Maryland politician and minister Emmett C. Burns Jr., in a letter composed on House of Delegates stationary, demanded that the owner of the Baltimore Ravens, Steve Bisciotti, censure linebacker, Brendon Ayanbadejo for deigning to opine on the events of the day.

"I am requesting that you take the necessary action ... to inhibit such expressions from your employee,"
the good Delegate insisted,
"I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing."
That moved Vikings punter, Chris Kluwe to pen a scathing, invective-ridden and manifestly articulate defense of not only Ayanbadejo and same sex marriage; but also a reasoned defense of due process, equal protection and the simple humanity of expressing humanity.

But hey, I played the game a little and punters like a good cotes du rhone, slinky women and expensive art, so you'd expect a punter to argue for equal protection. It's in their DNA.

Now I realize the good Delegate is also a minister of some duration of a Black Church; but bigotry is not mitigated by the wearing of the cloth; bigotry is mitigated by not being a fucking bigot.

So there, that's out there and we can address what I really wanted to address; that jocks should shut up and bleed for the sick entertainment of the paying customer.

Because I can think of not only football players "... who ha(ve) done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing.... "

... but other athletes as well.

I remember someone who started the NFL, he wasn't shy about expressing the poverty and dire plight of his "home town,"

Jim Thorpe said a hell of a lot more than, "Thanks, King,"
And this guy didn't and still doesn't take shit from anyone,
Jim Brown didn't just give you a leg and took it away, he pile-drove you into the ground, on and off the field.
Even in Texas, this guy was not one to take it from anyone.
Bob Hayes returned with the Gold Medal and World Record for the 100 meters; and he never shut up about being denied a seat at a cafe counter while growing up.
I loved this guy. Straight arrow, renaissance man and knew Noam Chomsky,
We know more now about Tillman because of his diary published after he was murdered in Afghanistan. But no one would accuse him of being shy about his convictions.
And what say ye about these "shrinking violets?"
Arthur Ashe fought for civil rights for blacks and other minorities; and then later, sadly, for better awareness of AIDS treatment.
Evonne Goolagong was an early practitioner of the serve and volley, but her struggle for indigenous people's rights was an overhead smash.
Harry Edwards never spoke out? Really?
Tommy Smith and John Carlos both suffered for their outspokenness, but Avery Brundage was an unmitigated bigot; so the die was set.
Willie Mays has always made his opinions well known.
Roberto Clemente died for his convictions. Nothing quiet about that.
The MSM only saddled Bill Lee with the moniker of "Spaceman," because he threatened their gin-soaked deadlines.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar is not flipping off the opposition because they said "freakin' rigger."
Bill Walton was the master of the outlet pass to start the fast break...
... but Bill Walton was also a leader protesting the Viet Nam War.
Muhammad Ali knocked out Chuck Wepner in short order; but even in declining health, Ali continues to be a voice for Human Rights and Individual Liberty world wide.