Ever since 2016, in the midst of the still controversial Trump vs. Clinton presidential race, when NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat down and later down the season kneeled during the American national anthem in his protest against racial injustices towards blacks and policing issues, America has been in a 2010s cultural war over race and culture.
Most White head coaches and sports executives are opposed and have voiced anger at Kaepernick and that cause.
Three years later, are you surprised by the backlash?
I’m not surprised that there was a backlash, but I’m surprised at how long the backlash has lasted. I would have thought that Kaepernick would have been signed as a QB by now - unless it’s because he refuses to be a backup QB, or wants too much pay, or has simply been out of the league too long.
On the one hand, I was a little surprised by the backlash. In that we have made much progress in certain areas of society, and that big business owners attempt to say and do the right thing publicly on those particular topics.
But on the other hand I am not surprised. In that the NFL is essentially an entertainment product, and entertainment scrupulously tries to not make waves and appeal to the broadest audience. Even though the NFL is very forward with racial inclusion, the expectation is that “we are all one happy family”. So, why bring your political statements into the family? (Let’s ignore the jingoistic red-white-and-blue military color guard participation - that’s not political, yah?) If Kap had found a way to be active politically, but not in the game situation, he might have had a chance. But I don’t think we will ever see him in the employ of the NFL in any capacity ever again.
If this is a culture “war” it’s fine with me. As recently as the 1960s violence was a common tool against people who demanded their civil rights. If people are now merely upset because someone is taking the highly militant action of… kneeling… uh, yeah, I’m fine with it! Much better than the alternatives.
Can’t say I’m too surprised at the backlash. Disheartened a little, maybe.
There were white coaches who opposed Jackie Robinson being in Major League Baseball, so I’m not particularly surprised or concerned when white coaches can’t shut their mouths for two seconds to even listen to issues involving civil rights.
From the perspective of my bubble, I was very surprised anyone was offended, and certainly surprised about the backlash. It seemed to me to be a good cause and an insignificant but well-intentioned gesture. I’ve been surprised a lot lately.
Uh… cite? The only two examples you gave are for one NHL coach and one minor league hockey assistant coach. I don’t remember any NFL coaches “voicing anger”
Ooh, he’s bombastic! We’d better not disagree with him!
Why should I care about their opinions? You don’t need to care about Kaepernick if you don’t feel like it. You can even disagree with him and need not be afraid of any of his bombastic friends.
As to “disrespecting the military”… Tough. The military, in theory, supports our way of life, which includes freedom of expression. And their presence isn’t mandatory at sporting events, and come to think of it neither is the national anthem.
Not to dump on you too much, it’s a good thing we’re having this discussion. But so far we haven’t risen above the level of high school civics class.
Racism is a distraction to everything, but these white coaches don’t seem to care about that.
Plus, if winning championships is everything, then the national anthem itself is a distraction. There’s no relationship between ceremonial music and winning. Ergo, the coach shouldn’t care if his players are singing along or scratching their butts when the band is playing.
What about them? John Tortorella is a hockey coach. He’s also a moron. The anthem protests have nothing to do with the military.
The only thing I’m surprised about is how bad the NFL has been at covering up Kapernick’s blackballing.
The fact that guys like Nathan Peterman were not only on NFL rosters but starting games makes it abundantly clear that winning was not the concern that kept Kaepernick out of the league. I didn’t think he was a particularly good NFL quarterback but he was at least a middling starter.
True, but most Americans and Canadians don’t want to hear that stuff during sporting events.
It’s facts.
The national anthem is overused, but a lot of people are patriotic and this whole anthem controversy got diverted, it plays into rightwing hands in Canada and America that rightwingers are more patriotic than leftwingers or centrists, etc.
There is a reason why current NHL legend Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins went to the White House in 2017 after winning the Stanley Cup and didn’t want to make a stand after Trump slammed the black athletes.
