Uncle Si
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chris98251":374sqf8o said:Uncle Si":374sqf8o said:I think you misunderstand and greatly underestimate how influential these people are becoming in a social, cultural, economic, and even political way.
I very much understand history. I also understand Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens place in it. They didn't change the world. Neither were firsts. Robinson was not the first professional black athlete. He broke American baseball's color barrier. Amazing fortitude. But not nearly the first person to break a sports color line. Jesse Owens wasn't even the first American black athlete to win gold in track and field. He did it in front of h!tler though.
These are incredible achievements that will stand on their own as historic.
But again, if we are going to talk history, let's really do that.
Back to the present, the influence, yes influence, an athlete like Ronaldo has is not measured only in popularity.
He didn't win A gold he won 4 in that Olympic, dominance and unprecedented at that time.
Right.. he was a great athlete. And he showed up a despotic leader at a time of heightened tensions in Europe.
He was not the first though. His influence was in that moment. But black athletes were already a part of the Olympic landscape.
Again, tremendous athlete and his standing up to racism was significant. That's not being argued here.
And soccer not f ir everyone. I get thst. And I'd never argue that Ronaldo was a more important athlete than an Ali, Robinson, Owens. Certainly not anywhere near as brave.
His influence represents the way athletes influence society today.