For pro athletes, voting can require extra effort
Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey grew up in Kentucky in the 1960s, a child during the civil rights movement who witnessed the efforts of those in power to disenfranchise people of colour and slow their push for equality.
So every two years, when election time arrives in the United States, Casey drives home to his players the importance of participating in the voting process.
“I tell my players ‘Get your absentee ballots and vote,’” Casey said. “I remember my grandparents talking about when African-Americans couldn’t vote. Or they tried to make it hard for them to vote.
“So that is a privilege a lot of people fought for, you went to jail for. Everyone should vote.”