Seahawks Spend Bye Week Seeking Change in Local and Global Communities
On Wednesday Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback and known Trump supporter, walked out of his press conference after being asked how he would respond if his own children were exposed to Donald Trump’s recent vulgar, and deeply offensive “locker room talk.“ Instead of using his platform to denounce Trump’s lewd and misogynistic comments, Brady simply responded “Thank you, guys. Have a nice day.”
America’s golden boy Brady has one win under his belt, and is still fresh off of a four-game suspension in which he spent his free time sunbathing nude in Postiano (no, I’m not kidding).While Brady and other prominent athletes, continue to stay silent on social issues plaguing the fabric of American society, the Seattle Seahawks spent their bye week seeking change in local and global communities.
Instead of sipping Don Perignon on sandy beaches, the Seahawks spent their bye week furthering progress with the “Building Bridges” task force, pledging to build homes in Haiti, and speaking out on Donald Trump’s gross oversimplification of dialogue between men in the boy’s club.
Amidst another week of debating whether or not Dak Prescott should permanently replace Tony Romo, Collin’s Kaepernick’s readiness as a starter, and the status of Russell Wilson’s knee and ankle injuries, the world outside of sports media has continued to spin. Over 1,000 individuals in the impoverished nation of Haiti lost their lives as product of Hurricane Mathew’s relentless path of destruction. One our candidates for president of the United States once again viciously objectified women and perpetuated antiquated gender roles. Tensions between community members and law enforcement continued to grow. The sports world failed to notice, but the Seahawks sure didn’t.
Yes- the Seahawks took the week to nurse their injuries. Russell Wilson has reportedly been rehabbing night and day, because the jury is still out on whether or not he’s really fully human. Tyler Lockett had full participation in practice on Wednesday after a knee injury sidelined him in week two. During the bye, the Seahawks surged in the power rankings, with some polls listing them as high as No. 2 and no lower than No.9. It appears all is well in the Carroll Kingdom, and aside from getting healthy, here’s what the Seahawks did to separate themselves off the field.
1. Cliff Avril announced that for every sack he has this season, including the two he already has, he will fund the building of a home in Haiti. In response to the recent destruction at the hands of Hurricane Matthew, the DE of Haitian descent has committed to building homes out of materials durable enough to withstand future natural disasters. The founder of The Cliff Avril Family Foundation, which recently helped to open an elementary school in Haiti, has partnered with New Story Charity to build the homes that will provide sustainable, long-term solutions to the devastation. To aid in storm relief efforts, and provide food and water to Haitians displaced by the disaster, Avril is suggesting that Seattleites support Mission of Hope, which is focusing on immediate need.
2. Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett publically stood up for women, and men who were generalized to have all taken part in “locker room talk” behind closed doors. Instead of staying silent, in a press conference Wednesday, Richard Sherman denounced Trump’s defense of his predatory remarks as simply stating “That’s not how most people talk in the locker room, and I think a lot of athletes would say the same.” Michael Bennett echoed his teammate’s remarks, claiming “As a parent of daughters, I feel irate.” The defensive end continued to say, “Women are so important. Without a woman, none of us would be here. So you can’t disrespect women at all.”
3. Doug Baldwin has continued to make progress with his “Building Bridges” task force, and announced Monday that he is crafting a document to distribute to state attorney generals in order to provide a potential, rational solution for improving law enforcement training techniques. Baldwin and fellow teammates also met with local law enforcement last week to continue an open dialogue and share personal experiences. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has expressed admiration for Baldwin’s efforts to “eliminate militaristic cultures while putting a higher emphasis on de-escalation tactics and crisis management measures.” The two have since spoken over the phone, and hope to arrange a face-to-face meeting,
So, what did the Seahawks accomplish during bye week? They healed, and they spoke out. Cliff Avril, Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, and Doug Baldwin chose to use their role as a public sports figures to bring attention to issues otherwise forgotten by the sports media with each changing news cycle. Their choice to speak with the right to stay silent, is praiseworthy, and should be seen as the benchmark for athletes who are given such a powerful platform.
In his remarks about Doug Baldwin, Bob Ferguson stated “It’s not easy to take a stand like that. Let’s be honest. A professional football player of his stature doesn’t need to.” Maybe Attorney General Ferguson is right. Maybe it is not a professional athlete’s responsibility to offer political commentary or produce a call to action. While Tom Brady has every right to support Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election, he has to recognize his position as a role model for thousands of young adults who receive their daily news from sports media. As a father, husband, American, and decent human being, Brady could have at the very least expressed the need for treating women with respect. Have a nice day, simply doesn’t cut it.
The Charles Barkley rhetoric that professional athletes are not role models, is tired. Our athletes are our children’s superheroes, our favorite Sunday distractions, and some of our most visible public figures. In a week dedicated to relaxation, rehabilitation, and stepping away from the spotlight, the Seahawks chose to raise awareness for Haitian disaster relief, stand up for women, and foster dialogue on pertinent social justice issues. This is how you send a bye week. So thank you, Seahawks for getting it righ
