America’s national basketball coach Steve Kerr doesn’t keep his political opinions to himself. The former NBA champion has a clear favorite in the presidential election campaign. (dpa / picture alliance / Ron Sachs)
It is an enthusiastic reception for Steve Kerr at the Democratic Party Convention in mid-August: The former basketball star of the Chicago Bulls won gold at the Olympic Games in Paris as coach of the US national team just a few days before. Now he stands on the same stage where Kamala Harris will later be officially nominated as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate.
“The joy, compassion and commitment that we saw from athletes for our country during the Olympic Games is exactly what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz represent. And that is exactly what our country needs: real leadership. Not the kind of leaders who try to divide us and turn us against each other, but the kind who look for a common denominator.”
Athletes are actively campaigning for Harris
Steve Kerr is an avowed supporter of Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz. In recent years he has spoken out openly against grievances in the country and taken a clear political stand; now he is going one step further:
Together with nine other former and active athletes, he is at the forefront of the “Athletes for Harris” campaign. A campaign that specifically advertises: for the Democratic Party and for Kamala Harris as President.
“I think this is the first time in recent history that you’ve seen this kind of counterattack from left-wing politics,” says sociologist Douglas Hartmann, who has studied activism in American sports for many years.
“For me, the most important thing about it is that this is a clear change within the Democratic Party to be more connected to sports and especially American football.”
Campaign aims to attract young, male sports fans
Kamala Harris’ campaign team emphasizes in its press release: The “Athletes for Harris” campaign primarily aims to win the votes of young, male sports fans. A group of voters that has so far clearly voted for Trump in surveys. The campaign also includes 15 former top stars from the American football league in the USA, the NFL.
“This is a conscious strategy, especially with a view to the Midwest, the states where football is very popular,” explains Doug Hartmann.
“But I also think Democrats are trying to redefine masculinity and claim it for themselves. A masculinity that is not loud, pushy and misogynistic, but rather caring and attentive, a masculinity that is intended to reflect more of the average, everyday man. And that’s what Tim Walz stands for as Vice President: He’s a football coach, he’s a hunter, he owns guns, he was in the military. These are usually all characteristics that conservative Republicans have scored points with.”
Many players in US sports are positioning themselves more openly than ever
But: The Republicans, led by Donald Trump, are also actively trying to use sport for their own purposes in this election campaign. The former US president can be seen these days at college football games or at exhibition boxing matches. One of his closest allies is Dana White, the CEO of the most popular combat sports organization in the USA, the UFC.
Donald Trump is an avowed MMA fan and close friends with Dana White, the head of the popular martial arts series UFC. Both are united by right-wing ideology. (dpa / picture alliance / Frank Franklin II)
“I know that Donald Trump wants to save the American Dream. And that is what is at stake in this election. We decide who leads us in this fight. And I know that Donald Trump is a respected, fearless leader and that the country was much better when Donald Trump was president.”
Many players in US sports are positioning themselves more openly than ever in these days of the election campaign. This is quite unusual for sport, explains sociologist Doug Hartmann.
“The kind of politics that sports in the US actually wants to engage with is a kind of apolitical centralism. Because he’s actually trying to appeal to a broad audience and win over both Democrats and Republicans as fans. That’s why these sports organizations don’t really want to be pushed into a corner.”
Trump has already openly taken on athletes
Sport is apolitical – that was the common opinion in the USA over the past decades, and one that many fans still share today. But:
“Donald Trump has been a transformative figure in sports, just as he was in many parts of American society. Because he almost consciously broke down these taboos and norms in sport.”
During his time as US President, Donald Trump openly feuded with athletes. For example, when many athletes in American football, led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, peacefully protested against police violence and knelt during the US anthem, Trump demanded that these players be released from their teams. Since then, Colin Kaepernick has also been looking for a new employer.
Democrats are targeting athletes
Sociologist Doug Hartmann sees a trend in this. “In recent years, right-wing politics have dominated sport. There are more and more exclusions of trans people in sports, for example; there are many conspiracy theories surrounding the release of basketball player Brittney Griner, who was held in Russia. All of this was also exploited by the Republicans in the election campaign.”
With the “Athletes for Harris” campaign, the Democrats are now trying to take countermeasures. Kamala Harris is increasingly appearing in sports podcasts, and more and more athletes are openly supporting her in the election campaign. But does that also have an influence on the election result?
“Normally, such positions by celebrities don’t make much of a difference in election campaigns,” explains author Mark Harvey, who has explicitly dealt with this in a book.
“When people decide who to vote for, they tend to look at how much money they pay for gas or food and how the economy is doing. That comes first. And what an athlete says is way down on that list.”
Mark Harvey explains: A large part of the US population does not like it when athletes take political positions.
“There are a lot of risks, especially for athletes. Athletes are usually subject to a kind of monopoly, and the example of Colin Kaepernick has shown that anyone who steps out and challenges the league or the TV audience will quickly be thrown out. And that’s why the risk is great. Especially if you also have sponsors who don’t want you to get involved politically.”
Basketball coach Steve Kerr is aware of these risks. He has been confronted with hate comments on social media for years. On the stage of the Democratic Party he emphasizes:
“I know that taking a political stand is risky these days. But when I was asked, I also knew that as a U.S. citizen, it was just too important for me to speak out in a campaign of such importance.”
