# Were you surprised by the backlash from Kaepernick, other athletes kneeling vs. the public **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 22, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146 "2019-10-22T17:20:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/201 "2020-06-01T15:07:52Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > By the way, who the fuck cares what any professional sports coach thinks about anything, aside from their own sport and their own team? Those anti-protest coaches and owners can say the same thing about Kaepernick. He’s an employee of their team, and if they want, they can silence him and cut him from the team, like it happened. Who cares about what any athlete says about anything? Play ball! See my point? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/202 "2020-06-01T15:29:35Z")
You have a point? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/203 "2020-06-01T15:30:19Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Those anti-protest coaches and owners can say the same thing about Kaepernick. He’s an employee of their team, and if they want, they can silence him and cut him from the team, like it happened. > > Who cares about what any athlete says about anything? Play ball! > > See my point? Then why did so many idiots totally lose their shit? I see your point. Must be hard to find a hat that fits. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/204 "2020-06-01T15:44:02Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Then why did so many idiots totally lose their shit? > > I see your point. Must be hard to find a hat that fits. Exactly. That is what I am trying to say. For me personally, the national anthem should not be played in sporting games. It brings too much politics. I think the whole thing was a distraction and a spectacle. A lot of white male NFL coaches/GMS/owners are hardcore authoritarians, football is a tough sport. I can’t be surprised by Kaepernick, Eric Reid and others who talk these things in locker rooms will be forced out. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/205 "2020-06-01T16:02:52Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Exactly. > > That is what I am trying to say. > > For me personally, the national anthem should not be played in sporting games. It brings too much politics. I think the whole thing was a distraction and a spectacle. > > A lot of white male NFL coaches/GMS/owners are hardcore authoritarians, football is a tough sport. > > I can’t be surprised by Kaepernick, Eric Reid and others **who talk these things** in locker rooms will be forced out. Why shouldn’t they talk these things? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/206 "2020-06-01T16:13:22Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Why shouldn’t they talk these things? They talk things, pretty soon they burning you dog. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/207 "2020-06-01T18:34:08Z")
Yeah, Eric Reid forced out…or not. He didn’t miss a single season of playing time. In fact, he was still on the 49ers for a whole a season after he protested. And was signed by the Panthers for the 2 seasons after that - notably a franchise whose owner was outspoken against the protests. He was released by the Panthers after last season but there’s 0 chance it was due to taking a knee. Again, I’d request our would-be agent provocateur to do better. This has been embarrassing to watch just on the factual grounds, much less the social aspect. > [@Gyrate](#): > > They talk things, pretty soon they burning you dog. Is always work of moose and squirrel ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/208 "2020-06-01T18:45:46Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Why shouldn’t they talk these things? To the coaches, some white players and the NFL fans, it is a distraction. They say you can’t protest at work, do it on your own time, not while playing a game. That’s not how I feel, that is how a majority of white America feels. I wouldn’t dare any athlete to do this in baseball or hockey, more conservative sports. Managers and coaches won’t allow it. I know the late George Steinbrenner, a patriotic man, won’t allow it. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/209 "2020-06-01T18:51:23Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > I know the late George Steinbrenner, a patriotic man, won’t allow it. If it was Reggie in his “Mr October” years, he would have. And Kaepernick was at least as much a patriot as Steinbrenner ever was. Working to make the country better is always patriotic. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/210 "2020-06-01T19:00:06Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > To the coaches, some white players and the NFL fans, it is a distraction. > > They say you can’t protest at work, do it on your own time, not while playing a game. > > That’s not how I feel, that is how a majority of white America feels. There are no protests while the games is being played. It’s before the game starts. When they stop playing the National Anthem before sporting events, players can stop protesting I disagree with your speculation about how a majority of white America feels. I think you’ll see coaches, players and owners all take a knee together when the anthem is played this fall. And the crowd will go nuts (in a good way). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/211 "2020-06-01T19:05:41Z")
I’m sure it was said earlier in this thread but remember that these NFL teams that pretend to be so patriotic only had the military tributes (uniformed service members presenting the flag and the jet fighter flyby) because they were paid to do so by the Department of Defense. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/212 "2020-06-01T19:11:01Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > To the coaches, some white players and the NFL fans, it is a distraction. > > They say you can’t protest at work, do it on your own time, not while playing a game. > > That’s not how I feel, that is how a majority of white America feels. > > I wouldn’t dare any athlete to do this in baseball or hockey, more conservative sports. Managers and coaches won’t allow it. I know the late George Steinbrenner, a patriotic man, won’t allow it. The simple fact that you, along with that “majority of white America” (and since when do you speak for us white Americans anyway?), do not see that as a problem is part and parcel of the problem those players were protesting. And of course the late Steinbreener won’t allow it. He’s dead, you moron. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/213 "2020-06-01T19:29:05Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > There are no protests while the games is being played. It’s before the game starts. When they stop playing the National Anthem before sporting events, players can stop protesting > > I disagree with your speculation about how a majority of white America feels. I think you’ll see coaches, players and owners all take a knee together when the anthem is played this fall. And the crowd will go nuts (in a good way). I don’t know about Bill Belichick, etc. Belichick is very particular with himself about his image. Jerry Jones won’t allow Mike McCarthy to do such a thing. You know it and I know it. Jones was forced to kneel in that September 2017 game but I really don’t think that Jones is genuine. You will see a rift in the NFL/MLB. Baseball managers won’t put up with it. Basketball, culturally, yes. Hockey, no. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/214 "2020-06-01T19:49:18Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The simple fact that you, along with that “majority of white America” (and since when do you speak for us white Americans anyway?), do not see that as a problem is part and parcel of the problem those players were protesting. > > And of course the late Steinbreener won’t allow it. He’s dead, you moron. I know he is dead, you fool. What I am saying is that in his day, the patriotic Nixon-loving, Patton-quoting, General MacArthur Republican-loving Steinbrenner won’t put up for it. The national anthem should not be played in sporting events, it is too divisive now. The whole thing was a charade. Kaepernick should be saluted for taking a stand, but I have to see if the rest of the country agrees. A silent majority of conservatives do not, and they have the right to, under the 1st Amendment. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/215 "2020-06-01T19:58:04Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > If it was Reggie in his “Mr October” years, he would have. > > And Kaepernick was at least as much a patriot as Steinbrenner ever was. Working to make the country better is always patriotic. Eh, I don’t know. Reggie and George would feud, Dave Winfield and George feuded, but not about racial issues, but about the team and winning games. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/216 "2020-06-01T20:17:05Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > What I am saying is that in his day, the patriotic Nixon-loving, Patton-quoting, General MacArthur Republican-loving Steinbrenner won’t put up for it. **Champs** , we generally make allowances around here for some slightly confused phrasing in the posts of you non-native English speakers, but if you keep mixing up present and past tense like this when referring to somebody who’s been dead for ten years, you have to expect that your statements will sound a little absurd. You don’t have to apologize or thank anybody for pointing out your grammar errors—especially not in the Pit—but if you refuse to correct your errors after they’re pointed out, it’s going to look like you’re just using them to troll. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/217 "2020-06-01T20:28:18Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > **Champs** , we generally make allowances around here for some slightly confused phrasing in the posts of you non-native English speakers, but if you keep mixing up present and past tense like this when referring to somebody who’s been dead for ten years, you have to expect that your statements will sound a little absurd. > > You don’t have to apologize or thank anybody for pointing out your grammar errors—especially not in the Pit—but if you refuse to correct your errors after they’re pointed out, it’s going to look like you’re just using them to troll. I don’t think his argument has any merit, and is somewhat moronic, but come on. He used present tense instead of past tense? Seems weak for an accusation of trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/218 "2020-06-01T20:37:22Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I don’t think his argument has any merit, and is somewhat moronic, but come on. He used present tense instead of past tense? Seems weak for an accusation of trolling. I think the accusation is more based on his obsession with stirring up racial conflict in advance of the November election. Many threads about white people not liking what black people are doing. He doesn’t necessarily _agree_ with the angry white guys, of course, but he wonders a lot how they must be feeling. > [@](#): > > Kaepernick should be saluted for taking a stand, but I have to see if the rest of the country agrees. A silent majority of conservatives do not, and they have the right to, under the 1st Amendment. > [@](#): > > That’s not how I feel, that is how a majority of white America feels. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/219 "2020-06-01T20:38:33Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I don’t think his argument has any merit, and is somewhat moronic, but come on. He used present tense instead of past tense? And then repeated the error, with exactly the same construction about exactly the same subject, in direct response to **Monty** ’s pointing out that it made his claim semantically absurd. Yes, if you continue to make the same easily correctable mistake after you’ve acknowledged somebody explicitly correcting it for you, you’re probably either doing it on purpose or genuinely too dumb to understand the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/220 "2020-06-01T20:53:16Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > And then repeated the error, with exactly the same construction about exactly the same subject, in direct response to **Monty** ’s pointing out that it made his claim semantically absurd. > > Yes, if you continue to make the same easily correctable mistake after you’ve acknowledged somebody explicitly correcting it for you, you’re probably either doing it on purpose or genuinely too dumb to understand the difference. Based on the OP, I’d say dumb. But I didn’t know lack of proper grammar was a sign of trolling. \*shrug [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146.md?page=12)