Muhammad Ali fought the United States government in court during the Vietnam War.

Runner Steve Prefontaine spoke out against the Amateur Athletic Union getting rich off track stars while insisting they receive no sponsorship money or support for their efforts.

Track stars Tommie Smith and John Carlos made history, and one of the most famous sports photos of all time, giving the black power salute from the winner's podium at the 1968 Olympics.

Bill Walton was a free spirit on and off the basketball court and sat out a season in protest of what he regarded as medical malpractice by the Portland Trail Blazers medical staff.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spent a career as both a star NBA player and an articulate critic of social injustice.

Bill Lee of the Boston RedSox was equal parts pitcher, flake, and advocate of political and social causes.

Jim Brown flaunted most every convention still around in the 60's, with as much disdain as he showed for NFL tacklers.

In 2007 who are the athletes who make bold statements, who run a risk of alienating fans and sponsors, who are engaged with sports and society?

What NBA star is going to speak out against Nike and the exploitation of Third World labor when they receive more money for endorsing shoes than playing the game?

Who is going to step up and speak up against mandatory drug testing when the MLB Player's Association has signed off on what is essentially a blank check for warrantless searches designed to detect illegal drug use? With sub .500 pitchers making five million a year and up, why rock the boat?

With limited entrance from college to the professional sports, what college player is going to stand up against abusive behavior by coaches? Who do you see going to court to challenge the NBA's collusion with the NCAA to restrain trade with the 19 year old age minimum?

Where are the voices in the NFL speaking out against contracts that don't guarantee the term or amount the player signs for? A free agent system that works to prohibit player movement? Medical malpractice by team doctors?

Name me a NASCAR driver who has an opinion about anything that isn't cleared by his team and sponsors?

Critics howled when Gary Sheffield made comments about race and baseball. I thought he missed the mark with his premise that Latin American players were signed more often because they are (to Sheffield's eye) more submissive than African-American players. But at least Sheffield has an opinion. At least he cares.

Maybe the reason we won't see sports rebels in the future is simply because there is little left to rebel against. There are few cultural norms these days, and the only sanctioned form of disapproval is of disapproval itself (or "intolerance" as it is now called).

But perhaps the truth is that access to enormous wealth has left players more inclined to guard their images and accept the status quo. You can't very well fight power if you are in power, and the modern athlete is certainly in that position economically.

Most of the athletes named took positions about one hundred and eighty degrees opposite my own political views. The odds are I wouldn't agree with today's athletes if they did get around to speaking out. But there's something vaguely wrong about where we've come to if athletes feel constrained to march in lock step and speak only when the light comes on the camera for their latest commercial.

We're not going to see another Ali anytime soon, but I'd settle for a few more Gary Sheffields, right or wrong. Maybe a NASCAR driver who says what comes to his mind when it comes to his mind. I'd even take a NFL player who dares question Roger Goodell's conduct standards. Not because I'd agree with him, but because there ought to be at least one Jim Brown in the NFL at all times to keep the powers that be honest.

In 2007 is that too much to ask?