Well, this is rather ironic.
TIME magazine has named LA Laker star LeBron James the athlete of the year because of his work to stop “voter suppression.”
James is the founder of the More Than a Vote organization which he established after the death of George Floyd with the intention of rooting out supposed voter suppression.
One can imagine he has not done much to push back against the actual voter suppression that appears to have occurred in several key swing states as the Trump campaign’s legal team has been working to expose.
The basketball star also says he created the organization to “educate voters” and to help boost the turnout for the 2020 presidential election.
“After nearly two decades in the NBA, James has fully embraced that his talent on the court is a means to achieving something greater off it,” TIME wrote in its announcement. “And this year, more than in any before it, he showed why he is unrivaled in both.”
“Because of everything that’s going on, people are finally starting to listen to us — we feel like we’re finally getting a foot in the door,” James said of his organization. “How long is up to us. We don’t know. But we feel like we’re getting some ears and some attention, and this is the time for us to finally make a difference.”
James has also been awarded the Sports Illustrated sportsperson of the year award which purports to honor athletes who are successful on and off the field.
“[It’s] being able to go out there and not only perform at a high level in what we do as far as our profession, but also being able to change lives and create opportunities, empower people and inspire people off the floor, not only in our communities but all over the world,” James said of the Sports Illustrated recognition. “It means a lot to be a part of that group, to be the first-ever three-time winner of this award. I’m very humbled. It means a lot to my family and my friends and the kids in my foundation and my school back home and my city of Akron where I come from.”
James claims that his More Than a Vote organization “worked out great” and insists that he “didn’t pick one side versus the other side” despite the fact that the groups’ efforts were literally only focused on neighborhoods in far-left districts in big cities.
CBS News reports that James is taking aim at the Georgia Senate run-off races set to be held January 5th.
“We’re trying to figure out ways, right now, that we can continue to implement change in the communities, not only in my home community of Akron, Ohio, but communities all over America, and hopefully, create change in the world, as well,” James said. “So we’re looking for opportunities — there’s a huge Senate race in that’s going on in Georgia coming up in January, so we’re tackling that.”
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