Patriotism has been ingrained into the backbone of sports culture and it is hypocritical to criticize athletes for using the platform they have been given to exercise their rights, especially when they are forced to mix politics with their profession.

If this concept is difficult to believe, then look no further than the $10.4 million the U.S. Department of Defense spent on marketing and advertising contracts with the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and the MLS, according to a Nov. 4, 2015 Washington Post article.

“When we put the national anthem in sporting events, we’re mixing politics and sports,” said Scot D. Schraufnagel, Chairman of the Political Science Department. “The intermingling of sports and politics creates controversy.”

Although it isn’t demanded, it can, and has recently, caused controversy when players choose not to stand during the anthem. Standing during the national anthem is a nationwide practice, which is why not following that norm creates controversy.

However, whether it’s a coach, trainer or player in the NBA, the league requires players to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem, according to Article H, Section 2 of the Official Rules of the National Basketball Association.

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors guard, received a considerable amount of attention for comments he made Sept. 22 at Warriors’s media day, regarding whether or not the Golden State Warriors would visit the White House if they were invited. He said if given the opportunity, he would let the team know he doesn’t want to go and was transparent about why.

“[Some people won’t stand] for what our president has done, [what] he’s said and the things that he hasn’t said at the right times,” Curry said. “By acting and not going, hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country, what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye toward.”

This isn’t the first time Curry has made public comments about his feelings regarding the President.

Players like Curry view President Donald Trump as a deterrent to the progress the U.S has made, not a catalyst. It’s clear Curry believes the toxic and harmful rhetoric Trump built his campaign around and continues to spew to this day is inexcusable.

Even though Curry made his views very clear, Trump later responded by uninviting the Warriors to the White House.

Curry shouldn’t be punished or ridiculed for the stance he has taken. He’s simply using his platform as a superstar athlete in the U.S to stand up against something he views as an issue threatening the greater good of America.

The government, and these professional sports leagues, are the ones responsible for the integration of patriotism. The athletes shouldn’t be blamed for this. If anything, they’re the ones who are using this integration for the right reasons.