On Saturday Albert Pujols and his manager, Tony LaRussa, attended the “Restoring Honor,” rally held on the Mall in Washington D.C. The rally was organized by popular radio and television host Glenn Beck.
The rally was exceedingly well attended with estimates placing the crowd between 300,000 and 500,000. Beck and his organizers stated goals were to raise money for the families of fallen special forces soldiers and make a public expression of faith and patriotism.
The rally was not without its critics.
Beck, himself, is a brutally harsh, often brash critic of President Obama and the current American progressive movement. As a result he has inspired incredible vitriol towards himself and his causes.
By stepping out, perhaps even tangentially, with something Beck supported, Pujols and LaRussa have come under mild criticism for their appearances.
They are not the first athletes to embroil themselves in a political controversy. Many atheletes have stepped out in support or opposition to many different social, religious and political issues.
No sport has been free of these displays.
This slide show is a look at some of the most famous, infamous and important displays of an athletes personal political and social preferences.