Miami Heat player Udonis Haslem did something recently that a lot of Floridians likely want to. That a lot of athletes in Florida would probably like to do as well. Hell, that a lot of Americans want to.
He bashed Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida and a Presidential hopeful, as an embarrassment to the state. Haslem did it in no uncertain terms. No holding back. No caveats. Haslem spoke the truth and did something important while doing it. He used his power not just to bring attention to the abhorrent things DeSantis is doing in Florida, but also condemn them.
It’s true that Haslem, who is 42 years old, is at the end of his career, and this means he has fewer effs to give. That doesn’t mean there isn’t risk because speaking against DeSantis, who has proven to be extraordinarily vindictive, can lead to retribution. He’s attacked corporations like Disney and even the Tampa Bay Rays.
Make no mistake: what Haslem has done is courageous because he risks an attack from DeSantis and his allies. They can try and make his life miserable but Haslem doesn’t seem to care.
We have seen few comments from professional athletes in Florida responding to the rapidly changing nature of the state which under DeSantis is quickly turning authoritarian. One was another NBA player in Dwyane Wade, who said he has left Florida where he spent 13 years as a Heat player, in part, to protect his transgender daughter Zaya.
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What Haslem and Wade understand is that by speaking out they can bring change. That’s because they have immense power. Women athletes have led the way for years. Few leagues have been on the forefront of political activism like the WNBA. They helped flip a Senate seat and have led protests over police shooting of Black Americans. They have been on the forefront of the pay equity movement in sports.
Haslem is another incarnation of this and it’s good to see.
This is part of what Haslem said to the Boston Globe:
“Well first and foremost I’m going to ask people out there to stop Florida-shaming us,” Haslam said as the Heat prepare for Game 2 of the NBA Finals. “Everybody ain’t down with what’s going on in Florida. People think that because you live in Florida, like you just down with the [expletive]. We’re not. I’m not down with it. I’m not happy about it.
“I happen to live there and I was born there. It’s not my fault. So please stop Florida-shaming us people. We’re not happy about what this man [DeSantis] is doing. Diversity and inclusion and taking the [books away]. We’re not happy about that. I sit at home on the couch with my wife and raise hell.”
Haslem is completely qualified to defend his state. He went to high school in Miami and the University of Florida. This is also his 20th season with the Heat. He’s a true Floridian.
He can also see what DeSantis is doing to his state and the list is scary and long with much of it focusing on race, particularly, the denigrating of Black Americans. DeSantis pushed a bill that stops state colleges from funding DEI programs. There are book bans and last year DeSantis signed another bill with this one banning the teaching of critical race theory in schools.
Are there people in Florida who like DeSantis’ policies? Of course. But also plenty of people despise what he’s doing.
“It’s very disappointing and I’m the father of three, three Black men,” he said. “Three boys that are coming up and I would love for them to learn in school about what the hell is really going on and what happened. But that’s out of my control. All I can do is get my ass up and vote. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to continue to encourage everybody around me. That’s all I can do.”
This part of what Haslem says is something that will resonate with most Americans who live on Earth 1: “You complain about what’s being taught in school but we took away the gun (law) where you can buy a (expletive) assault rifle at 18,” Haslem said. “I’m confused about what’s the priorities. We’re talking education and in the midst of all of this gun violence going on around the world, how about we just drop the gun laws and make it easier for them to get guns? The (expletive) is confusing to me, that’s why I’m not a politician.”
Haslem is brave for speaking like this.
We need more like him.
