First, you have Rob Gronkowski.
The blonde-haired, muscle-bound, beer-chugging party animal tight end represents a good chunk of what white America believes in.
Then there’s Martellus Bennett.
An advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement, the outspoken tight end and teammate of Gronk represents quite the opposite side of the spectrum.
Both of them play for New England Patriots, and both have made headlines following their team’s victory in Super Bowl LI but for different reasons.
Gronk garnered attention for, well, being Gronk. He was busy snagging, chugging and spiking beers at New England’s Super Bowl parade Tuesday in downtown Boston.
Bennett, on the other hand, declared following the game that he won’t visit the White House to celebrate his team’s championship alongside President Donald Trump. It’s a sentiment that teammate Devin McCourty shared as well this week.
“I haven’t thought about it. I am not going to go,” Bennett told CNN. “I can elaborate later on in life; right now I am just trying to enjoy this…People know how I feel about it, just follow me on Twitter.”
This isn’t the first time Bennett has made a statement like this.
During a National Anthem prior to a Patriots game in September, Bennett and McCourty raised their fists in the air, an action that followed San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the anthem.
Whether you agree with Bennett’s stance doesn’t really matter.
What does matter here is that Bennett is using his fame and prominence to make a statement. Yes, it’s a political one that means slightly more considering the Patriots’ ties to Trump, but that’s perfectly fine.
Speaking out should never be discouraged.
In fact, it should be encouraged for professional athletes, especially in today’s social media-driven society.
Just scroll through Bennett’s Twitter feed.
Yesterday he tweeted his offseason goals are to learn stop motion, a film-animation technique, and to play jazz on the trombone. He then went on to tweet that he wants to introduce black children to other hobbies besides football and basketball, like writing, music and film.
But maybe the tweet that stands out the most: “Your favorite athlete stands on his platform to be seen. I stand on my platform to shout. To be heard.”
While college athletes are often discouraged from voicing their opinions on touchy subjects by their coaches (although not always, — just ask Jalen Tabor), pro athletes have it different.
Not only do they have a right to say what they want, they have an obligation.
So Gronk, remember that next time you’re shotgunning Natty Light for all to see.
Patrick Pinak is the online sports editor. His column appears on Thursdays. Contact him at ppinak@alligator.org, or follow him on Twitter @pinakk12.
New England Patriots' Martellus Bennett appears at a news conference with his daughter Austyn Jett Rose Bennett after the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. The New England Patriots won 34-28 in overtime. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
