Messaging overload

Drew Brees is getting knocked around right now like a fighter with his legs gone, and I'm of two minds about that. Which no doubt comes as a surprise to those who always suspected I didn't have one mind, let alone a spare.

Anyway, here's what I'm thinking:

One, Drew Brees is a good man with a good heart who's done incalculable good with the platform he has as a high-profile professional athlete.

Two, it's dismaying beyond words that someone with such apparent social awareness still is so utterly clueless about the whole kneeling thing.

He said the other day he would "never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag," and do we need to tromp around that mulberry bush again? Brees knows, or ought to know, that the players who silently knelt with their heads bowed weren't doing so to disrespect the flag or the anthem or The Troops. If they had been, they'd have been doing something that was actually disrespectful.

Kneeling in an attitude of prayer -- in some cases with a hand over their hearts -- was not it. In fact if you asked any of them who were kneeling, they'd probably agree with Brees that no one should disrespect the flag. 

But this is the problem with platforms, and the folks who have them. It's important -- some would say a duty -- to use that platform to advance causes about which one is passionate. It's important to speak out in times that beg for speaking out, as these times certainly do.

And those who say "Why should I care what some athlete/coach/actor thinks?" should remember that people still care what some B-list reality show star thinks. Because that B-list reality show star is President of the United States, no matter how clearly unfit.

In other words; He's a public figure. Drew Brees and LeBron James and Gregg Popovich etc., etc., are public figures, too. As such they have influence; as such they feel compelled to wield that influence.

Problem is, being compelled doesn't always mean you should.

And so in the wake of the civil unrest roiling the nation right now, athletes and coaches and team execs and commishes are weighing in, and not always because they feel passionately about what's happening in the country. For the latter two groups especially, it's more about keeping the image buffed to a high sheen. They must say they care, because not to do so might hurt their brand.

Of course, actually speaking out, as opposed to kinda-sorta speaking out, might also hurt their brand. And so you wind up with "official statements" that are so neutered  they're essentially meaningless -- and occasionally worse than meaningless.

Case in point: Was there anything more unintentionally hilarious than the Washington Football Club issuing a statement decrying racism? Really? Daniel Snyder stands with the protesters against racism, yet consistently says he'll defend his team's racist nickname to the bitter end?

To paraphrase the Good Book: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

Public figures take note.