Maybe I have been lucky, or am getting better at leading into the topic. I try to establish common ground on a non-controversial topic and then turn it into an issue at hand. Sports I'll talk a bit about sports, then how I don't really watch it since I'm not a fan due to my vision problems and never getting picked for a team until last. Then I'll say, but I'll root for whomever my friend supports if I'm watching at his place. Then say I just support the local teams where I live. Then talk about the huge salaries, can't blame them for taking it. Then mention how if the boss tells you to kneel at the Anthem you kneel because you like that 1 million a game paycheck, then mention how athletes and celebs move out of the ghetto once they make it big. Then mention about the athletes keeling over from the jab.

Thats an accurate chronology of a discussion that I have had work. If I'd started nearer the end it would have been a big problem. Going in dry causes too much friction... Kek