Michael Jordan is also a businessman, so one could theoretically discuss Jordan as a businessman and not a basketball player. He also made a one year interlude into baseball, that could be talked about without talking about basketball. As for Derek Jeter, he is a very guarded individual, so when there's another aspect of Derek Jeter that's made public, aside from the beautiful women he has been linked to, somebody could discuss that.
So what exactly makes Sarah Palin a racist, or for that matter dumb or a bimbo? Is it simply because she is a Republican, or has she done something to make you say she is a racist? And for what it's worth, I am a Republican, and I've always gone by the old adage of not talking politics or religion in mixed company.