COLUMN: Sports and politics

It is happening, already in a major way in some cases. 

The merger of sports and politics, not really a new phenomenon, is now on a run-away collision course.  

So, in the spirit of public service, and public service is my middle name, I will offer these tips and ideas to assist the process, no matter what I think of it as a sports fan. 

First of all, my middle name is not public servant, it’s Kvelve and that is a Norwegian word with nothing to do with public service. That’s what I like when it comes to my beloved sports. 

There are, as we all know, 15 departments in the Cabinet of the U.S. executive branch.  If you didn’t know that, don’t feel bad, most people I suspect did not know that. 

Anyway, it seems more and more like professional athletes, teams and some coaches have been drifting into the political arena with increasing frequency these days. Maybe it’s because we are a split country politically, and the intensity of such is like those Smokey Bear signs describing the risk of fire in the woods during the year. 

Right now, it would probably be “high” on the political scale. 

Let’s see what we can do about that by suggesting some sports figures who could cross over to cabinet posts and do a good job, probably better than the job being done by the existing or past department leaders. And not all of these suggestions are still alive, but who would notice? 

Let’s start with the Department of Defense. 

I think they could use the assistance of one of the best defensive players of all time, former New York Giants linebacker, and occasional bad boy, Lawrence Taylor.  And as assistant secretary of defense, Ray Nitchke, he of legendary Green Bay Packers status. 

You gotta believe those two guys understand defense and know how to implement it.   What president could go wrong picking either of those guys? 

And as a solid choice for Secretary of Education, how about the man who brought us such phrases as “it ain’t over till it’s over” and “90 percent of this game is 50 percent mental”.  That would by New York Yankee immortal Yogi Berra, a Hall of Fame catcher who could teach us all a thing or two. 

Looking for a Department of the Interior pro?  May I suggest Cincinnati Bengal all-pro offensive lineman Anthony Munoz, a player on everyone’s greatest of all-time list.  He handled “interior problems” with the best of them.  I would imagine if he was at the border and told someone to stop, they would likely stop. 

Department of Energy in need of leadership? How about former Los Angeles Laker and Miami Heat player/coach Pat Riley? He (and curiously several other basketball coaches) maintain enough oil on their hair to make America energy independent again. 

And if the country needs an attorney general, who better than the consensus number one “field general” of all-time, seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady? He has shown the ability to make wise and productive decisions for sure. 

These are just a few suggestions to help out. As professional athletes get more and more involved in political endeavors, it seems only fitting politicians would welcome their experience and insight in the halls of Congress. 

Or, and this is my personal choice, the two careers maintain a healthy job segregation. Let sports be sports. Let politicians be whatever it is they are. 

And let guys like me enjoy the games that take us away, even briefly, from the swirling thoughts of politics. 

Still, the thought of Vince Lombardi as White House Chief of Staff is intriguing.