How Sports Can Unlearn Toxic Masculinity

How Sports Can Unlearn Toxic Masculinity

How Sports Can Unlearn Toxic Masculinity

Cleaning up youth sports culture in America and standing alongside teammates of color.

Dave Zirin
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This week we speak to Joe Ehrmann, former NFL player and founder of InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Change Lives.

Also, I speak about the solidarity statement we organized to support Seattle Seahawk Michael Bennett, in his efforts to challenge the violence and racial profiling of the Las Vegas police; a solidarity statement that brought together people from Angela Davis to Colin Kaepernick.

We have a Just Stand Up for friend of the program, Jemele Hill, after she tweeted out truths about No. 45… and then was subsequently scolded by her employer. ESPN, you can Just Sit Down.

As always, we’ve got your Kaepernick Watch—can you believe that we have something nice to say about Stephen A. Smith? You’ve gotta hear this!

Joe Ehrmann, Former NFL defensive lineman
Founder, InSideOut Initiative

Zirin
The Las Vegas Police Union Goes in the Gutter to Attack Michael Bennett

An urgent message from the Editors

As the editors of The Nation, it’s not usually our role to fundraise. Today, however, we’re putting out a special appeal to our readers, because there are only hours left in 2025 and we’re still $20,000 away from our goal of $75,000. We need you to help close this gap. 

Your gift to The Nation directly supports the rigorous, confrontational, and truly independent journalism that our country desperately needs in these dark times.

2025 was a terrible year for press freedom in the United States. Trump launched personal attack after personal attack against journalists, newspapers, and broadcasters across the country, including multiple billion-dollar lawsuits. The White House even created a government website to name and shame outlets that report on the administration with anti-Trump bias—an exercise in pure intimidation.

The Nation will never give in to these threats and will never be silenced. In fact, we’re ramping up for a year of even more urgent and powerful dissent. 

With the 2026 elections on the horizon, and knowing Trump’s history of false claims of fraud when he loses, we’re going to be working overtime with writers like Elie Mystal, John Nichols, Joan Walsh, Jeet Heer, Kali Holloway, Katha Pollitt, and Chris Lehmann to cut through the right’s spin, lies, and cover-ups as the year develops.

If you donate before midnight, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar by a generous donor. We hope you’ll make our work possible with a donation. Please, don’t wait any longer.

In solidarity,

The Nation Editors

Dave ZirinDave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is also the coproducer and writer of the new documentary Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL.


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