Guts

I wonder if top athletes in our country would take this kind of a risk. 5 members of the Iranian Soccer team wore green arm bands, supporting the democracy movement in their nation, during a World Cup qualifying game with South Korea on Wednesday. The Iranians were opposing the rigged outcome of last week's Presidential elections. The players were forced to remove the arm bands at half-time by security forces from Iran. The game ended in a 1-1 draw and meant the Iranians will probably not make the World Cup next year in South Africa. You have to admire these elite athletes for standing up for what was right despite the possible consequences. Athletes in other totalitarian regimes have been tortured and executed for a lot less.

I can't imagine guys like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, A-Rod or Randy Johnson giving up their cozy lifestyle to make a political statement like the Iranian soccer players.