CLAY COUNTY – Athletes from the NBA, WNBA and Major League Baseball performed a strike last week and opted out of playing scheduled games to protest the police shooting of a man in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

This strike came as part of the “Black Lives Matter” movement after Jacob Blake was shot seven times by police last week. Many on both sides have spoken out about what happened and major players in the NBA used their platform to send a message.

The NBA bubble in Orlando was supposed to feature the Milwaukee Bucks against the Orlando Magic on Aug. 26. But when it came time for the game to begin, neither team was present. The strike inspired others to do the same and MLB teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds, who chose not to play their game on Aug. 27.

The strike spread to even more sports organizations like the WNBA and Major League Soccer. Clay Today asked residents what they think of the sports-wide strikes for the Facebook Question of the Week, and they largely don’t care.

“Who cares?” resident Linda Mitchell said. “Lost my interest years ago.”

That’s the message of nearly 30 others that responded to the question this week. Pattie Laasch said nobody cares about what these athletes do and that “if they had people in the stands watching, they wouldn’t do this.”

Diana Wilkinson said the athletes do have the right to not play the games but that if that’s what they’re doing, they shouldn’t get paid. Jody Cabrera agreed and said fans, just like the athletes, have the right to give up watching the games.

Many argued that politics shouldn’t be a part of sports.

“Sports have always been an escape, a way for people to get away from everything else in the world,” resident James McHugh said. “By leaping into the middle of politics, they are completely ruining its allure.”

While the majority of residents that responded the same way, there were those that spoke out in support of what these athletes are doing.

“Perfect forum for them to make a point,” David Alevy said. “You’re talking about it, along with others on this string and nationally…so they have been heard. Now, let’s have a difference made with the issues.”

Rebecca Maxwell said her family had some important discussions surrounding everything that’s been happening and feels it’s helped bring enlightened understanding to social issues facing the country today.

“As a sports family, my husband was at first peeved especially waiting for months for sports to come back on,” Maxwell said. “He understood the first game not airing because it was in Wisconsin, but he didn't understand why every game did it. But then I had to explain to him that it’s like when people support people from a distance and then he got it.

“When you’re an athlete, you love the game. This is bigger than the game and money.”

What do you think?

If you have thoughts, let us know by responding on the Facebook Question of the Week and keep an eye out on the Clay Today Newspaper Facebook page for the next one.