Veteran comedian and television host, Bill Maher, has made a bold statement about the sports industry. During his show "Real Time" on Friday night, he asserted that sports is one of the last industries free from nepotism.
Maher's comments come in the wake of a highly debated topic across social media about nepotism in Hollywood. Many celebrities have shared their thoughts on this issue including Tom Hanks, Gwyneth Paltrow and O'Shea Jackson Jr among others.
In his trademark confident and comedic tone, Maher addressed those who benefit from nepotism saying “Enjoy the good life, nepos."
He then went on to compare the entertainment industry with sports stating that while there may be some level of favoritism in terms of scouting talent for college teams or professional leagues based on family connections or reputation; ultimately athletes are judged solely based on their performance on the field.
Maher also pointed out that sports teams often invest millions of dollars into recruiting new talent and would not risk losing games by fielding players who are not performing well just because they have familial connections to someone within the organization.
While it remains to be seen whether Maher's claims hold true for all aspects of the sports industry, it is clear that he believes it offers a model for other industries to follow when it comes to eliminating nepotistic tendencies.