Sports are America’s great escape. They are our country’s greatest common denominator. They can lift a community, unite a diverse population, bridge racial and economic differences.

But they do not mix well with politics. Or when they look and sound too much like the real world.

Like now.

Our athletic fantasy land has suddenly become a platform for contentious debate: Are players disrespecting their country by protesting during the national anthem? Are they fueling a much-needed conversation, drawing attention to why African-Americans keep dying at the hands of highly stressed police officers? Should athletes leverage their fame to raise awareness on important social issues? Or should they refrain, knowing that most people flock to sporting events to get away from all the strife and heavy lifting?

Colin Kaepernick started this narrative. His decision to remain seated during the anthem sparked a firestorm of criticism, much of it steeped in ignorance. ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer said a backup quarterback should know his place and shut his mouth. On Friday, a Dallas radio station asked former NFL coach Mike Ditka about Kaepernick’s pioneering gesture, and his response sounded like what you might expect from someone who is old, wealthy and out of touch.

“Anybody who disrespects this country and the flag, if they don’t like our flag, then get the hell out,” Ditka said.

Then later:

“I don’t see all the atrocities going on in this country that people say are going on. I see opportunities if people want to look for opportunities. If they don’t want to look for them, then you can find problems with anything.”

MONTINI: Kaepernick is a patriot for NOT standing

Ditka is not alone in his view of the national anthem. A recent poll claimed Kaepernick has suddenly become the most disliked player in the NFL. Another survey of nearly 1,200 fans showed that only 24 percent of Caucasians supported Kaepernick, while 63 percent of African-American responders were in favor of the protests.

Those numbers are troubling. Sports are supposed to heal, not divide. They are not supposed to play out along racial lines. Meanwhile, 44 percent of responders said they will stop watching the NFL if anthem protests continue.

The latter is nonsense. Football fans have no trouble reconciling the very worst of the NFL, from the concussion epidemic to the domestic abusers to the chorus line of really bad quarterbacks. But they’re suddenly going to turn off the television because someone kneels during the national anthem?

That’s absurd. But it shows the current frustration level from fans yearning to escape when watching their favorite sport.

So what’s the solution? Abolish the anthem? Make participation voluntary without judging those who sit, protest, wear hats or head to the bathroom?

There are those who believe in mandated patriotism, that proper anthem etiquette must be displayed at all times. Others believe that patriotism includes the right to dissent. In Chicago, Blackhawks fans scream at the top of their lungs during the anthem. Is that disrespectful? To the contrary, it’s one of the most celebrated rituals in hockey.

Diamondbacks Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa has a different take. He points out that athletes are not representing themselves once they put on a uniform. If you play for the Diamondbacks, you are representing a team, a culture and a brand. He said that any of his players who wanted to protest the anthem could do so by remaining in the clubhouse until the song is over.

But Major League Baseball is also like Mike Ditka. They see things differently. Orioles star Adam Jones told USA TODAY that baseball is “a white man’s sport,” with only 69 African-Americans on an Opening Day roster or disabled list at the start of the 2016 season.

By contrast, that number is 68 percent in the NFL.

Sports can also be full of hypocrites. Some fans want athletes to speak up, to stand for something more than bats and balls. During his playing days, Michael Jordan was roundly criticized for staying true to his corporate image, for never using his mammoth platform for the betterment of society. But once an athlete says something you don’t agree with, well, it’s another story.

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The demonstrations in the NFL are just the beginning of athletic protests, and it’s clear the league doesn’t know what to do with the issue. Commissioner Roger Goodell is on record as saying he supports NFL players “when they want to see change in society.” He countered by saying, “On the other hand, we believe very strongly in patriotism.” There is also a serious trust issue between professional football players and those that run the NFL.

The NBA doesn’t have that problem. The league has the highest percent of African-American players (74 percent) and a progressive commissioner (Adam Silver) who treats them like men. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said his team is already taking about what they are going to do, adding that he hopes “every American is disgusted with what is going on around the country.”

So get ready. Basketball season is coming soon, and so are more protests. Whether you like it or not.

Reach Bickley at dan.bickley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8253. Follow him at twitter.com/danbickley.  Listen to “Bickley and Marotta,” weekdays from 12-2 p.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.