My wife has the right to criticize me. It may be true I have bad breath, an inability to fold towels to her standards, or fart too much, but I have a reasonable expectation she isn't detailing my shortcomings to a random stranger in the cereal aisle. There is a time and place.
Likewise, athletes are entitled to an opinion. As an athelete you might think Dave's Coffee is bitter swill. You might even express this opinion to your friends and family, but when you are in public, Dave's Coffee has a strong expectation you tell everyone within earshot Dave's is the reason you get out of bed to train eight hours a day. They are sponsoring you and that is the trade-off. Every athlete understands this dynamic.
When you are at the Olympics the USA is your sponsor. The Dave's Coffee logo isn't on your sleeve. The uniform says USA right there on your chest. The Dave's Coffee jingle does not play when you win, it is the National Anthem. You can have an opinion. Leave it at home.
There is a time and place.
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