a \u2064broader concern \u2062about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-electors-place-their-votes-for-president-trump-and-then-vote-to-condemn-supreme-court-for-throwing-out-texas-lawsuit\/\" title=\"Texas Electors Place Their Votes for President Trump and Then Vote to Condemn Supreme Court for Throwing Out Texas Lawsuit\">media bias<\/a>,\u2064 specifically USA Today&#8217;s perceived liberal stance and its call for\u200c athletes \u200bto\u2063 engage in divisive\u2063 politics. Ultimately,\u2064 the author believes that sports should \u2062remain separate from political strife, echoing sentiments famously articulated by Charles\u200b Barkley.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>You truly don&rsquo;t despise the establishment media enough.<\/p>\n<p>That holds especially true when you&rsquo;re dealing with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/usa-today-forced-issue-fact-check-correction-insulting-gold-star-families-covering-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shamelessly liberal rag<\/a> like USA Today.<\/p>\n<p>The latest reminder about the stark decline of American journalism came on Sept. 13, when USA Today&rsquo;s Nancy Armour penned one of the most inane, pathetic and infantilizing articles imaginable &mdash; the kind you actually have to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/columnist\/nancy-armour\/2024\/09\/13\/patrick-mahomes-caitlin-clark-politics-athletes\/75197546007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">read to believe<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The opening line alone deserves a hearty guffaw.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Not every athlete can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/riley-gaines-points-problem-lebron-james-usas-olympic-flag-bearer-says-disqualified\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LeBron James<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-megan-rapinoe-squirms-confronted-hypocrisy-regarding-trans-athletes-girls-sports\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Megan Rapinoe<\/a>,&rdquo; Armour wrote.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>(And thank God for that. Those two are insufferable enough on their own.)<\/p>\n<p>Armour then took a jab at NBA legend Michael Jordan, who infamously stayed away from politics, even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/barack-obama-laments-michael-jordan-not-supporting-democratic-political-causes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">to the chagrin<\/a> of fellow prominent Chicagoan Barack Obama.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Remember Michael Jordan&rsquo;s comment about Republicans buying shoes?&rdquo; Amrour continued. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a long history of athletes putting as much space as possible between themselves and controversy, and what Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes did this week was no different.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Oh, brother.<\/p>\n<p>For the blissfully unaware, in the week leading up to Armour&rsquo;s hit piece, Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes both declined to offer any sort of statement on who people should vote for in the forthcoming election.<\/p>\n<p>Clark was dragged into this conversation when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/caitlin-clark-backing-kamala-wnba-star-appears-react-taylor-swifts-endorsement-harris-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">she liked a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">social media post<\/a><\/a> from pop czarina Taylor Swift (Clark is a noted fan) touting her support for Vice President Kamala Harris, the topper of the Democratic presidential ticket. Clark has since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/caitlin-clark-responds-liking-kamala-harris-endorsement-sparks-controversy-biggest-thing-can\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">declined<\/a> to actually endorse a candidate.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, Mahomes was dragged into this cultural handwringing by virtue of his wife, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-fires-back-taylor-swifts-kamala-endorsement-actually-like-mrs-mahomes-much-better\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brittany Mahomes<\/a>. She, not unlike Clark, liked a social media post, but in this case, it was a post in support of former President Donald Trump, the top of the Republican presidential ticket. When pressed on the backlash to that, Mahomes &mdash; just like Clark &mdash; effectively said he doesn&rsquo;t care about a person&rsquo;s politics, just how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/patrick-mahomes-lauded-mature-answer-reporters-trump-question-wake-dueling-endorsements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">they treat other people<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These mature, thoughtful responses from Clark and Mahomes, however, don&rsquo;t quite cut the mustard for Armour, who went seeking validation from David Niven, an associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati who teaches a course on sports and politics.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s more than nothing, but it doesn&rsquo;t put them on the front lines of the discussion,&rdquo; Niven said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you look at all this by the LeBron James standard, somebody who could not have been more outspoken &hellip; this looks like a little bit of a retreat,&rdquo; Niven explained. &ldquo;If you look at it by Derek Jeter and Michael Jordan&rsquo;s standards, you&rsquo;d say there&rsquo;s still an awful lot of political activism out there.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>And that&rsquo;s exactly where political activism should stay in sports, &ldquo;out there,&rdquo; because by definition, partisan politics will divide, or &ldquo;part,&rdquo; which is literally in the word.<\/p>\n<p>Why is USA Today trying to encourage pro athletes to drive division?<\/p>\n<p>Oh right, USA Today hates Trump and everything he stands for. Armour is trying so desperately to shame people for maybe-or-maybe-not supporting Trump, it&rsquo;s actually somewhat embarrassing for her.<\/p>\n<p>(And if there&rsquo;s any question about where Armour&rsquo;s politics stand, she dedicated entire paragraphs excoriating Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance in her asinine piece.)<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Elite athletes are born with unique physical gifts and singular dedication,&rdquo; Armour wrote at the end of her idiotic thesis. &ldquo;Moral courage is something they have to find for themselves, and this week was a reminder that not many do.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Oh, bugger off, Nancy. If Clark and Mahomes are missing &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elite-private-school-students-anonymously-accused-school-officials-of-racism-the-school-caved\/\" title=\"Elite Private School Students Anonymously Accused School Officials Of Racism. The School Caved.\">moral courage<\/a>,&rdquo; you&rsquo;re missing &ldquo;moral intellect&rdquo; for jeering athletes who want nothing to do with divisive politics.<\/p>\n<p>As the great Charles Barkley once said, &ldquo;I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>As long as Clark and Mahomes keep playing the way they do, that&rsquo;s what matters most.<\/p>\n<p>Leave the ideological and political equivocations out of sports. It&rsquo;s really that simple, no matter how USA Today screeches about it.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You really don&#8217;t have enough disdain for mainstream media, particularly when it comes to a blatantly liberal publication like USA Today. A recent example of the troubling state of American journalism was highlighted on September 13, when Nancy Armour from USA Today wrote an article that was shockingly foolish and condescending\u2014so much so that you have to read it to believe it. The opening line alone is laughable: &#8220;Not every athlete can be LeBron James or Megan Rapinoe,&#8221; she stated. (And thankfully for us, those two are already quite unbearable.) <\/p>\n<p>Armour then took a swipe at NBA icon Michael Jordan, who famously avoided political involvement, much to the disappointment of fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama. She referenced Jordan&#8217;s remark about Republicans buying shoes and noted how athletes often try to distance themselves from controversy\u2014pointing out that Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes did just that this week.<\/p>\n<p>For those unaware, in the days leading up to Armour&#8217;s critique, both Clark and Mahomes chose not to publicly endorse any candidates for the upcoming election. Clark found herself in this discussion after liking a social media post by pop star Taylor Swift supporting Vice President Kamala Harris; however, she has not officially endorsed anyone. Similarly, Mahomes was pulled into this debate due to his wife Brittany liking a post backing former President Donald Trump. When asked about the backlash they faced for their actions, both athletes expressed indifference towards political affiliations and emphasized treating others well instead.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these mature responses from Clark and Mahomes, Armour sought validation from David Niven\u2014a political science professor at the University of Cincinnati who teaches sports politics\u2014who remarked that while their actions were better than nothing, they didn&#8217;t place them at the forefront of political discourse.<\/p>\n<p>Niven compared their stance unfavorably against outspoken figures like LeBron James but noted there is still significant political activism among athletes if viewed through the lens of figures like Derek Jeter or Michael Jordan. This raises questions about why USA Today seems intent on pushing professional athletes toward divisive politics; it&#8217;s clear they harbor animosity toward Trump and his supporters.<\/p>\n<p>Armour\u2019s desperate attempt to shame individuals for possibly supporting Trump is somewhat embarrassing; her article even included lengthy criticisms directed at him and his running mate J.D. Vance. In closing her misguided argument with claims about elite athletes needing moral courage\u2014which she believes many lack\u2014she misses an important point: if Clark and Mahomes lack &#8220;moral courage,&#8221; then Armour lacks &#8220;moral intellect&#8221; by criticizing those who wish to stay away from divisive issues in sports.<\/p>\n<p>As Charles Barkley famously said: \u201cI am not a role model.\u201d Athletes should focus on excelling in their sport rather than engaging in ideological debates; that&#8217;s what truly matters regardless of how loudly publications like USA Today protest otherwise<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2344316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Non-Political-Athletes.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32078,33295,39196,37014,37645],"class_list":["post-2344315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-caitlin-clark","tag-media-criticism","tag-patrick-mahomes","tag-sports-commentary","tag-usa-today"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Non-Political-Athletes.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2344315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2344315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2344315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2344316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2344315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2344315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2344315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}