Whether it’s Covid 19, the social injustices plaguing the United States of America, or the unrest in Ukraine, sports is generally where people from both sides of the aisle gather for difficult discussions.
Some people don’t want heavy conversations with their fun and games, but Rachel Nichols never shied away from using sports as a conduit to deeper conversations.
“It would be nice if there were other parts of society where we could have these conversations, but we don’t all watch the same movies anymore. We don’t watch the same TV shows anymore. Not everybody goes to church on Sunday. There’s just so many places where we can no longer have some of the conversations we used to have about life in America,” said Nichols.
Rachel Nichols created and hosted The Jump for ESPN; however, she tackled tough topics well before landing as the worldwide leader in sports.
Nichols worked for the Washington Post before she did any professional television. At one point, one of her jobs was to write stories explaining why sporting events were interesting to the not so diehard sports fans.
She then took that unique expertise and skill set to CNN. Everyone can’t make sense out of sports. It’s all wins and losses and x’s and o’s with some journalists. Rachel Nichols used her Washington Post preparation to dive into the deeper discussions around games.
“Frankly sports are the only place where everyone still comes into the tent and sits down in the seats next to each other and watches. And because of that, this is where we must do this. That’s just how it is,” added Nichols.
While working at CNN, the topic of domestic violence took center stage with two guests: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and boxing legend Floyd Meriwether. Nichols made sure she spoke for those who couldn’t speak for themselves during those interview exchanges. She held Goodell’s feet to the fire on the NFL’s response to domestic violence and she put Mayweather up against his one public record. It was one of his rare losses.
“Nothing is easy, right? But, to me it is easier to be brave about stuff that just boils down to commonsense. It’s not hard. Don’t hit women, don’t beat children. To me, when we get into that stuff, it’s not nuanced. I’m sorry. It’s not. Problems are nuanced, situations are nuanced. There is never a time where that stuff is okay,” said the Emmy Award winner.
In Mayweather’s case, his son wrote a heartbreaking letter for the court case that has since made its way to the internet. Nichols would have done viewers a disservice by asking Mayweather about boxing and big paydays.
“I’m sorry, I’m not going to be ashamed or upset or scared to ask someone a question about that, because it’s just wrong. That’s when I need to ask hard things, it feels to me like I get some of the nerve because it’s not negotiable,” explained Nichols.
Rachel Nichols excels when sports become news. Throughout her career certain topics have dominated the conversations more than what is going on between the lines. Recently, Kyrie Irving became a top of discussion on his views against getting the vaccine. The on-camera murder of George Floyd polarized the entire country. Colin Kaepernick’s stance on social injustices and public display of taking a knee during the national anthem cost him his NFL playing career.
While some viewers circulate this idea of, “why are you doing this in sports,” for better or worse, sports are where these conversations reside. Sterling Brown, an NBA player, was beaten up and tased by police for parking in the wrong parking spot. He parked in the wrong place, but should he have suffered violence as punishment?
Players in the NBA bubble used their platform to bring light to some of these dark topics. The Milwaukee Bucks decided they couldn’t take the court while people are mourning death in their backyards. Essentially, all they did was join the national discussion because they are humans. They have rights too. Athletes are more than muscle for our entertainment.
Personal freedom has been a topic of discussion surrounding the sports world. Where does personal liberty start and your obligation to the group start? Players should be able to voice their feelings and beliefs.
Sport drives hard conversations the country needs to have. Platforms serve a purpose. Rachel Nichols uses her platform to talk about things that need to be heard.
“I went on TV a lot the year that the NBA was supposed to have the All-Star Game initially in Charlotte. Charlotte had passed a law saying that no city in North Carolina could take away a citizen’s ‘right’ to refuse service in hotels, in restaurants, to people because they were gay,” said Nichols. “That’s just not okay.”
“We can’t do that in this country. You can’t hold the All-Star Game in a state that does that, when at the time the COO of the Golden State Warriors was an openly gay man. You’re going to tell him, “Come to the All-Star Game to see Klay Thompson and Steph Curry play. I hope they let you check into the hotel.” I mean, you can’t do that.”
Wouldn’t it be great if the game’s outcome was always the lead story? You don’t think players would rather play and enjoy the games they love? Why would Rachel Nichols or any other journalist include potentially divisive content in their programming? It’s necessary. The conversations need to be had so we can better understand each other, and nobody does it better than Nichols. Sports is the vessel for deeper conversations.
