Doesn’t make sense what he’s saying” – Kareem Abdul Jabbar sounded off on John Stockton for making athletes look like ‘dumb jocks’.. Read more..👇
In a league where athletes often share their views on sensitive topics without much thought, Kareem Abdul Jabbar stands as a voice advocating for education and intelligent expression, condemning players who sound like ‘dumb jocks.’ John Stockton experienced the repercussions of this sentiment when he made controversial comments about the COVID-19 vaccine.
What comments did Stockton make?
In the early 1980s, Stockton was instrumental in putting Gonzaga Bulldogs on the basketball map. As a senior, he led the team to a respectable 17-11 record, which earned him deserved recognition from the college community. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, tensions arose when the 10-time All-Star refused to wear a mask to a Bulldogs game. In response, Gonzaga suspended his season tickets.
When questioned about his stance, the NBA’s all-time assists leader cited concerns about athletes dying from the vaccine as his reason for opposition.
“I think it’s highly recorded now, there’s 150 I believe now, it’s over 100 professional athletes dead, professional athletes, the prime of their life, dropping dead that are vaccinated,” Stock said. “Right on the pitch, right on the field, right on the court.”
John’s controversial comments, including the six-time MVP, didn’t sit well with many. The LA Lakers legend expressed strong disapproval, not only because Stockton shared unverified information as a public figure but also because Kareem believes such statements reinforced the stereotypes of athletes being seen as ‘dumb jocks’ by certain fans.
“I think statements like that make the public look upon athletes as basically dumb jocks for trying to explain away something this is obviously a pandemic, and the best way to fight pandemics is through vaccination and testing,” Kareem said. “Those are the means by which we identify the problem and do our best to mitigate it. I don’t understand anyone saying anything else that makes sense. It doesn’t make sense what he’s saying.”
