Final answer:
Rhoden believes athletes had a 'quiet spell' where they avoided social issues. Michael Jordan is seen as a model athlete for prioritizing his career.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rhoden believes there was a sort of 'quiet spell' during which athletes chose not to involve themselves in social and cultural issues because they were primarily focused on playing the game they loved and avoiding alienating white spectators. Michael Jordan is seen as a model for other athletes because he prioritized his career and avoided taking controversial political stances, which allowed him to maintain his popularity and financial success.