Calvin Johnson, the former NFL wide receiver and near future hall-of-famer, talks about his future and discloses his cannabis use.
Sports Play into Popular Culture
Few systems move the culture like sports. America, is sports obsessed. From the World Series to college football tailgating, following sports is as American as baseball itself. The voice of the sports hero is loud, we pay attention, kids collect autographs and dream of on field heroics. There are, of course, cultural implications that matter off the field as well as on. From the latest antics of young players, to extensive media coverage of drafts and trades, we value athletes.
Did Jackie Robison pave the way for the civil rights movement? One could argue that changed the dialogue in America. Did America think “if we can play baseball alongside black people, what else can we do?” Did Ryan O’ Callahan make it safe for gay athletes to be public by disclosing that he is gay? He might have done just that and time will tell. Did we think about the role of women differently after Billie Jean King resoundingly beat Bobby Riggs?
Calvin Johnson’s ESPN Interview
In a recent interview with ESPN, Calvin Johnson talked about retirement and his soon to be induction into the hall of fame. Johnston, nicknamed “Megatron” is still a strapping 6’5” and in spite of cutting an imposing figure, he has been plagued by chronic pain from his playing days. Johnson also spoke candidly about his use of cannabis. After a three year development plan, Johnson has announced he is launching a cannabis brand but more importantly, he has self-disclosed his use of cannabis. Bravely, Johnson admitted using cannabis while he was an active player. Until recently, that was a big no no in the NFL. While that seems innocuous among elderly arthritis patients and stoners, for a young black man, it’s not. For a professional athlete, it’s a major concession. “This is something I believe in” said Johnson. “I used when I played, and I had fun with it but at the same time, I knew there was more to it” added Johnson, the father of three boys.
Why Is Using Cannabis Still News?
Everyone from Willie Nelson to Urkel has a cannabis brand, so what’s the big deal? In a certain regard, cannabis fever is like the new sun-dried tomato or gluten-free diet but we still live among reefer madness. There are still states and jurisdictions that are enforcing simple possession laws, primarily imposed on young black men. Johnson was very open and honest about his use of cannabis, not just for relaxation and recreation but also for pain management. That’s a big deal. The current climate of the culture is to say “it helps my pain” which it does but there is still a measure of shame impose on the notion that it is also a pleasurable activity. In the 70s, before the internet, guys used to say of playboy magazine “well, the articles are really great” and they were but it was always inherently dishonest to ignore the fact that among the solid journalism were pictures of naked, beautiful women.
In the grand scheme, cannabis may in fact be helpful to athletes when used properly. By any standard, it’s a better option than the alcohol that fuels the testosterone swamp of drunken parking lot brawls. The more athletes who are honest about their use of cannabis the more the idea moves into the living room of the average American. That’s a great thing. The downside maybe for the alcohol industry when America clues into how toxic and dangerous their product really is. Are Super Bowl ads featuring edibles for insomnia in our near future? They just might be. Well done, Calvin Johnson!