Fanalytics With Mike Lewis Podcast

COVID-induced chaos has seemingly awakened NBA and college football players to the power they possess. In a two-day NBA players strike that threatened to end the 2020 Playoffs, LeBron James and his fellow player representatives pushed team owners to retool their arenas as polling sites for the upcoming election. This occurred after players had already secured $300 million in donations to black communities from team owners as well as league-sponsored ads promoting social justice. While the players' boycott did not last long, it set a precedent that will likely change professional sports forever. Players hold the power in professional sports, and they're harnessing it toward their goals for society whether fans like it or not. The power structure varies in a college sports system where student-athletes drive profits for their schools, athletic departments, and coaches… at least traditionally. But now that LSU star Ja'Marr Chase has opted out of his junior season with the reigning National Champions, NFL-ready u