Never have "politics" seemed more festive than in this sign.

There are two reasons why athletes should not comment on politics. The first reason was eloquently expressed by Michael Jordan; when asked why he wouldn't support an opponent to famous racist Jesse Helms, M.J, said, "Republicans buy sneakers, too." The second reason is they are athletes and they are just physical brutes who cavort around for our amusement. Not really, but kind of. They are like actors, with two key differences: a.) athletes are largely (not all) conservative and b.) they should know better since they're not filthy actors. Leave it on the field, guys.

Nothing but net. Well, actually, gross. Net, we're in deficit.

The 2012 Obama classic - Rarely have so many athletes waded into politics at once as this year's fundraising pickup game hosted by B.O. and M.J. Along with numbers 44 and 23, respectively, Carmelo Anthony hosted a basketball skills class ($5k for two tickets) with Knicks coach Mike Woodson and ex-Knick Patrick Ewing. Also on hand to play were Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Alonzo Mourning, Rajon Rondo, Steve Smith, John Wall, and many other NBA-ers as well as WNBA stars Keisha Hampton and ex-WNBA players Sheryl Swoopes and Dawn Staley. The NBA, it seems, swings further left than the NFL or MLB. 

Steve Nash wanted more immigrants so badly he eventually moved to LA.

The Phoenix Suns - When Arizona passed its now-famous "Screw Mexicans Initiative" of 2010, Suns owner Robert Sarver temporarily renamed his team "Los Suns" for their Cinco de Mayo playoff game against San Antonio (who wanted to join in but couldn't get the 'Los Spurs' jerseys made in time). Since 2010, the far-more-effective "Make The Economy Unappealing To Mexicans" initiative has rendered protest unnecessary.
 

"I'm so opposed to this war! Eh, I'm bored, I'll stop protesting now."

Carlos Delgado - Starting in 2004, the then-Toronto-Blue-Jays player began sitting in the dugout through "God Bless America" as a way to protest the Iraq War. Being in Canada probably made it easier, but he kept it up with the Florida Marlins for the 2005 season. New Yorkers really didn't like this, for obvious reasons, and perhaps for that reason Delgado gave it a rest when he moved to the Mets in 2006, a half-decade before the war he was protesting "ended."
 

Stem cells can NOT revive anyone's career, despite whatever 'science' promises.

Kurt Warner, Mike Sweeney, Jeff Suppan - A quarterback, a first baseman and a pitcher walk into a bar and say "let's make an ad with Jim Caviezel that hits back at that stupid Michael J. Fox bobbing around asking for stem cells for his Parkinsons." Before there was Tebow, there was the Trio (something no one ever called them). Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and we guess Michael J. Fox is an actor, but then again he's an actor with Parkinsons, so maybe next time counter him with a scientist instead of a bunch of low-level celebrities who probably never paid attention in science class in their lives.
 

"I don't want to go to New York with those shirtless, wood-grabbing queers."

John Rocker - The man who defined "asshole" for the 90s is back, and he has a new book "Rocker: Scars and Strikes". He wants to set the record straight that his comments about New York being full of disgusting foreigners and AIDS-riddled queers were taken out of context, as was his calling a radio host a "Jew faggot." Oh, he also wants to promote his current social-activism cause, "SPEAK ENGLISH." Just really setting the record straight.
 

We're here, we're Olympicans, and we love Bush.

Kerri Strug and Mary Lou Retton - Olympians are not supposed to endorse things, but on't tell that to conservative elf-people Strug and Retton, who appeared at the 2004 RNC to give Bush a leg up against Kerry (really, Kerri?). Maybe after a lifetime on the balance bar they were just excited to lean in one direction or another. Maybe they were impressed by the mental gymnastics used to paint the Silver-Star-winning Vietnam vet Kerry as a traitor during the war. Maybe they just like low taxes, and low things in general. Because they're short.
 

Maybe Sampras would have acted differently if the reporter knew Tina Fey was Greek.

Pete Sampras - We've already talked about why athletes (and actors) shouldn't talk about politics, but Sampras goes a step further and shows why athletes (or actors) shouldn't complain about actors (or athletes) talking about politics. Sampras shouts "Go McCain!" to a random TMZ reporter on the street and then un-self-consciously launches into a rant about how actors shouldn't be using their fame to advance their opinions. But...you.... but you....just did...that?
 

I like my politics like I like my pitches; fast, hard, and to the right.

Nolan Ryan - Now the CEO of the Texas Rangers, Ryan has always been a visible Republican and this year he endorsed David Drewhurst in the GOP senatorial primary. His opponent, Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz won that primary on the strength of his promise to never compromise with anyone ever.  Ryan loses a few style points for making his endorsement video in front of his ballpark, but a big plus for basically saying "please vote for someone who may actually work in government."
 

Of course you should listen to me, I'm the incredibly-famous Chauncey Billups.

Chauncey Billups - Despite having the most Republican-sounding name of anyone in this list, Chauncey Billups is a huge Obama booster. Although Chauncey has also participated in Obama pickup games for fundraising and fun, Chauncey went a step further by addressing a rally for Obama in 2008. While we appreciate how much athletes like to be 'on the team', this goes above and beyond the sort of neutrality we've come to expect from athletes.
 

They are all highly-effective shooters, but please don't shoot them.

The Miami Heat - Now this should not have really been considered a political statement. Trayvon Martin was from South Florida, and the Heat could basically be seen here as commenting on a local issue, but since the rules of our society dictate we politicize every disgusting facet of our society, this picture nonetheless became a lightening rod, with radio hosts calling it a "publicity stunt" that obscured the fact that of course, the hoodie is an inherently 'suspicious garment' warranting armed follow-ups by crazy neighborhood watchers. Maybe these millionaires should have stayed quiet, but on this one, we'll side with the Heat. This was their back yard.