Left-wing athletes

[Ermo Kruus]

Have there ever been any athletes who have been outspoken radical leftists? I've heard about that one footballer who decided to quit the sport on a anti-capitalist basis, but I haven't really heard about anyone else.

[Revolutionair]

I know there's a boxer who has a black and red star tattoo.

Also:

Maradona:
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/argentina/maradona-castro.jpg
http://murdocklondon.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/maradona.jpg

Mike Tyson:

http://thepeoplescube.com/images/Mike_Mao_Tyson_sm.jpg

[Black_Flag]

Jeff Monson, anarchist mixed martial artist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Monson


Monson is known for his anarchist views and affiliations. In an interview, he explained, "I am an anarchist, someone who would like to do away with all class hierarchy in society and the institutions that promote this inequality." [4] He correspondingly receives sponsorship from AK Press and has several anarchist symbols tattooed on his body. In solidarity, Monson is a member of the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies).[5]


On January 14, 2009, Monson was charged with First Degree Malicious Mischief, for vandalizing the Washington State Capitol by spray-painting "an anarchy symbol, a peace symbol and the words 'no poverty' and 'no war'"[17] on the large columns at the front of the building.

EDIT: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/apr/25/sport.comment1

Just remembered about this article in The Guardian which discusses left wing views in football and mentions some left-wing players.

[Bandito]

I'm fairly sure we had one of these threads in the Sports&Health section, but what the hell. Every excuse to promote a legend like Cristiano Lucarelli is not in vain.

QHZ5gyXVwSU

[RedAnarchist]

I've heard about that one footballer who decided to quit the sport on a anti-capitalist basis, but I haven't really heard about anyone else.

Never heard of this person. Was it someone who played association football or American football?

[Sasha]

Personal/political writings

Oleguer is an economics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics) graduate who missed training with Barcelona to complete his finals. On 30 March 2006, he published his first book with recollections on his youth, early career and the league triumph of 2004–05 (and the subsequent street parade through the Avinguda Diagonal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avinguda_Diagonal) in Barcelona (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona)). The book, called Camí d'Itaca (The Road to Ithaca (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ithaca)), dealt with such varied subjects as childhood anorexia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorexia_nervosa), the antifascist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism) struggle and the previous Spanish government's involvement in both Gulf Wars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Wars), also addressing the player's love of tennis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis).
Though injured just before the end of the 2005–06 season in a Champions League match and forced to miss the league-winning match against Celta de Vigo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celta_de_Vigo), Oleguer was able to return to the pitch to play in the next match at the Camp Nou when the trophy was presented to the team. True to form, Oleguer celebrated wrapped in the colors of the senyera estelada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estelada), the Catalan Independist flag.
He has sympathies with left wing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_wing) and Catalan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalonia) nationalist causes and was asked by Subcomandante Marcos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subcomandante_Marcos) of the Zapatistas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EZLN) to play a charity match in Chiapas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiapas), Mexico (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico) during the summer of 2005. Later that year, he was invited to take part in a meeting of shortlisted players for the Spanish national squad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain_national_football_team), an invitation that he accepted.
On 7 February 2007, in an article written for Basque language (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_language) newspaper Berria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berria), Oleguer questioned the validity and independence of legal and judicial processes in the Spanish state, using the example of convicted ETA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETA) member Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%C3%B1aki_de_Juana_Chaos) and his hunger strike (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_strike) to question those processes. His decision to write the article brought veiled criticism at Barcelona, both from coach Rijkaard and President Joan Laporta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Laporta), as well as earning him disrespectful remarks from fellow professional Salva Ballesta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salva_Ballesta).[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleguer_Presas#cite_note-7)
As a direct result of the article, Oleguer lost his boot sponsorship with sports firm Kelme (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelme_%28company%29),[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleguer_Presas#cite_note-8) and he subsequently signed for Diadora (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diadora). Oleguer has been the subject of a strong public backlash among some elements in Spain and is regularly heckled and booed in some of the country's football stadiums due to the article and his pro-Catalan independence stance. When asked about whether he felt that he should not have written the piece, he replied, "The consequences I suffer are nothing compared to what many people go through. What did sadden me, though, was that most people didn't actually read the piece. If people engaged in dialogue with intelligence and still disagreed, then fine, but they didn't."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleguer_Presas

[Ermo Kruus]

Never heard of this person. Was it someone who played association football or American football?Assosciation football.


Defender Javi Poves has quit La Liga club Sporting Gijon, saying he has taken a stance against a sport he describes as "rotten".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/la-liga/8694150/Sporting-Gijon-defender-Javi-Poves-quits-rotten-game-in-disgust-and-calls-on-top-players-to-help-others.html

EDIT: And thanks for the replies so far by the way. Keep 'em coming!

[mykittyhasaboner]

Javier Zanetti. What a bad ass. :thumbup1:

Going in at right-back in the Political Footballers XI is Internazionale defender Javier Zanetti. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1973, Zanetti began his football career at Talleres de Remedios de Escalada. He played in the second division for one season before being sold to Banfield.

http://alistaircubbon.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/jz.jpg?w=200&h=300 (http://alistaircubbon.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/jz.jpg)

He was recommended to Inter by scout and legendary former Inter player Juan Valentin Angelillo and in 1995 he moved to Italy. He became Internazionale owner Massimo Moratti’s first purchase for the club.
He made his debut in a home game against Vicenza, and has been at the club ever since, playing over 600 games. He quickly became a fan favourite and was made club captain due to his tenacious tackling, cool defending and consistent performances. He has played on both sides of the back four, and even spent some time playing in midfield.

Zanetti is well-known for his interest in and support for social issues in Latin America. He is a FIFA ambassador, and created the Fundacion PUPI with his wife to aid the social integration of poor children in Argentina.

His ‘credentials’ as a political footballer though are based on his involvement with the Zapatista Movement in Mexico. Emiliano Zapata was an agrarian reformer and leader of the ‘Ejercito Libertador del Sur’ and hero of the Mexican Revolution. He was killed in an ambush in 1919. The Zapatista Movement that exists in his name consists of Mexican peasants, farmers and workers. They seek to change the system of government in Mexico, primarily through nonviolent means. They reject the consequences of globalisation and neoliberal economics in Mexico. The preservation of indigenous ways of life and autonomous decision-making are their primary goals.

At Zanetti’s instigation Inter sent €5000 to the Zapatistas following a paramilitary attack on a village near the Mexico/Guatemala border, as well as paying for an ambulance and sending football clothing and equipment. The money was raised through fining Inter’s players for being late or using mobile phones at the wrong time. In a letter to the Zapatistas (in Arie & Tuckman), Zanetti wrote:


‘We believe in a better world, in an unglobalised world, enriched by the cultural differences and customs of all the people. This is why we want to support you in this struggle to maintain your roots and fight for your ideals.’


Following this the leader of the rebel group, one Subcomandante Marcos, wrote a slightly surreal letter to Massimo Moratti. The Subcomandante invited Inter to play a game, or a series of games, against a Zapatista XI. Diego Maradona would referee, Jorge Valdano and Javier Aguirre would be the assistants. Brazil midfielder Socrates would be the fourth referee.
Eduardo Galeano and Mario Benedetti would do the play-by-play for the ‘Zapatista System of Intergalactic Television, the only tv to be read not watched.’ The pre-match entertainment would be provided by lesbians and gays, particularly transsexuals and transvestites, in order to differentiate these games from the objectification of women. (re-printed in Kuhn: 2011)

In Zanetti’s autobiography he writes that he decided to encourage Inter to support the Zapatistas because ‘solidarity knows no colour, no religion and no political side. These communities fight to make their culture recognized as well as a different way of economical and political organization, of surviving and of identity.’

He believes that the Subcomandate is ‘fighting to give back life and dignity to the pre-Colombian populations of Mexico; he’s the soldier of the losers of the Earth, of the forgotten, of the non-recognized ones though they learned to never give up, under no condition.’




http://insunandshadow.com/2011/08/20/political-footballers-xi-right-back-javier-zanetti/

[The Idler]

Tommie Smith and John Carlos.
Oh and CM Punk.

[Prometeo liberado]

Roberto Clemente may not have voiced his politics per se, but he did live and ultimately die doing it. Stood up to Managers and all of baseball against racially bigotry and uneven pay rates for minority players. Refused to honor "whites only" signs and died trying to help the storm victims of Nicaragua.
Ooh forgot! Played the outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates like nobody's business!
http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1619153002325&id=c5467be9a3406d0ba24a47f3697b39c2 (http://images.search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A2KJke7djT1PyVoA.yyjzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBpcGszamw 0BHNlYwNmcC1pbWcEc2xrA2ltZw--/SIG=138ldq6lj/EXP=1329462877/**http%3a//sports.espn.go.com/espn/gallery/enlargePhoto%3fid=3930940%26amp;story=3929084)

[KurtFF8]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c8/Carlos-Smith.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute)

[Human Lefts]

^

Can't post the link. Google "1968 Olympics Black Power salute"


On the morning of October 16, 1968,[2] U.S. athlete Tommie Smith won the 200 meter race in a world-record time of 19.83 seconds, with Australia's Peter Norman second with a time of 20.06 seconds, and the U.S.'s John Carlos in third place with a time of 20.10 seconds. After the race was completed, the three went to collect their medals at the podium. The two U.S. athletes received their medals shoeless, but wearing black socks, to represent black poverty.[3] Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent black pride, Carlos had his tracksuit top unzipped to show solidarity with all blue collar workers in the U.S. and wore a necklace of beads which he described "were for those individuals that were lynched, or killed and that no-one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the middle passage."[4] All three athletes wore Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) badges after Norman, a critic of Australia's White Australia Policy, expressed empathy with their ideals.[5] Sociologist Harry Edwards, the founder of the OPHR, had urged black athletes to boycott the games; reportedly, the actions of Smith and Carlos on October 16, 1968[2] were inspired by Edwards' arguments.[6]
Both U.S. athletes intended on bringing black gloves to the event, but Carlos forgot his, leaving them in the Olympic Village. It was the Australian, Peter Norman, who suggested Carlos wear Smith's left-handed glove, this being the reason behind him raising his left hand, as opposed to his right, differing from the traditional Black Power salute.[7] When "The Star-Spangled Banner" played, Smith and Carlos delivered the salute with heads bowed, a gesture which became front page news around the world. As they left the podium they were booed by the crowd.[8] Smith later said "If I win, I am American, not a black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say I am a Negro. We are black and we are proud of being black. Black America will understand what we did tonight."[3]

Highlights
They used lots of symbolism (duh!)
They were booed by the crowd
The White guy supported them -- White privilege: don't do anything besides side with them, get an honorable mention. This should be a White privilege meme with a scumbag hat on.
They were alienated by the athletic community in their respective countries

[GoddessCleoLover]

I seem to recall that Bill Walton was a bit of a radical like forty years ago, but he may well have more of a counter-culture radical than a Leftist.

[KurtFF8]

There's also this developing story:


Virginia safety Joseph Williams is on a hunger strike for university workers (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/virginia-safety-joseph-williams-hunger-strike-university-workers-173337610.html)




Rarely do we see student-athletes, football players, get involved in political matters that affect the universities where they play. We're not talking about student government, but the politics that happen within the university, disputes between workers or teachers and administration
Virginia safety Joseph Williams is changing that.
For the past eight days, Williams, a junior walk-on who has played in two games during his career, has been on a hunger strike "to protest the economic and social injustices perpetrated by the UVa administration against the vast majority of the University's service-sector employees."
Williams, a political and social thought major, wrote an eloquent and poignant essay (http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/why-im-hunger-striking-uva) about why he was participating in the hunger strike with the Living Wage Campaign.

Our University seeks to distinguish itself as a caring community and prides itself on traditions of honor and student self-governance. However, in our "caring community," hundreds of contract employees may make as little as $7.25/hour while six out of the top ten highest paid state employees in Virginia hold administrative positions at the University. Many employees, mostly women and African Americans, do not receive enough pay for their basic necessities to exist in Charlottesville, where the cost of living is nearly 10% higher than the national average. This extreme inequality has disturbed and disillusioned students for decades, many of whom have tried to grapple with issues of race, class, and poverty in and out of the classroom.
It's not often that you read this kind of political discourse by such a young man, and let's be honest, a football player. But Williams is not your ordinary student-athlete. He graduated from Dominion (Sterling, Va.) High when he was 16. In his essay he notes that he was one of four children supported by a single mother and that he lived in 30 different places, including many homeless shelters, which gave him a profound appreciation for socioeconomic challenges.
He walked on at Virginia at age 17 and has been refining his knowledge of politics ever since.
He does not say how long he plans to stay on strike, but as of Thursday, 18 students were involved in the cause. It's interesting, and even somewhat refreshing, to see a student-athlete go to the extremes for what he believes.

[CornetJoyce]

I seem to recall that Bill Walton was a bit of a radical like forty years ago, but he may well have more of a counter-culture radical than a Leftist.
Walton declared himself a socialist. His relationship with the Symbionese Liberation Army is murky but has probably been deciphered by now.

[Bronco]

Brian Clough was a staunch Socialist


Clough was a life-long socialist, often appearing on miners' picket lines, donating large sums to trade union causes, and being the chairman of the Anti-Nazi League. On two occasions he was approached by the Labour Party to stand as a parliamentary candidate in general elections, although he declined in order to continue his managerial career in football. During the 1979 general election campaign when it looked very likely that Margaret Thatcher would become Prime Minister, he told a meeting that he had not come to make a speech to them but just to tell them that "If my taxes are cut, you bloody lot are going to pay for it."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Clough#Personal_life_and_family

[GoddessCleoLover]

One would have to research an guy by the name of Jack Scott to begin to explore what, if any, relationship existed. Jack Scott, and his then-wife Micki chose to keep silent so as to avoid potential legal problems. Can't recall whether either ever talk about the subject.