JAMES TIME’S 2020 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

LOS ANGELES – Itinanghal si LeBron James, pinangunahan ang Los Angeles Lakers sa NBA title at bumuo ng isang coalition para labanan ang voter suppression, bilang Time magazine’s 2020 Athlete of the Year.

Ang parangal mula sa Time ay dumating ilang araw makaraang mapasama si James sa Sport Illustrated’s Sportspersons of the Year — isang listahan na tinatampukan din ng activist athletes.

Pinuri ng Time ang  More than a Vote, isang non-profit organization, ni James na naglalayong hikayatin ang Black citizens at iba na gamitin ang kanilang karapatang bumoto

Sinabi ng Time na isinulong ng grupo ang paggamit sa sports arenas bilang polling places — na nag-aalok ng mas malaking espasyo para sa social distancing sa panahon ng coronavirus pandemic — at tumulong sa pag-recruit ng mahigit sa 40,000 election workers sa buong bansa.

“At every step, James supported the work by recruiting fellow athletes to the cause, promoting More Than a Vote to his more than 48 million followers on Twitter and turning himself into a billboard by wearing a Vote or Die! shirt to a practice,” ayon sa Time.

“It was the highest-profile example of the surge in activism that spread across the sports world in 2020.”

Inalala ang pag-aatubili ni NBA icon Michael Jordan na magsalita tungkol sa politika at ocial issues, sinabi ng Time na si James ay nakapagtayo ng bagong paradigm kung saan umiiral ang commercial clout kasama ang political principle.

“He remains one of the world’s top pitchmen, endorsing Nike, AT&T, Walmart and other major brands. And he has laid waste to the dated notion that political and social engagement is some sort of distraction for athletes.”

Ayon pa sa magazine, tungo sa kanyang ika-4 na NBA title, nanguna si James sa assists sa unang pagkakataon sa kanyang career, at ang kanyang magkasabay na tagumpay sa loob at labas ng court ay nagpapakita na ang mga  athleta ay maaari na ngayong dalhin ang kanilang sangkatauhan sa kanilang mga laro.

“James has been incredibly successful both on the court and in the business world in 2020, but the biggest reason he has received as much recognition as he has is that he’s used those successes to look out for people who once struggled in life as he did,” dagdag ng Time.