One of the most disturbing things the #metoo movement has uncovered in the past several weeks — besides all those disgusting creepers, that is — is the way we’re often prone to selective outrage based on our tribal affiliations. Scroll through Politics Twitter (note: do not scroll through Politics Twitter) and you’ll see people doing the mental gymnastics necessary to develop seemingly conflicting takes depending on the party of the accused — all in the name of their side “winning.”
Sports fandom is equally fertile ground for this kind of tortured thinking. We wrap up our identities in the exploits of people we think we know, but don’t really know, leading otherwise reasonable people to excuse and openly cheer for deeply flawed people accused of all manner of terrible misdeeds.
We’re not going to do that here.
KABEER THIRTY 