This week, United States Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky unleashed some pretty controversial comments as he spoke out against athletes earning money from their name, image, and likeness. And he appeared to target one particular demographic with his tirade: Black athletes.
During a hearing on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger this week, Rand Paul spoke out against antitrust laws impacting college sports, making it clear that he does not support college athletes being compensated for being the focal point of a multi-billion dollar industry.
“The court ruled unanimously that the NCAA can’t invoke their rules. And so they’ve completely screwed up college athletes. We used to be proud – many of us loved watching amateur athletes who weren’t paid,” Paul lamented. “Now everybody that plays basketball in college is gonna be driving a Bentley or a Rolls. I mean, we’re gonna be seeing rap stars instead of basketball stars. I mean, this is crazy.”
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) complains about how antitrust laws impact college sports at a hearing on the PGA Tour-LIV merger:
“Now everybody that plays basketball in college is gonna be driving a Bentley or a Rolls. I mean, we’re gonna be seeing rap stars instead of basketball stars.” pic.twitter.com/raasfga8XC
— The Recount (@therecount) July 11, 2023
“And you know why it happened?” Paul asked. “Cause Congress sat around and said ‘Oh, well because of antitrust we can’t let the NCAA do it. It went to the court, and the court made the ruling – unfortunately, a unanimous ruling based on the law. So the law’s got to change.”
Many people saw his comments – particularly the quote about seeing “rap stars instead of basketball stars” as a racist dog whistle, and they were not happy.
That’s an awfully loud dog whistle. https://t.co/D6QavDPC3J
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) July 11, 2023
If you want to become a rap star, play college basketball…and other wildly racist and uninformed comments from Rand Paul.pic.twitter.com/XkPrKkR5qO
— Marc Isenberg (@marcisenberg) July 11, 2023
Just say you don’t like Black athletes with money. https://t.co/6epm7Wsw09
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) July 11, 2023
Public Service Announcement. Black families. Be careful,be judicious where you send your kids to school. There are college coaches who think the same way as this person. One of them is a senator now. They see the ability to make money as exclusively theirs. Not yours.✊🏽❤️ https://t.co/U5KKFqc9nM
— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) July 11, 2023
It’s the way these white men are pissed that young Black student-athletes can make money of their own name, image and likeness rather than settle for just a scholarship to play… LMAOOOOOO STAY MAD https://t.co/c8dUu71DWN
— Dawn (@_dawnmontgomery) July 11, 2023
What do you mean by “rap stars” there, Rand? 🤔 https://t.co/tCOX1JtILl
— Sam Neumann (@Sam_Neumann_) July 11, 2023
1) Rap stars are not who keep the makers of Bentleys and Rolls in business.
2) Therefore, this is a racist dog whistle.
3) Why is he not worried about what the coaches who've made millions on the backs of athlete's free labor drive? https://t.co/4YdCb3vBfY— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) July 11, 2023
Only rap stars drive fancy cars? Republicans wonder why they are called racist so often https://t.co/qg9Bf6Th5p
— NO DJ's WHILE EATING (@LON_knows) July 12, 2023
This feels blatantly racist https://t.co/hyaI7oWb5e
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) July 11, 2023
It’s safe to say those comments did not go over too well.
