In a candid conversation with Sports Illustrated, legendary actor Denzel Washington weighed in on the recent wave of criticism aimed at young athletes like Shedeur Sanders and Bronny James—both sons of sports icons—who are navigating careers under the public microscope.
The term “sports nepotism” has become a talking point for analysts and fans alike, but Washington made it clear he’s not buying into the noise.
“Shedeur can play, you know, for real,” Washington said, referencing the skill of Shedeur Sanders. “Everybody’s got an opinion. In fact, we live in a world of opinion… all the shows are a bunch of guys, a couple of them that have played, but most of them who haven’t, who have an opinion about what something should be when they haven’t done it.”
For Washington, the disconnect is simple—experience matters. “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, talk about those who can,” he stated bluntly. “Too much talking. Everybody’s sitting around getting fat, thinking they know how to do it. Just ‘cause you can sit behind a desk and chitchat doesn’t mean you can do a damn thing.”
The Oscar winner challenged critics to put in the work before passing judgment. “Come get in the gym with me,” he said. “Let’s find out.”
Washington’s point lands beyond sports—it’s a commentary on today’s culture of commentary, where people are quick to critique without ever stepping into the arena themselves. Whether on the field, in the ring, or on the big screen, he believes the proof is always in the performance—not the opinion.
Source: Sports Illustrated
