Zlatan tells LeBron James to stay out of politics...

Green_Red

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https://lakersdaily.com/zlatan-ibra...peak-about-politics-do-what-youre-good-doing/

Zlatan's quote:


Couldn't disagree more with him to be honest. If Rashford stayed out of politics we'd have (even more) children starving. They aren't experts on politics of course, but they can make a positive difference and maybe inspire the mind of an expert on politics.
Rashford helping poorer kids is charity, not politics. Don't confuse Rashfords charity with political opportunism of a small group who latched onto his actions for their own political gain.
 

SecondFig

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Rashford helping poorer kids is charity, not politics. Don't confuse Rashfords charity with political opportunism of a small group who latched onto his actions for their own political gain.
I think you're half right. Rashford has done incredibly well to keep party politics out of his work, he's been in very careful to not endorse any political parties, and to always talk about working with the government etc..

But, campaigns to get the government to change their policies are most definitely political. It'd be purely charitable work if he'd just focussed on raising funds, food donations etc. But he's done a hell of a lot more than that, and his lobbying of government is absolutely politics
 

7even

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I get wheres he's coming from, by rule of thumb you should probably not be using your established platform to wonder off into a world you know little about,
//.......//

People seem to be interpreting this as politics are not for everyone, no thats not whats he saying, its when you become famous, and exposing yourself to issues you barely understand. If redcafe was not anonymous, I doubt the majority of people in the CE would be saying the things they do knowing they need to own their opinions in regular life.
100%!

Timing of your actions is everything and that’s why millions of NBA viewers jumped the ship when last seasons play off started. Make no mistake there is huge difference between genuine and spontaneous political actions and calculated and orchestrated agendas. I view LeBron James the same way I view Bill Gates. They don’t fool me.

Give me Richard Sherman and I listen. Give me Shannon Sharpe talking about racism and my ears are wide open but please not LeBron James.
 

pacifictheme

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A nonsensical argument used by people usually to discredit anyone talking about politics they don't like. eg "Oh a football player was advocating for disability allowance increase, they should stay out of politics".
They should fund it themselves IF they care about it so much.
 

UmbroDays

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100%!

Timing of your actions is everything and that’s why millions of NBA viewers jumped the ship when last seasons play off started. Make no mistake there is huge difference between genuine and spontaneous political actions and calculated and orchestrated agendas. I view LeBron James the same way I view Bill Gates. They don’t fool me.

Give me Richard Sherman and I listen. Give me Shannon Sharpe talking about racism and my ears are wide open but please not LeBron James.
Why is James not allowed to talk about anything in your opinion?
 

kouroux

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Idiotic. Loads of non-politicians meddle in politics (Murdoch, Brooks etc.). It can be a positive thing to have influential people use their platform for the greater good, like Rashford as OP mentioned. Romario is now an elected politician in Brazil so there's no reason why footballers should avert their eyes for the sake of it.
Lots of politicians meddle in sports too
 

BrownRecluse

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I remember LaBrons words after the Jacob Blake shooting.

(About the cop who shot Blake leaving the house in the morning)

“Or maybe just left the house saying that this is going to be the end for one of these black people.”

Eff that guy for spreading that kind of fear and lies. He also doesn’t bother to get the facts about topics before jumping to conclusions and enflaming racial tensions.
 

amolbhatia50k

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No need to get salty darling
There is a need to be logical, darling.

Yes there are injustices all over the world. Zlatan actually made something for the WFP to put the focus on the injustices across the world regarding hungry children. I don't think that's a political matter or that it should be. I consider it a basic human right, no matter where you are in the world.

The UK is a western democracy and should in my opinion be held to a higher standard considering that they, unlike many other countries actually have the chance to provide for their children and initially simply chose not to.

I don't think Rashford should've been politicized because of that, somehow it became a political issue in the UK. I really honestly don't know why.
Firstly, politics is intertwined with every part of society. We are governed by it and hence if we have to challenge the existence of human of human rights, more often than not, the people who should be ensuring those rights are available to one and all, will, naturally, get involved. How you categorise it as in your imagination doesn't matter.

Secondly, why the feck is politics such a no-go zone for you and Zlatan? It's part of our lives. It impacts everyone. Hence, to turn a blind eye to it makes no sense. Fair enough to anyone who is scared of getting into those muddy waters, but if someone does, they certainly don't Zlatan or your permission to do so, and fair play to them for being active and vocal citizens of their country.
 

duffer

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Rashford helping poorer kids is charity, not politics. Don't confuse Rashfords charity with political opportunism of a small group who latched onto his actions for their own political gain.
If Rashford had made a donation or tweeted his support of a cause then that would've been charity.

The man campaigned and got the government to change their policy and had multiple conversations with the Prime Minister. It was politics in every sense of the word.

He never got nasty or party political, he was super respectful towards those he probably does not respect and he was effective in getting what he wanted. He is not an MP but he's been the most effective politician in the UK over the last year.
 

JPRouve

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Exactly!

I don't think people should always be expected "to toe the line" simply because you happen to work for an organization that might face the consequences of your opinion. Chinese may not live in a democracy that allows free speech but Morey does. Nothing would ever change if everyone adopted that attitude. There is no pleasing the authoritarians of this world. Above football or anything else, we are also citizens living in a country that allows free thinking and voicing of concerns. Zlatan is being a dim lightbulb I always suspected him to be.
People for obvious reasons aren't going to jeopardize their own livelyhood and others that easily, you may say it on a football forum when there is no actual consequences and act as if you would do it but only a small amount of people actually do that and Morey wasn't even one of them, he could have easily resigned and not delete his tweet. So while you shouldn't always toe the line often you have to be pragmatic and pick your battles because your actions may have more negative consequences for people that are way down the line, not just "the organization" but actual people that need the job that you are playing with.
 

amolbhatia50k

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All people should talk about politics. Also whether we like it or not, lots of people look up to people with a "status". So the later should only talk about "politic" on public platform, when they're 100% informed/educated about the topic.
Politicians themselves aren't 100% educated about topics. In fact, usually, regardless of whether they are educated/not educated on the topic, they tend to try use their public platform who weave a narrative to force you into an opinion disregarding information/evidence in hand. So it's a bit rich to shun people who are passionate to voice their concerns for what they feel is a just cause just because they don't have 100% facts down to the tee (nobody does), when we have a machinery of misinformation dumbing people down into believing a false narrative.
 

JPRouve

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Agreed, but you still need your own base opinion to compare it with to ascertain whether indeed it is agreeable.

The facts on the topic dictate your own opinion on them, through your own moral outlook/beliefs, it should not be dictated by somebody else’s opinion on those facts.
No you don't need to have a base opinion and you invented nothing, outside of a few brilliant minds none of us has, everything that you know or believe in was taught to you by someone whether it is your family, teachers, friends or someone through the media.
 

amolbhatia50k

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If Rashford had made a donation or tweeted his support of a cause then that would've been charity.

The man campaigned and got the government to change their policy and had multiple conversations with the Prime Minister. It was politics in every sense of the word.

He never got nasty or party political, he was super respectful towards those he probably does not respect and he was effective in getting what he wanted. He is not an MP but he's been the most effective politician in the UK over the last year.
Absolutely. To get things done for the betterment of society you often have to get involved with politicians.

It's funny. Do people actually think climate, human rights, minority rights etc activists enjoy and dream of dealing with politicians ? Of course not. But they have to considering they run the country. It's pretty simple, really.
 

Cloud7

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A) What a stupid take by Ibra. Truly idiotic.

B) I would say not enough people talk about politics. People, celebrities, athletes, the common man, everyone needs to speak about politics more. A lack of knowledge is exactly why politicians are able to hoodwink people all over the world.
 

Isotope

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Politicians themselves aren't 100% educated about topics. In fact, usually, regardless of whether they are educated/not educated on the topic, they tend to try use their public platform who weave a narrative to force you into an opinion disregarding information/evidence in hand. So it's a bit rich to shun people who are passionate to voice their concerns for what they feel is a just cause just because they don't have 100% facts down to the tee (nobody does), when we have a machinery of misinformation dumbing people down into believing a false narrative.
This should also applied to politicians, to not using public platform to speak things on uninformed opinions. And i never said you need to know 100% facts. It's true that nobody have that.
 

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It’s probably said already, but seen as Zlatan has mentioned his favourite sportsman to be Muhammad Ali, he’s either full of shit or really stupid.
 

SwedishFish

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There is a need to be logical, darling.


Firstly, politics is intertwined with every part of society. We are governed by it and hence if we have to challenge the existence of human of human rights, more often than not, the people who should be ensuring those rights are available to one and all, will, naturally, get involved. How you categorise it as in your imagination doesn't matter.

Secondly, why the feck is politics such a no-go zone for you and Zlatan? It's part of our lives. It impacts everyone. Hence, to turn a blind eye to it makes no sense. Fair enough to anyone who is scared of getting into those muddy waters, but if someone does, they certainly don't Zlatan or your permission to do so, and fair play to them for being active and vocal citizens of their country.
Logical? Well, what on earth are you doing here then :lol:

It's not a no-go zone for me or Zlatan?

I really quite honestly haven't expressed any opinion or even shared his except that I don't think feeding kids is politics per se, that I think its a basic human right.
This is what most of the UN agrees on, hence the WFP. Zlatan's taken a stand for it, Rashford has taken a stand for it, etc. It's really beside the topic here except for the OP.

I could post previous quotes from the man himself wading into politics here in Sweden. I don't know what particular topic this was in response to or what caused the reaction and neither do you.

I think that the interviewer should've followed up on it but didn't because it generates more conversation and more attention.
 

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Off course Lebron can voice his opinion, crazy to even question that.

What I do find annoying is that society pays WAY too much attention to the opinions of all sorts of celebrities. They very rarely offer any kind of intelligent insight. Lebron himself has made a monumental ass of himself in the China controversy.

So I would say: by all means express your thoughts on politics, but don't expect anybody to care.
 

AkaAkuma

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Somebody link the original source and the question he was asked.

Otherwise your all just gossiping and quoting 2bit websites you havent even read.
 

harms

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I find it absolutely baffling when people talk about Politics as if it’s a some sort of mono-subject which only concerns Politicians. You see people on social media say “oh everyone’s a politician now” because people are talking about issues which actually concern them and have an opinion on it. Literally everything in our lives that has some sort of effect on us is subject to politics and people should be encouraged to be more involved, not less involved.
Spot on.
 

Superden

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If somethings a basic human right, then that's because of politics. There was a time not that long ago when the notiok of basic human rights for all humans didn't exist. It was politics that changed that position.

This argument against someone involving themselves in 'politics' smacks of the creep towards authoritarianism that many societies are experiencing, with politicians using it as cover to push their predominately nationalist agendas...eg the farmers protests in India
 
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AkaAkuma

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"Do you like going to watch basketball".
From that he jumps to LeBron and activism? Thats a weird leap. Id really like to hear the full interview, id expect some questioning to lead into that.
 

SwedishFish

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From that he jumps to LeBron and activism? Thats a weird leap. Id really like to hear the full interview, id expect some questioning to lead into that.
Don't expect anything. It's discovery. Bottom tier network at least here in Sweden. Not following that up at all.
 

sport2793

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From that he jumps to LeBron and activism? Thats a weird leap. Id really like to hear the full interview, id expect some questioning to lead into that.
Yep, really weird how he sort of went out of his way to make that statement. I wonder if there was some beef between the two of them while they were in LA.
 

7even

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Why is James not allowed to talk about anything in your opinion?
Read again. He’s allowed to do whatever he wants but that doesn’t mean I or others want to listen to him. The NBA lost millions of viewers. People refused to pay money and listen to a billionaire educate them about right or wrong. LeBron’s brand took a big hit especially among educated and upper middle class. Ask yourself why.

“For the 2020 NBA Finals, the ratings dropped to a historic low, with one of the games drawing only 5.9 million viewers. The average viewers figure over 6 games was 7.5 million, which is a 51% decline from the previous year.”
 

duffer

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Read again. He’s allowed to do whatever he wants but that doesn’t mean I or others want to listen to him. The NBA lost millions of viewers. People refused to pay money and listen to a billionaire educate them about right or wrong. LeBron’s brand took a big hit especially among educated and upper middle class. Ask yourself why.
The obvious answer to why middle class people don't want to listen to what LeBron James cares about is not a pleasant one.
 

Murder on Zidane's Floor

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Zlatan, for a his funny charisma hasn't really achieved much of note besides from a few league wins with dominant teams.

Fair play, joins very strong teams on the league and bangs in goals. His goals per game ratio is massively skewed by his time on Paris, battering trawler men and carpenters week in, week out.

Never won a UCL all the while has played for Juve, Inter, Milan, Barcelona.

Has great talent but teams don't win the biggest prizes with him up top.
 

UmbroDays

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Read again. He’s allowed to do whatever he wants but that doesn’t mean I or others want to listen to him. The NBA lost millions of viewers. People refused to pay money and listen to a billionaire educate them about right or wrong. LeBron’s brand took a big hit especially among educated and upper middle class. Ask yourself why.

“For the 2020 NBA Finals, the ratings dropped to a historic low, with one of the games drawing only 5.9 million viewers. The average viewers figure over 6 games was 7.5 million, which is a 51% decline from the previous year.”
You said:

Give me Richard Sherman and I listen. Give me Shannon Sharpe talking about racism and my ears are wide open but please not LeBron James.
I said:

Why is James not allowed to talk about anything in your opinion?
So my question again is, why in YOUR opinion is Lebron James not allowed to speak.

Or I'll phrase it differently so you understand more easily: why are your ears not open for Lebron
 

Deery

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No really clued up on what Lebron has been saying but I’ve only ever seen him defending black people, which I don’t see anything wrong with its good they have a famous sports man shedding some light on the situation.

I find it quite weird that a man from Sweden living in Italy takes offence to this when he doesn’t really have any experience of the situation Lebron is in.
 

VorZakone

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How do people think any positive change in society is driven? We need famous people to speak up and put public pressure on politicians as far as I'm concerned.
 

sport2793

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I remember LaBrons words after the Jacob Blake shooting.

(About the cop who shot Blake leaving the house in the morning)

“Or maybe just left the house saying that this is going to be the end for one of these black people.”

Eff that guy for spreading that kind of fear and lies. He also doesn’t bother to get the facts about topics before jumping to conclusions and enflaming racial tensions.
After January 6th and the number of law enforcement personnel involved in the actions of the mob, I sadly don't know if LeBron's assessment of the policeman's motivation is that inaccurate, which is truly a tragedy.

If anyone's inflating racial tensions, I think there are far more obvious candidates than LeBron and their skin color tends to be different.