silly sports statues

Sports statues have become one of the strangest modern traditions in American culture. Entire cities rally around the unveiling of a bronze athlete frozen mid-action, as though the act of hitting a jump shot or throwing a touchdown warrants immortalization in stone. Sue Bird is the latest to receive one outside Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. She’s an all-time great—Bet Thrive ranks her 18th best in WNBA history—and by all accounts a tremendous person. But a statue? That’s silly.

Here’s the problem: statues elevate athletes into something they’re not. They are phenomenal competitors, but not saints, not leaders of nations, not icons who redefined society. A great point guard does not belong in the same sculptural category as figures who altered the course of human history. There are exceptions—Jackie Robinson, for instance, whose impact went far beyond the baseball diamond. Robinson broke barriers that shaped civil rights and national consciousness. Honoring him with a statue makes sense because his story is about much more than sports. But most others? It’s overblown.

By building these monuments, we send the wrong message. We confuse entertainment with heroism, athletic talent with moral importance. It’s a symptom of a culture that blurs the line between admiration and worship. We should appreciate Sue Bird for the games she played, the championships she won, and the inspiration she gave. That’s enough. We don’t need a permanent bronze shrine to prove it.

Maybe one day we’ll grow out of this phase. Maybe we’ll decide it’s more important to build statues of teachers, scientists, and quiet leaders who actually alter the trajectory of lives. Until then, let’s at least acknowledge how ridiculous it is. Statues for athletes are a societal mistake. Jerseys on grown men? We’ll save that rant for another day.