Shhhh… A post on sports and politics
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- October
- 16
It’s funny, but as engaging as this election season has been for the world, athletes and coaches don’t often go public with their feelings.
I asked Eric Mangini this morning if he watched the presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain at Hofstra University last night. He didn’t, so I asked if he ever discusses politics with coaches or players.
“We talked a little bit in one captain’s meeting a little bit about the election,†Mangini said. “I don’t think they’d like to broadcast it, our debate on politics Sunday morning, whatever.â€
Kerry Rhodes has watched a few of the debates and, even though he gets that the presidential race matters, he allows that a lot of athletes don’t like to discuss it because they don’t want to alienate fans. But the Jets are discussing politics leading up to the election.
“We are,†Rhodes said, as he ate a plum at his locker today.
The fact that the debate took place at Hofstra, where the Jets used to practice, made it a little more topical. Rhodes said that a few guys have talked about Obama’s tax policy and noted that many of the players are in the top bracket.
Sione Pouha and James Dearth were talking about the debate this morning. Pouha, a defensive tackle from Utah whose parents are from Tonga, registered to vote for the 2000 election when a group came to his door to register voters. He has already sent in his absentee ballot.
He said that, since then, he’s started to think about himself as an adult, and sees that the issues are as relevant to him as anyone else. There are plenty of viewpoints in the Jets locker room — guys from the south or north, from cities or small towns, red staters and blue staters.
“As you start to share those ideas you realize this is a diverse country but a united decision,†Pouha said.
Said well enough to be an official talking point.
For an actual political blog, check out our Politics on Hudson.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, October 16th, 2008 at 3:06 pm by Jane McManus.
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Jane McManus 
Speaking of Hofstra
I visted today
whoever this “Jets security” guy at hofstra is he needs to lay off
you are guarding an empty building
making me show id and threatning to call the cops
obviously he is not high on the jets security list because he is still at hofstra
how rude