Muhammad Ali
DATE: 4/28/1967
ACT: Refusing to serve in the Vietnam War.
COMPLEX SAYS: Ali refused to join the Army because of his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong ... They never called me nigger," said Ali. Though not really seen as controversial today, Ali's outspoken opposition to Vietnam War caused many to call him a draft dodger while pointing to and praising athletes in the past who served such as Joe Louis and Willie Mays. The then heavyweight champion was also stripped of his title and sentenced to five years in jail (although he didn't end up serving time). After being kept out of the ring for three years during his prime, Ali came back for the title like he never left. #KING
John Carlos and Tommie Smith
DATE: 10/16/1968
ACT: Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics
COMPLEX SAYS: After winning the gold and bronze medals for the 200 meter-dash at the Olympics in Mexico City, John Carlos and Tommie Smith did the black power salute on the Olympic medal podium. The salute was done in protest of the racial injustices blacks were facing in America. At the time their gesture was seen as a very disrespectful airing of the country's dirty laundry on the world stage. Carlos and Smith were immediately suspended from the U.S. Olympic team and received death threats for years after returning home. Today Carlos and Smith are seen as Civil Rights heroes and were honored with a statue in 2005 at their alma mater, San Jose State University. What a difference a few decades makes...
Craig Hodges
DATE: 1992
ACT: Delivering a hand-written note to President George H. W. Bush criticizing the administrations treatment of minorities and the poor.
COMPLEX SAYS: After the Chicago Bulls won an NBA title in 1992, they were invited to the White House by President George H.W. Bush. Hodges saw the invite as an opportunity to voice his political concerns to Bush. He showed up wearing a dashiki and delivered his letter to the President. Hodges was waived by the Bulls in the off-season and believes that his political actions, not his play, were the main reason behind him being dropped from team. In 1996, after years out of the league, Hodges filed a $40 million lawsuit against the NBA.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
DATE: 3/12/1996
ACT: Refusal to stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner."
COMPLEX SAYS: During 1995-96 season Abdul-Rauf's refusal to stand for the "Star-Spangled Banner" caused the league to issue the Denver Nuggets guard a one-game suspension. His reasoning for not standing was that he believed the American flag represented "oppression and tyranny" both of which go against his Islamic faith. Two days later, the league and Abdul-Rauf made a compromise which required him to stand but allowed him to bow his head in prayer during the anthem.
Toni Smith
DATE: 2003
ACT: Turning her back during the "Star-Spangled Banner."
COMPLEX SAYS: During the 2003 season, Manhattanville college basketball player Toni Smith would turn her back during the "Star-Spangled Banner" before games to protest "the inequalities that are embedded into the American system." Smith started to receive attention for the act after their game against Mount St. Mary. On February 11, when they traveled to play the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the crowd of more than 300 jeered at Smith and spent most of the game chanting "U-S-A" and "Leave our country."
Carlos Delgado
DATE: 7/21/2004
ACT: Protests Iraq War by silently staying in the dugout during the singing of "God Bless America."
COMPLEX SAYS: Delgado's passive form of protest had gone unnoticed by fans and some of his teammates until he voiced his opposition to the war in an interview with the Toronto Star. “It’s a very terrible thing that happened on September 11. It’s also a terrible thing that happened in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Delgado said. The Puerto Rico native continued by saying he feels sad for the family of those killed in the war but that "it's the stupidest war ever." On July 21, fans at Yankee stadium showed their disgust with Delgado (see photo above) while others showed signs of their support. Something we all can agree on: Though not his fault, Delgado's tenure with the Mets was during a time when the Messropolitans had some of their biggest fails.
Josh Howard
DATE: 9/16/2008
ACT: Says he refuses to sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" because he's black.
COMPLEX SAYS: During a charity flag football game hosted by Allen Iverson in the summer of 2008, Howard's comments were captured on cell phone camera and made public two months later. About a week afterward, Howard apologized for his comments saying "It was me joking around. Guys were out there making fun and I decided to get along in it. I wasn't using my head. I guess the valuable lesson I did learn is that words really do hurt. You're held accountable for what you say." The next season Howard was traded from the title-contending Mavericks to the Washington Wizards. No real chance at a title, but maybe dude will get to work on his patriotism while in D.C.
James Harrison
DATE: 5/18/2009
ACT: Refuses to go to the White House after Pittsburgh Steelers victory party.
COMPLEX SAYS: After winning Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers, as most championship teams in major sports are, were invited to the White House by President Barack Obama. Linebacker James Harrison turned down the invite saying he didn't feel it was that big of a deal and that Obama would have invited the Cardinals instead had they won. Uhh...yeah, the league definitely needs to do something about those head shots.
Luke Scott
DATE: 12/7/2010
ACT: Says he believes President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.
COMPLEX SAYS: In an interview where he criticized the current administration's policies, Baltimore Oriole Luke Scott joined the legion of birthers by saying he doesn't believe President Obama was born in America. Despite the White House releasing Obama's birth certificate, Scott repeated his doubts and claims the birth certificate could be a fake. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but when you're a baseball player hitting sixth for one of league's most embarrassing franchises, no one really gives a fuck about your political opinion. Stay in your lane, son.
Rashard Mendenhall
DATE: 5/2/2011
ACT: Posted tweets criticizing celebrations of the death of Osama Bin Laden.
COMPLEX SAYS: While many took the streets celebrating the death of the Al Qaeda figurehead behind the 9/11 attacks, Mendenhall took to twitter to criticize their actions and state his belief in 9/11 conspiracy theories. "What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they never even heard speak. We've only heard one side...," Mendenhall continued by questioning the destruction of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11. "We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style." The Steeler running back later said he didn't mean to cause harm to anyone but just wanted to "generate conversation." Well, you were successful in doing that. Now let's just work on securing the ball in those critical late-game situations. Ah, fuck it. There might not even be a Super Bowl next year.
DATE: 4/28/1967
ACT: Refusing to serve in the Vietnam War.
COMPLEX SAYS: Ali refused to join the Army because of his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong ... They never called me nigger," said Ali. Though not really seen as controversial today, Ali's outspoken opposition to Vietnam War caused many to call him a draft dodger while pointing to and praising athletes in the past who served such as Joe Louis and Willie Mays. The then heavyweight champion was also stripped of his title and sentenced to five years in jail (although he didn't end up serving time). After being kept out of the ring for three years during his prime, Ali came back for the title like he never left. #KING
John Carlos and Tommie Smith
DATE: 10/16/1968
ACT: Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics
COMPLEX SAYS: After winning the gold and bronze medals for the 200 meter-dash at the Olympics in Mexico City, John Carlos and Tommie Smith did the black power salute on the Olympic medal podium. The salute was done in protest of the racial injustices blacks were facing in America. At the time their gesture was seen as a very disrespectful airing of the country's dirty laundry on the world stage. Carlos and Smith were immediately suspended from the U.S. Olympic team and received death threats for years after returning home. Today Carlos and Smith are seen as Civil Rights heroes and were honored with a statue in 2005 at their alma mater, San Jose State University. What a difference a few decades makes...
Craig Hodges
DATE: 1992
ACT: Delivering a hand-written note to President George H. W. Bush criticizing the administrations treatment of minorities and the poor.
COMPLEX SAYS: After the Chicago Bulls won an NBA title in 1992, they were invited to the White House by President George H.W. Bush. Hodges saw the invite as an opportunity to voice his political concerns to Bush. He showed up wearing a dashiki and delivered his letter to the President. Hodges was waived by the Bulls in the off-season and believes that his political actions, not his play, were the main reason behind him being dropped from team. In 1996, after years out of the league, Hodges filed a $40 million lawsuit against the NBA.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
DATE: 3/12/1996
ACT: Refusal to stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner."
COMPLEX SAYS: During 1995-96 season Abdul-Rauf's refusal to stand for the "Star-Spangled Banner" caused the league to issue the Denver Nuggets guard a one-game suspension. His reasoning for not standing was that he believed the American flag represented "oppression and tyranny" both of which go against his Islamic faith. Two days later, the league and Abdul-Rauf made a compromise which required him to stand but allowed him to bow his head in prayer during the anthem.
Toni Smith
DATE: 2003
ACT: Turning her back during the "Star-Spangled Banner."
COMPLEX SAYS: During the 2003 season, Manhattanville college basketball player Toni Smith would turn her back during the "Star-Spangled Banner" before games to protest "the inequalities that are embedded into the American system." Smith started to receive attention for the act after their game against Mount St. Mary. On February 11, when they traveled to play the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the crowd of more than 300 jeered at Smith and spent most of the game chanting "U-S-A" and "Leave our country."
Carlos Delgado
DATE: 7/21/2004
ACT: Protests Iraq War by silently staying in the dugout during the singing of "God Bless America."
COMPLEX SAYS: Delgado's passive form of protest had gone unnoticed by fans and some of his teammates until he voiced his opposition to the war in an interview with the Toronto Star. “It’s a very terrible thing that happened on September 11. It’s also a terrible thing that happened in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Delgado said. The Puerto Rico native continued by saying he feels sad for the family of those killed in the war but that "it's the stupidest war ever." On July 21, fans at Yankee stadium showed their disgust with Delgado (see photo above) while others showed signs of their support. Something we all can agree on: Though not his fault, Delgado's tenure with the Mets was during a time when the Messropolitans had some of their biggest fails.
Josh Howard
DATE: 9/16/2008
ACT: Says he refuses to sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" because he's black.
COMPLEX SAYS: During a charity flag football game hosted by Allen Iverson in the summer of 2008, Howard's comments were captured on cell phone camera and made public two months later. About a week afterward, Howard apologized for his comments saying "It was me joking around. Guys were out there making fun and I decided to get along in it. I wasn't using my head. I guess the valuable lesson I did learn is that words really do hurt. You're held accountable for what you say." The next season Howard was traded from the title-contending Mavericks to the Washington Wizards. No real chance at a title, but maybe dude will get to work on his patriotism while in D.C.
James Harrison
DATE: 5/18/2009
ACT: Refuses to go to the White House after Pittsburgh Steelers victory party.
COMPLEX SAYS: After winning Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers, as most championship teams in major sports are, were invited to the White House by President Barack Obama. Linebacker James Harrison turned down the invite saying he didn't feel it was that big of a deal and that Obama would have invited the Cardinals instead had they won. Uhh...yeah, the league definitely needs to do something about those head shots.
Luke Scott
DATE: 12/7/2010
ACT: Says he believes President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.
COMPLEX SAYS: In an interview where he criticized the current administration's policies, Baltimore Oriole Luke Scott joined the legion of birthers by saying he doesn't believe President Obama was born in America. Despite the White House releasing Obama's birth certificate, Scott repeated his doubts and claims the birth certificate could be a fake. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but when you're a baseball player hitting sixth for one of league's most embarrassing franchises, no one really gives a fuck about your political opinion. Stay in your lane, son.
Rashard Mendenhall
DATE: 5/2/2011
ACT: Posted tweets criticizing celebrations of the death of Osama Bin Laden.
COMPLEX SAYS: While many took the streets celebrating the death of the Al Qaeda figurehead behind the 9/11 attacks, Mendenhall took to twitter to criticize their actions and state his belief in 9/11 conspiracy theories. "What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they never even heard speak. We've only heard one side...," Mendenhall continued by questioning the destruction of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11. "We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style." The Steeler running back later said he didn't mean to cause harm to anyone but just wanted to "generate conversation." Well, you were successful in doing that. Now let's just work on securing the ball in those critical late-game situations. Ah, fuck it. There might not even be a Super Bowl next year.
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