ESPN The Magazine surveyed 82 anonymous pro athletes about race issues in sports. Here are some of the questions, comments and surprising results.
If you were told that in the year 2024, a retired athlete would be elected president, who do you think it would be?
Totals:
1. Magic Johnson: 26.6 percent
2. Michael Jordan: 12.7 percent
3. Ray Lewis: 10.1 percent
4. Derek Jeter: 8.2 percent
5. LeBron James, Kevin Johnson: 5 percent
Female Olympian: “Magic Johnson, because he was a great public figure during his basketball career and after. He’s been an advocate for social and African-American rights and a voice in the public. He’s very, very humble and carries himself well. He’d really speak as a voice for the people.”
NBA player: “Michael Jordan, because he’s been the guy thus far in my generation who has transcended the typical post-career athlete. He’s the owner of the team now, and he’s the first player to be an NBA owner, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was president one day. Enough people love him — he’s iconic around the world.”
NFL player: “Kevin Johnson has already done a great job in the political world and shown leadership being the mayor of Sacramento. I just feel like he has his head on straight. He’d definitely be the guy that I could see being president of the United States.”
NFL player: “Ray Lewis. People buy into what he says. He speaks with so much passion, you buy in and believe whatever he’s preaching.”
WNBA player: “If I was RG III, I’d play a few years, make my money and get out before I get any more concussions. He’s very intelligent, he’s already loved, and he’s in Washington, D.C. Perfect fit.”
MLB player: “Magic Johnson would be great. He was a great athlete with name recognition. He’s a successful businessman. He’s obviously done a lot for social causes. He’s the kind of smart success story that could run for president.”
WNBA player: “Magic Johnson maintains the unique combination of being very business-savvy, well-liked by everyone and a brilliant leader.”
Male Olympian: “Ray Lewis. I know he got in trouble early in his career, but he turned his life around. The way he has led his football team seems like the way this country needs to be led.”
Who are the three most important African-American athletes ever?
Totals (Please note that because this question asked for three responses, the totals add up to more than 100 percent):
1. Jackie Robinson: 74 percent
2. Muhammad Ali: 60.5 percent
3. Michael Jordan: 48.1 percent
4. Magic Johnson: 16 percent
5. Jesse Owens: 14.8 percent
6. Arthur Ashe: 13.6 percent
7. Wilma Rudolph, Tiger Woods: 7.4 percent
9. Jim Brown: 6.2 percent
10. Tommie Smith: 4.9 percent
Female Olympian: “Jackie Robinson, because in a sport that, at the time, was not played by African-Americans at the major league level, he broke through. At a time when there was segregation and black people were looking for a presence to be known as people, he was a way through athletics. He became a voice for this. He was a voice for America, which was just starting to unite. He was a gateway for African-Americans to get into sports and becoming public figures.”
NBA player: “Muhammad Ali stood up for everything he believed in. He was a confident African-American athlete at a time when it was hard to be confident. Imagine if we had a draft today, and a guy like LeBron refused to go to war. Ali persevered through that. Incredible.”
NBA player: “I’d say Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan. I’m sure MJ will be picked a lot, but I always think about how he was such an innovator. He took the barriers that Jackie Robinson, Ali, Arthur Ashe, etc. broke through and added to it. Before, the idea of a black athlete being a superstar on the court and an endorsement superstar seemed impossible”…
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