Time for the Sports Industry to Fight Antisemitism

The Anti-Defamation League reports that more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents occurred in the United States between October 7, 2023, and September 2024 – a huge jump from 3,300 incidents the prior year. This podcast outlines the way that the sports industry could help in combating this scourge  -- from education to sanctions and disciplinary actions. Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. to learn more.

Host: Mark Conrad Producer: Victoria Ilano Additional Production: Jeffrey Haynes Artwork: Pamela V. White Marketing: Michelle Miller Music: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise” 

Episode Transcript

(00:07):
Hello and welcome to the
Sports Business podcast with prophecy.
The podcast that exploresthe world of professional,
collegiate, amateur and Olympic sports.
I'm Mark Conrad or prophecy
from Fordham University's Gabelli Schoolof Business, where I serve as professor

(00:30):
of law and ethics and the directorof the Sports Business Initiative.
The Hello and welcome to the SportsBusiness Podcast with Prof C, the podcast
that explores the world of professional,collegiate, amateur, and Olympic sports.
I’m Mark Conrad, or Prof.
C from Fordham University’sGabelli School of Business,
whereI serve as Professor of Law and Ethics
and the Directorof the Sports Business Initiative.
The Anti-Defamation
League reports
that more than 10,000antisemitic incidents
occurred in the United Statesbetween October 7, 2023,
and September 2024– League reports that more than 10,000
anti-Semitic incidents occurredin the United States between October
7th, 2023 and September 2024 -

(00:51):
a huge jumpthe from 3,300 incidents the prior year.
That marks
the most incidents recorded in a 12-monthperiod by the organization
since it begantracking such threats over 40 years ago.
The 2024 figure includesmore than 150 incidents

(01:14):
of physical assault, more than 1,800
acts of vandalismand more than 8,000 other antisemitic
incidentsinvolving verbal or written harassment.
The organization also noted at least
1,200 antisemitic activitiesoccurred on US college campuses

(01:35):
over the past year,representing a 500% spike
from the previous year’sdata in the same category.
Many have debated waysto confront the problem
and finding policiesto reduce incidents of antisemitism.
The sports industrycould help in this quest.

(01:56):
Because millions follow professional,
college, high school and Olympic sports,
organizations and individual athletes
could participate in activities designed
to expose the dangers of antisemitism.
Professional, college and Olympicssport systems have traditionally
been considered an entertainment pursuitwhere stakeholders

(02:20):
did not venture into civil rightsor political questions.
In the last two decades, that has changed.
Leagues and teams have backed the rightto abortion,
pulled all-star games from stateswith restrictive transgender laws,
and promoted diversity and racial justice.

(02:40):
Playersassociations and individual athletes
have also become involved in these issues.
So it is time for the sports industryto become more proactive in combating
antisemitism, in the sports ecosystem
and also in society at large.
In 2020, shortly

(03:02):
after the rise of the “Black LivesMatter” movement,
former NBA star and social commentator
Kareen Abdul-Jabbarpenned a commentary titled “Where
is the Outrage Over Antisemitism
in Sports and Hollywood?”

He stated (03:20):
“Incidents of anti-Semitic tweets and posts
from sports and entertainmentcelebrities are a very troubling omen. . .
but so too is the shockinglack of massive indignation.
Given the New Woke-fulness in Hollywoodand the sports world,
we expected more passionatepublic outrage.

(03:44):
What we got was a shrug of meh-rage.”
Mr. Abdul-Jabbar is indeed correct.
To be fair,some change has already occurred.
New England Patriots Owner RobertKraft and commissioners
in all the major sports leagueshave agreed to an initiative against hate.

(04:06):
Kraft has teamed up with the commissioners
of Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA,
NHL, WNBA,
the National Women’sSoccer League, and NASCAR
to help create adsfeaturing leaders and top athletes.
Those ads – featuring notable sports icons

(04:28):
- will play across all major leaguesthroughout the rest of the year.
The campaign dealswith various kinds of hate,
not just antisemitismand it is a good start.
Here are a few other ideas for sportsto combat antisemitism:
For sportsstakeholders, more educational awareness

(04:50):
programs about the historyand evils of antisemitism, including trips
to Jewish or Holocaust museumsin the United States or Europe.
Sanctions
by leagues, conferences,and Olympic officials for antisemitic acts
or conduct by owners, executivesand players.

(05:10):
League Commissioners have broad authorityto sanction acts not in the best
interest of the sport and such conductwould constitute such a violation.
Working with the players’unions, a broad consensus of acts
could be included in future collectivebargaining agreements.
Other measures include banning offensive

(05:32):
chants and symbols in arenas and stadiums;
creating outreach programsto protect Jewish employees and fans
from hate; establishing a hotlinefor those in the sports organizations
who feel threatenedor victimized by antisemitic conduct;
and finally, trainingfor those who are counselors or directors

(05:56):
in summer youth sports leaguesto stop antisemitic actions.
For society at large,the sports industry can help combat
antisemitismby creating public service advertisements
and sponsoring educational programswith civil rights organizations.
At this troubled time,a more aggressive stand

(06:18):
by professional, amateur,college and Olympic sports
in addressing this issue wouldbe a positive development.
Any thoughts?
Send them to me at [e-mail].
Thank you for listening.
Until next time, this is Prof.
C for the GabelliSports Business Initiative.