Woke in progress

The sports industry has never been particularly noted for being woke. But recent months have offered a reassuring counterfactual to that popular perception. Being within the realm of escapist entertainment, fans tend to place sports people in a bubble, chasing trophies, medals, records, and riches within their relatively short career spans. This may be unfair to the many, such as Muhammad Ali, Roberto Baggio, and Steve Waugh, who worked selflessly during their playing days to champion social causes. Now, and unexpectedly, this view should be up for a reassessment. Top honours go to 22-year-old Marcus Rashford, star striker for Manchester