Jimmy Can

“Keep politics out of my sports.” It’s a phrase we hear all the time, but it oversimplifies the relationship between sports and the world around us. I recently had the opportunity to interview Abdul El-Sayed, and I wanted to ask him about was his experience as a collegiate athlete. Specifically, I was interested in his perspective on the intersection of sports and politics, and what he learned from being in a locker room surrounded by teammates from different backgrounds and beliefs. I understand why people want sports to be an escape from politics, but the reality is that throughout history, sports and politics have been deeply intertwined. From breaking racial barriers to fighting for equality and civil rights, athletes have played a pivotal role in pushing society toward meaningful social change. Having spent much of my life in locker rooms, I believe there's something uniquely powerful about bringing people together who might disagree on what’s best for the country, but still have to trust one another and work toward a common goal. Sports have always been about more than just the game. And sometimes, the impact they have beyond the field is far greater than anything that happens on it. Here's a portion of our conversation. @AbdulElSayed