- San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick refuses to stand for National Anthem
- Concussions are, indeed, more serious than many realize
Perhaps the 49ers could trade Mr. Kaepernick to the Venezuela “Pinchazos”*; It would no doubt be a much happier and welcoming environment, if not as lucrative, for the righteous quarterback than this “oppressive” country. (And if there is no such team name, Colin could inspire its adoption.)
For some strange reason, I have in recent years found the NFL to have far less appeal than it once had. Perhaps this may be one of the kinds of of incidents which accounts for my disenchantment. The thuggery, which has become rather widespread in the NFL in recent years (except for the extreme extension of the behavior by a number of players, how much of an exception for the league is Aaron Hernandez, formerly of the Patriots and who was recently given a lifetime contract to play for the Massachusetts Correctional Institution?) is certainly another reason. But the antics of goofballs like Kaepernick, I believe, have definitely contributed to the NFL’s downward trajectory, coming very close to the dismal status of the NBA. I wonder if the pre game “show” of “hands up, don’t shoot” by members of the St. Louis Rams last year may not have inspired Mr. Kaepernick, and possibly softened the blow of the team relocating to L.A. for St. Louis fans.
As far as that goes, sports in general are becoming far less than entertaining, as pampered athletes like Kaepernick exhibit their well-financed egos, towering intellects, and deep social consciences.
It is quickly seeping down to college levels as well. How many Missouri Wildcat football fans wisely gave second thoughts to buying a 2016 season ticket? Last year, on the eve of a big game, the team threatened to refuse to play because of the widely publicized, and equally, widely distorted “poop swatztika” incident. (No one, either at the school or in the media, or as far as is known, law enforcement ever followed up on who the culprit actually was or especially who the incident was aimed at. The threatening use of a Nazi symbol is often perceived as an anti-semitic expression. Black activists at Mizzou, however, were able to portray it as racist, with the full support of a less-than-courageous university administration and an apparently rather ill-educated student body). Who knows when the next contrived “social justice statement” might result in a game cancellation?
In the meantime, it is obvious that the 49ers need to invest more in protecting their quarterbacks from intellectually debilitating head injuries.
From Powerline:
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has willingly immersed himself into controversy by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the United States.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game.
Kaepernick, who is biracial and was adopted by a white couple, is playing, according toSpotrac, under “a 6 year, $114,000,000 contract with the San Francisco 49ers, including a $12,328,766 signing bonus, $61,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $19,000,000.” When he talks about oppression, I take it Kaepernick is not referring to his own experience.
“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
DLH
*Spanish to English translation: “Pricks”
Colin Kaepernick says he does not care if he loses endorsements (why should he with that contract — it is certainly FU money to the extreme). OK I hope that is what happens – but arguably, as a small aside, doesn’t that also say he really does not care about the products endorsed either? Watch him switch to another competing brand if one drops him as if it does not make any difference. As for me, well there goes my Jaguar.
The response from the 49ers and NFL is rather weak — words to the effect he has a right to not stand and we respect that. But who said standing should be under force of law? They are private organizations. They could not bring themselves to say they directly disagreed with his attitude only that they encourage players to stand and that they honor the anthem. Well why not directly say that they disagree with Kaepernick and that his statement is wrong headed?
The NFL has rules against substance abuse. That includes for behavior off the field involving legal substances. They suspend players (albeit with pay) for charges for sexual abuse or domestic violence — but doesn’t that lend an onus of assumed guilt, it certainly is bad PR for the accused. Innocent until proven guilty is not something they are bound to respect, — why?
What business is it of the NFL of a player’s behavior off the field? The answer of course is the presumed bad image for the league, the legitimate desire of a private organization to uphold standards it deems important to its image. So why is not standing for the National Anthem considered something they cannot make a rule about?
Again, mere accusation regarding something off the field results in the onus of suspension, but dead to rights behavior adjacent to the field as regards an affront to something the league says it honors, the National Anthem which honors this nation, (they do call themselves the NATIONAL Football League) is something they cannot reach?
If Kaepernick says off the filed, protected under our laws of free speech, “I hope all white police die a miserable death,” or maybe “I think wife beating is OK (just as long as he remains free of an accusation of doing it) why can’t the league create an in-house repercussion?
R Mall