Ugggghhhhh. It's complicated. Well, no, it's actually not. Politics have been involved in sport since at least the start of professional sports. Up until 2007 the National Anthem at NFL games was played 15 minutes before kickoff and both teams were in the locker room, with the 'field entry' ceremony AFTER the Anthem. What changed? The DOD signed a contract with the NFL for sponsorship and other considerations and part of that agreement was to have the teams on the field for the Anthem so they could have the monster flag and the soldiers holding it be part of the TV spectacle.

Baseball and Football were played during WWII 'to keep the home front engaged". The Cardinals only title in the over 80 years they have been in business was a gift from the NFL in WWII.

You want to read a nasty book? "Only the Ball was White" by Robert Paterson is one of the 'impact' books in my life. The Jim Crow stain that covered our entire country spread via baseball. It didn't start out that way.

Jim Thorpe. Google him if you don't know.

What a truly great post. I thank you for it.