Consequences for Colin Kaepernick

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@Fotheringay-Phipps

Tillman knowingly sacrificed his NFL career. That’s not offset by anything.

What a ridiculous statement. Tillman did not “knowingly sacrifice his NFL career”; he put it aside for a short time. Unless you are going to argue that he knew he was going to be shot and killed by his own countrymen when he enlisted…?

[Sloe_Moe]

You don’t “set aside” a million-dollar contract. Nothing ridiculous there.

[fedman]

@Hector_St_Clare

So much for the idea of a “liberal society”, I guess.

so many people do not understand the First Amendment–it only prohibits GOV’T from infringing on free speech; there is nothing to prohibit the private sector from controlling or punishing free speech.

[Cheesesteak]

@fedman

so many people do not understand the First Amendment–it only prohibits GOV’T from infringing on free speech; there is nothing to prohibit the private sector from controlling or punishing free speech.

Indeed, this would be a totally different conversation if someone from the GOV’T pressured the NFL Owners to punish free speech.

Glad that never happened.

[Barkis_is_Willin]

@andros

In the very specific case of “NFL player serving and dying in Afghanistan,” you’re absolutely correct. But in the broader case of “sports stars who risked their careers and lives by choosing military service,” not *quite *unique.

Ted Williams left pro ball twice, the second time flying for the Marines in Korea. Yogi interrupted his baseball career to serve and was part of the invasion of Normandy; Jack Dempsey was a similar situation, only with boxing and the invasion of Okinawa.

(Of course, that’s not considering the players who developed their skills in military academies and then fulfilled their obligations before going pro. David Robinson had some pretty cushy duty, but Staubach was in Da Nang. Non-combat, but still.)

This here is why I loves me some SDMB. I get to fight my ignorance and avoid work at the same time!

Since we’re interested in fighting ignorance, I would note that it’s quite a stretch to say Ted Williams “chose” military duty over his baseball career. He was drafted into duty in WWII and recalled from inactive reserves for Korea. In neither case did he volunteer himself and in neither case was he all that pleased about it. But he did serve.

Yogi Berra actually did willingly sign up for military service, but he did not interrupt his major league baseball career to serve in WWII as his career with the Yankees didn’t start until 1946.