Deadspin Presents: Top 10 presidential endorsements from sports stars, Part II: Biden backers

It’s rare for athletes to openly advocate for a change in leadership in their day-to-day lives, because it usually means getting branded as a “coach killer,” or an excuse-maker. But when it comes to politics, it’s different. There’s the choice of either the person in charge, or the person running to replace them.

These are some of the sports people who are advocating for change this year, supporting Joe Biden’s challenge for the presidency…

Having famously called Donald Trump “U BUM,” when James was asked if he was endorsing Biden, he replied, “what’s known don’t need to be said.” James mostly has focused his political efforts on getting more people out to vote, regardless of who they support, but it’s clear what his preference is.

America’s best soccer player jokingly pitched herself as Biden’s running mate during an Instagram chat this spring. Rapinoe had supported Elizabeth Warren in the primaries, but above all else, wants Trump out of office.

Billie Jean King

An icon of gender equality, King’s support for Biden has more to do with healthcare and Trump’s desire to scrap the Affordable Care Act. “I think if we vote for Joe Biden, the U.S. will take care of more people and will be a better place,” she the Medal of Freedom winner told Self Magazine.

Steve Kerr and Doc Rivers just released a Lincoln Project ad supporting Biden’s election, as did Gregg Popovich. And just before he was hired to coach the Pelicans, Stan Van Gundy hosted an event for Biden’s wife, Jill. All four coaches have been vocal critics of Trump.

The Lakers legend and Dodgers part-owner first hit the national spotlight with Michigan State, where he led the Spartans to the 1979 national championship. For the election, Johnson cut a Biden ad for the key state, urging people there to vote.

The entire WNBA summer was about political activism, and even though Delle Donne stayed out of the bubble for medical reasons, she took part in Democratic National Convention festivities to celebrate her fellow Delawarean’s nomination. The two have been mutual admirers for years.

Football coaches tend to have an authoritarian bent, but Holmgren is behind Biden in part for football reasons, particularly because of the unique setup in Green Bay, where he coached the Packers to a Super Bowl victory. “The people own the football team, and yet the stadium’s going to be empty,” Holmgren told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “It didn’t have to be this bad, I don’t think.”

Stephen Curry

Having refused to visit Trump’s White House, it’s not a surprise that Curry (along with wife Ayesha, above) is looking to see a change in the country’s leadership. Curry himself has an advantage over Trump in that he, unlike the president, actually listens to Dr. Anthony Fauci.

It’s pretty clear where WWE as a whole stands politically, given that Linda McMahon was part of the Trump cabinet, Vince McMahon has publicly supported Trump, and seeing how they’ve pressed on with wrestling through the pandemic. Foley, though, has had more than enough of his fellow WWE Hall of Famer as President, saying, “I want to be on the right side of history.”

How many on-air Fox talents have endorsed Biden? Well, A-Rod has, along with his partner Jennifer Lopez. Could it have something to do with the years that Trump spent ripping Rodriguez when he was on the Yankees? Maybe!

And the rest…

There are honestly too many NBA players to list who are supporting Biden, given the way Trump has singled them out specifically for scorn, but one former one stands out in honorary U.S. Marshal and honorary Broward County deputy Shaquille O’Neal. Figure skaters Michelle Kwan and Adam Rippon show Biden’s appeal beyond the usual headline sports, while the first openly gay MLS player, Robbie Rogers, is another Biden supporter. And Martina Navratilova has made clear that she wants Biden to replace “ the orange man.”