Conviction has consequences for prominent athletes, particularly if they have lucrative endorsement deals tied to public perception of their likeability.
It’s a very personal choice. Now-Hornets owner Michael Jordan, then with the Chicago Bulls, once chose not to engage in North Carolina politics by endorsing former Charlotte mayor Harvey Gantt over then-U.S. Senator Jesse Helms.
Jordan was in the business of selling shoes for Nike (and still is). Jordan was quoted by author Sam Smith as telling a friend, “Republicans buy shoes, too.” Though there is no confirmation Jordan said that, the story has lived on for decades.