In a society overly saturated with sport, we set an almost insurmountably high bar for athletes. It\u2019s a standard that we don\u2019t apply to anyone else, not even our politicians whose votes and policies can alter the course of our future.<\/p>\n
But in sports, we want athletes to do everything\u2014and do it perfectly.<\/p>\n
They are supposed to endure pain for gain. They can show no vulnerability. They are supposed to smile on demand. When they win, we cheer for them with unadulterated glee. When they lose, we scowl at them and question their abilities.<\/p>\n
And for those once-in-a-generation athletes\u2014Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods\u2014they are supposed to be everything to everybody. They\u2019re our saviors. They\u2019ve been sent to us by the sporting gods. Everything they do or say, good or bad, is captured for posterity and can either be used for their betterment or detriment.<\/p>\n
Either way, they are left with the impossible task of having to please everyone.<\/p>\n
That is the situation that Caitlin Clark finds herself in.<\/p>\n
She is that once-in-a-generation icon who has helped to change the face of women\u2019s basketball. From her record-setting days at Iowa to her now-third year with the Indiana Fever, Clark has unquestionably brought in throngs of fans into the sport.<\/p>\n
Her now-iconic logo 3s and competitive fire are hard to resist and a joy to watch.<\/p>\n
All that has, certainly, brought on an onslaught of praise and criticism, both fairly and unfairly, towards her.<\/p>\n
Clark is highly-touted for her skill and competitiveness, but is also chastised for being too chirpy with the referees over bad calls, even as she also avoids technical fouls or ejections for episodes that, normally, would result in such penalties.<\/p>\n
Then, off the court, Clark is celebrated for a wholesome image that has traditional, widespread appeal. She also goes out of her way to bring the focus onto basketball and avoid larger discussions around sociopolitical issues. It\u2019s an approach that has been effective for her and, frankly, would better suit everyone, as keeping the focus on basketball would contribute to the enormous popularity the sport is experiencing.<\/p>\n
On the flip side, Clark has been called out for not doing enough to combat the vicious hate and harassment being levied at her fellow competitors in the WNBA, particularly Black players like Angel Reese and Alyssa Thomas. Those who purport to be her fans, while claiming to \u201cprotect\u201d her, primarily use her as an avatar through which to express hatred toward Black and\/or LGBTQ+ players.<\/p>\n
When asked about it, Clark says all the right things: Hate has no place. But then, there are those who say she needs to be more specific and call out the hate by name. Admittedly, I would like her to say that.<\/p>\n