NBA star Kyrie Irving got his apology, but four COVID-era athletes still waiting for theirs from the media
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Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving recently received an apology from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith regarding his decision to remain unvaxxed during the pandemic, which cost him millions of dollars. For some, these statements were a welcomed piece of accountability not normally seen in the media. It also got me thinking about what other COVID-era athletes deserve apologies from the media, and recognition for their courage during a time in which being unvaxxed was essentially a crime in the eyes of the media.
Protesters rallying against COVID-19 vaccination mandates and in support of basketball player Kyrie Irving gather in the street outside the Barclays Center before an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Charlotte Hornets, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
STEPHEN A. SMITH ONLY SPEAKS UP ABOUT IMPORTANT SOCIETAL ISSUES ONLY WHEN IT'S POLITICALLY ACCEPTABLE
FILE - Feb. 21, 2021, file photo Serbia's Novak Djokovic holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair, File) ((AP Photo/Hamish Blair, File))
No athlete became more synonymous with the vaccine debate than the greatest tennis player of all-time, Novak Djokovic. (I like to refer to him as Novax when discussing this insane era of sports history).
Although Djokovic repeatedly rejected the label of being "anti-vaccine," he consistently maintained that medical decisions should remain a matter of personal choice. He consistently preached a message of bodily autonomy in regards to COVID-19.
In 2020, he stated, "I am opposed to vaccination if someone is forcing me to take a vaccine in order to travel." Two years later, following his deportation from Melbourne, Australia, home of the Australian Open, he reiterated, "I was never against vaccination, but I've always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body."
Despite those statements, much of the media portrayed Djokovic primarily through the lens of vaccine opposition and as Djokovic said to "60 Minutes," "I was basically declared as a villain of the world."
"Time" magazine published articles including "Why Australians Are Furious About Anti-Vaxxer Novak Djokovic" and even wrote in an article, "The entire saga could easily have been avoided if Djokovic had been fully vaccinated." "Vanity Fair" ran "The Right Wing Is Rallying Around Novak Djokovic Over Vaccine Stance," while "Axios" referred to the controversy simply as "The Djokovic Debacle."
The consequences for Djokovic extended beyond media criticism. Because Australia canceled his visa before the 2022 Australian Open , he was deported and unable to compete. United States travel requirements also prevented him from entering the country for several major tournaments, including Indian Wells, the Miami Open, and the 2022 U.S. Open .
The mistreatment of Djokovic cost him millions of dollars and potentially a major or two. It objectively affected the record books and his pocketbook.
The apology from tennis and mainstream media should be just as loud as the criticism, but I’m not expecting it.
FILE - Detroit Red Wings left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) waits for the puck to drop during an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, in this Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, file photo. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter, File) ((AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter, File))
The then Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi became one of the NHL's most recognizable unvaxxed players. For a time, Bertuzzi was only one of four unvaxxed players in the league, but eventually become the only unvaxxed player when others folded.
Unlike some athletes who frequently discussed vaccine policy, Bertuzzi offered little public commentary beyond confirming that he had chosen not to be vaccinated. Bertuzzi said, "It’s a personal choice, freedom of choice, and life choice."
What made his case so special is the fact that he’s Canadian. Because of his lack of vaccination, he wasn’t allowed to play in or travel to his home country during the season.
The NHL never required players to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, Canada's border policy at the time prohibited most unvaxxed foreign nationals from entering the country. As a result, Bertuzzi missed every regular-season game played in Canada during the 2021-22 season and forfeited the salary associated with those games. Missing those games up north reportedly cost him around half a million dollars. It was another courageous stance financially and ethically.
The media labeled his decision as "short-sighted and selfish." We have yet to hear one hockey media member or outlet apologize to Bertuzzi for the way he was vilified during that season.
Buffalo Bills receiver Cole Beasley addresses the media following practice at NFL football training camp in Orchard Park, N.Y., Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
The now retired, former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley emerged as perhaps the NFL's most outspoken critic of COVID-19 vaccine mandates , along with Aaron Rodgers.
Unlike many players who kept their decisions private, Beasley openly challenged league policies and defended players' right to make their own medical decisions. Among his most widely quoted comments were, "I'll be out in public. If you're scared of me, then steer clear," and "I'll live my one life like I want to."
Those statements generated enormous media attention. ESPN, CNN, and countless newspapers and opinion writers regularly covered Beasley's comments. Outlets criticized him for questioning…
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