The latest offender, blatherer Laura Ingraham, perpetuated what's becoming an exhausted theme among the xenophobes, recently advising LeBron James to "shut up and dribble."

Seems that LeBron's audacity to talk politics publicly last week prompted another apocalyptic grunt from a pundit who believes her musings come from a higher order. Hence, LeBron gets scolded, because what could some guy who "gets paid millions to bounce a ball," as Ingraham said, know that some erudite talk show host doesn't?

James was rather insightful, talking about the challenges that come with being black and a public figure, his reaction to the racial slur that was painted on his home last year and matters concerning President Trump.

The free exchange of ideas? Not in Ms. Ingraham's world. Nah. She — and others of her ilk — opts into media tracks that disdain common-denominator information and instead just suit, service, reinforce and intensify their audiences' predispositions and prejudices.

And should you disagree, you are told to stay in your lane.

Good thing LeBron didn't. Never has. Because if there were more LeBrons in this world — public figures who use their money and celebrity to help — maybe we'd be in a better place.

James runs the LeBron James Family Foundation, helping thousands of kids find a light for the way, mostly through education. A recent story in USA Today detailed the breadth of his work:

• James runs an "I Promise" program for 1,200 at-risk Akron students in grades 3-9 with $41 million earmarked for full-ride scholarships at the University of Akron for Akron public school students who go through the program.

• Nine parents in Akron have received GEDs through the "I Promise Too" program, with three more dozen parents enrolled.

• There was an "I Promise" public school opening in the fall for 120 third-graders and 120 fourth-graders. By 2022, the newspaper reported, the school will be open to students in grades one through eight.

Only in this political climate, where intolerance is tres chic, could someone like LeBron James be viewed negatively.

Isn't he doing what we all should be doing?

No, we don't all have James' wherewithal. But if we all simply took what we're good at — from the mundane to the extraordinary — and shared it in our communities, there's be less room for Ms. Ingraham's feigned hostility.

Our communities need us. In all forms. Whatever we can do. Most of us can offer base hits. LeBron James is a grand slam.

See, Ms. Ingraham picked on the wrong dude here. Sometimes, you get exposed when perpetuating a shtick replaces civil discourse. Turns out Ms. Ingraham is all fizz and no gin.

Our country is — happily — undergoing the law of unintended consequences. A little more every day. The Ms. Ingrahams of the world, who are bigger on agenda than growth, are actually giving louder, stronger voices to athletes. Athlete activism is a very real thing. The power of LeBron's words reach as many — if not more — people across a greater cross-section of our country.

It's one thing for sports fans to playfully jab at James, who once couldn't beat the Celtics, later took his talents to Miami and now tries to reinvent the Cavaliers in midseason. It's good, healthy sports debate. But how can the efficacy of James' community contributions, offering thousands of people a better chance at self-sufficiency, possibly be up for debate?

Gloryoski. Has the intolerance wing of our country gone off the rails that far that it cannot see the dizzying levels to which James gives back?

LeBron, as many in the Get Off My Lawn crowd do, could hoard his money. Instead, he spreads the message of hope. The people of Akron are blessed to have him.

Where would their lives be if he heeded Ms. Ingraham's advice?

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro