# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/21 "2019-10-22T20:59:50Z")
It’s a great dum-dum test. Anyone bitching about Kaepernick’s kneeling protest gets filed away as a dum-dum and ignored. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/22 "2019-10-22T21:08:11Z")
I’m surprised at how Trump managed to get any perceived disrespect to the national flag turned into perceived disrespect (at best) and hatred (at worst) of the military. The national flag does not represent the military. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/23 "2019-10-22T21:21:43Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’m surprised at how Trump managed to get any perceived disrespect to the national flag turned into perceived disrespect (at best) and hatred (at worst) of the military. The national flag does not represent the military. But, you see, we soldiers fought to defend that flag. Not the Constitution or citizens of the USA, but a strip of fabric. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/24 "2019-10-22T21:29:04Z")
ISTM that there was an immediate uproar over the initial protests in 2016, but it soon faded away and wasn’t much of an issue during the rest of the season. Only in 2017, when Trump uttered the ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field’ remark, did many more players participate. This, of course, caused a much bigger backlash than the first protests in 2016. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/25 "2019-10-22T21:33:40Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > But, you see, we soldiers fought to defend that flag. Not the Constitution or citizens of the USA, but a strip of fabric. The same strip of fabric that Trump dry-humped for the cameras. Well, I suspect that MAGAts would, despite the look on his face, claim he was just hugging it. But you know that even just hugging the flag is damned disrespectful. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/26 "2019-10-22T21:36:41Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > 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” Owners though… > **[Stephen Jones: 'If they want to be a Dallas Cowboy,' players better stand for...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2018/07/26/cowboys-stephen-jones-hints-kneeling-players-cut-national-anthem/843925002/)** > > Stephen Jones, son of owner Jerry Jones and the Cowboys' executive vice president, reiterated Thursday that players will stand for anthem "If they want to be a Dallas Cowboy." > **[Houston Texans NFL Owner on Kneeling: ‘We Can’t Have the Inmates Running the...](https://www.thedailybeast.com/houston-texans-nfl-owner-on-kneeling-we-cant-have-the-inmates-running-the-prison)** > > McNair later apologized to NFL exec Troy Vincent, saying his words were not meant literally. I’m sure there were others but those are the two I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/27 "2019-10-22T21:44:32Z")
No I wasn’t surprised. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/28 "2019-10-22T23:05:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > They don’t have to “hear that stuff.” A player kneeling literally makes no noise. They don’t have to see it. I believe if you want to protest the national anthem by kneeling to voice discontent towards race issues in America, fine. But also, don’t be surprised if the coach and the management decides to trade you to another team or cuts you. A lot of coaches don’t want the distraction. A lot of them think you can probably do it on your own time, they say. That is what Tortorella, Krupinsky, and the other white coaches feel. As for Kaepernick, he is 32, I don’t think he will ever play again in the NFL, but he will probably continue as a social activist. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/29 "2019-10-22T23:12:48Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Owners though… > > [Cowboys' Stephen Jones hints players who kneel for anthem may be cut](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2018/07/26/cowboys-stephen-jones-hints-kneeling-players-cut-national-anthem/843925002/) > [Houston Texans NFL Owner on Kneeling: ‘We Can’t Have the Inmates Running the Prison’](https://www.thedailybeast.com/houston-texans-nfl-owner-on-kneeling-we-cant-have-the-inmates-running-the-prison) > > I’m sure there were others but those are the two I’m aware of. Yes, since Texas is fairly conservative-leaning; doesn’t necessarily mean that all conservatives see the anthem issue this way, I know that Jerry Jones and his children, Cowboys executives are Republicans…they’ve donated to the Bushes, Phil Gramm, Ted Cruz, Chris Christie. They probably do lean culturally conservative, so yes, if Dak Prescott or Ezekiel Elliot decided to kneel, yes, they would probably be cut from the team or benched. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/30 "2019-10-22T23:27:13Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > 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. Well, you certainly have a way of moving the goalposts - er, hockey net around. First, the anthem is about respecting our military. Then it’s about winning championships. Now it’s about fans and white hockey players liking Trump. Any other white sports guys you’d like to refer to as the experts on race in America? ---
**Author:** ![Latimera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/latimera/32/497_2.png) [@Latimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latimera)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/31 "2019-10-22T23:33:11Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > True, but most Americans and Canadians don’t want to hear that stuff during sporting events. > > It’s facts. Excuse me? You are speaking on behalf of “most Americans and Canadians”? Care to back up that statement with some sort of data? ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/32 "2019-10-22T23:43:27Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > What about white head coaches like John Tortorella and John Krupinsky who say that the anthem protest is disrespectful to the military? Bit of a hijack, but that “disrespectful to the military” shit always pisses me off. Disagreeing with government policy, or believing that our society is not entirely free of racism, is not disrespectful to the military. Unless the protester/kneeler/whatever is specifically protesting about the military, it has nothing to do with the military. Do these coaches think that the mere presence of the military (of which there’s far too much at football games) means that no one may protest anything, lest they show disrespect for the military? And who the fuck cares if it’s disrespectful to the military, anyway? We don’t have a military government. The military has nothing to do with the running of our country. Fuck those coaches. And fuck the idea of “respect” for the military (by which these coaches seem to mean groveling and obsequiousness). ---
**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:** [October 22, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/33 "2019-10-22T23:48:23Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > TI believe if you want to protest the national anthem by kneeling to voice discontent towards race issues in America, fine. > > But also, don’t be surprised if the coach and the management decides to trade you to another team or cuts you. This part seems noncontroversial. The players union and the NFL management seem to have worked out a truce on this and this thread is the first I’ve heard about the issue in months. > [@](#): > > A lot of coaches don’t want the distraction. A lot of them think you can probably do it on your own time, they say. It’s a free country. They can feel that way if they want. > [@](#): > > That is what Tortorella, Krupinsky, and the other white coaches feel. I’ve never heard of these two guys, nor do I care what they feel. But, as I stated above, they’re free to feel that way. No skin off my butt. > [@](#): > > As for Kaepernick, he is 32, I don’t think he will ever play again in the NFL, but he will probably continue as a social activist He’s made a ton of money playing football and doing endorsements. I’m sure he’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/34 "2019-10-22T23:48:57Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Those guys are pretty valuable, Tortorella is one of the most bombastic head coaches in American sports. He is not someone to mess with. > > Krupinsky is also a police officer in Danbury, CT. He has a lot of authority. Seriously? Usually, “bombastic” is used as a pejorative. I’m not sure what you mean here, but someone who is “bombastic” is less worthy of respect than someone who isn’t. And a cop in Danbury doesn’t have a lot of authority. I guess he could pull me over if I was driving around there. But off-duty, he’s a minor-league hockey coach (I had to Google him) and nothing more. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/35 "2019-10-22T23:58:08Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > What about white head coaches like John Tortorella and John Krupinsky who say that the anthem protest is disrespectful to the military? I can only speak for myself, but as a military retiree, fuck them. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2019, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/36 "2019-10-22T23:58:59Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Seriously? > > Usually, “bombastic” is used as a pejorative. I’m not sure what you mean here, but someone who is “bombastic” is less worthy of respect than someone who isn’t. > > And a cop in Danbury doesn’t have a lot of authority. I guess he could pull me over if I was driving around there. But off-duty, he’s a minor-league hockey coach (I had to Google him) and nothing more. What I am saying is that those guys have a lot of the mentality that a lot of white head coaches except for Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich have. Also, he became more well known because of that viral video. Kerr and Popovich have more sympathy for these issues that Kaepernick brings up because they coach a predominately black league. > **[Popovich condemns Trump's comments](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20817911/gregg-popovich-san-antonio-spurs-united-states-embarrassment-world)** > > San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, said "our country is an embarrassment to the world" during the team's media day event Monday. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/37 "2019-10-23T00:06:13Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > I can only speak for myself, but as a military retiree, fuck them. Thank you for your service. You have the right to feel that way about them, just like how Tortorella and Krupinsky has the right to feel about the anthem or whatever concerns them. There is two sides to this complex conversation. Tortorella has a son in the U.S. Armed Forces, so there is probably a reason why he feels this way towards the protests, although yes, Trump and the right misconstrued Kaepernick’s message. > **[U.S. coach still says: Sit for anthem, sit game](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/17487174/us-world-cup-coach-john-tortorella-stands-anthem-comments)** > > John Tortorella, the United States World Cup coach, isn't backing off his comments that if a player sits for the national anthem, he'll sit for the game. [https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20190118/blue-jackets--military-special-to-coach-john-tortorella](https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20190118/blue-jackets--military-special-to-coach-john-tortorella) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/38 "2019-10-23T00:19:55Z")
If they really wanted to disrespect the flag they’d turn their backs to it. When has kneeling ever signified disrespect? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/39 "2019-10-23T00:35:16Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Yes, since Texas is fairly conservative-leaning; doesn’t necessarily mean that all conservatives see the anthem issue this way, I know that Jerry Jones and his children, Cowboys executives are Republicans…they’ve donated to the Bushes, Phil Gramm, Ted Cruz, Chris Christie. > > They probably do lean culturally conservative, so yes, if Dak Prescott or Ezekiel Elliot decided to kneel, yes, they would probably be cut from the team or benched. Who are Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot? Did this thread get lost on its way to the Game Room, or something? ---
**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:** [October 23, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/40 "2019-10-23T00:37:40Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > > [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > > > What about white head coaches like John Tortorella and John Krupinsky who say that the anthem protest is disrespectful to the military? > > I can only speak for myself, but as a military retiree, fuck them. As another military retiree, I have this to say about them: They are liars and fuck them. I also find myself wondering what would have happened had a white player started this protest. I mean look at Teebow’s stunt of kneeling in the end zone (do I remember that correctly?). There is no question in reality that the backlash against the players is racist, just like what they are protesting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146.md?page=3)