Last week, I mentioned in a post my objection to using the phrase “stick to sports” at those who make their living in athletic competition. The issue I take with the phrase is that it dehumanizes the athlete, suggesting that they are nothing more than a commodity to be used solely for our entertainment. The way I see it, the players that we watch on TV and read about on the Internet aren’t all that different from us. They get up in the morning, go to jobs, and have the same basic needs. Like those of us who are not athletically gifted, they sometimes want to be left alone.
Case in point, an anonymous NFL player who caught United’s red-eye service to Newark from Los Angeles back in February. The player is now suing United for an incident that occurred with a female passenger whom he and the person accompanying him said was acting rather erratically. The suit, filed in Los Angeles, alleges that the woman made inappropriate gestures to the player, including touching him around his upper legs. She also harassed him over the use of a face mask he had worn out of concern for COVID-19 (Fox 11 Los Angeles, 2020).
Pandemic or not, air travel can be a very stressful experience. All passengers and crew deserve to be treated with respect regardless of the circumstances. There’s no need for additional turbulence.