No, it isn't absurd at all. In fact, it is absurd NOT to do so.
So democracy. Tell me, what is it? Let's look at the US' First Amendment to start.
What the heck happened during the Occupy movement?
This was not an isolated incident. Right across the USA, police brazenly and violently put a stop to many protests by force, even though in many cases the students offered no resistance other than to refuse to get up. They were pepper-sprayed, tear gassed, beaten.... whatever means necessary. So people have the right to protest... usually? How about the USA's use of torture? Again, it is an illegal act, but for some reason it is ok if the USA does it, occasionally.
If you really think that the USA has actual media freedom, think again. Who controls the media companies? Why is there such a rift between Fox News and other establishments? Is one really more 'honest' than the other? Look at who owns each media company, and it should lead to multinational company that has spent millions and millions on electing a certain side, and has spent millions and millions on lobbying whatever side wins to act in its' interests (even if they conflict with those of the people).
Besides, is human life - rights, freedoms, quality of life, safety, etc. - any more important within a nation vs external to the nation? Is the USA model of government 'better' because people in the USA have more relative freedoms than those in Russia, even though the USA has an incredibly long and ugly list of removing democratically elected governments and replacing them with governments that are even maniacal and have been the causes of mass murders, including genocides?
How about this that happened in Chile:
https://www.theguardian.com/business...ss.theobserver
How the USA listened to the petitions of Pepsi to oust the democratically elected and RESPONSIBLE government of Allende through a coup. His replacement? A dictator responsible for the imprisonment of over 200,000 'dissidents' (even suspected dissidents without any proof other than the accusation of someone else), and who systemically tortured and murdered over 30,000 people illegally and without a fair trial. Just ask a Chilean that lived through those times how wonderful the USA was.
I remember mentioning the bombings in Cambodia that were conducted illegally, and the active support of the Khmer Rouge by the USA (and China), who made any communist regime before or after that look downright pleasant. 3 million lives were extinguished there, and Cambodia is still suffering from the fall-out, as they trail behind practically every other nation in SE Asia, but before the bombings took place, they were one of the region's models.
The East Timor invasion. Sanctioned by the USA. Genocide of the Timorese people, language and culture. Portugal would try and have the UN at least investigate what was happening in East Timor (they claimed - and were proven right after 1999 - of genocide), but the USA and UK took turns vetoing any investigation. Vetoing an investigation??
The point remains this one - you can criticize Ovie for his public support of Putin, but you also better criticize any other athlete in their public support of any other presidential (or political) figure in the USA as well. I guess at the end of the day, you better really do a lot of research before publicly backing anyone or any organization. There has been a long list in sports (and still continues to be with celebrities as a whole) of backing such a terrible horse. That's the point that should be made. It is at least an equally bad idea to back any president for either country.