Tag: Kaepernick

While They Kneel …

Dateline October 9th, 2017

While a fraction of NFL players continue choosing to kneel as a protest to racial injustice and cases of police brutality during the singing of the national anthem, a majority of Americans find their actions repugnant, misguided or ill-timed. Many of these same “kneelers” have life experiences dramatically different from ordinary Americans who show the proper respect and courtesy to the national anthem and presentation of the flag. It is not lost on most Americans that the “kneelers” are living a privileged life playing a game earning millions of dollars every year. As a matter of fact the average salary for an NFL player is $2.1 million a year. The average American household income in 2016 was $55,775. This disparity is quite eye-opening, perhaps players should consider this fact.

Many of the kneeling players talk about using “their platform” to highlight this issue that Colin Kaepernick began (so much for putting the team first). But what they fail to realize or simply don’t care (at this point likely the latter), they are alienating their paying customers. People go to football games or watch football games on TV to … wait, wait, wait … to watch football! People don’t want players polluting the game with their various political causes or personal agendas. They want to be entertained and distracted from the challenges in their life by simply watching a game, un-politicized.  Players have a right to support causes and make statements as they see fit but the reality is they should be respectful of their fan base and not divide them through a lack of professional decorum during the national anthem or presentation of the national colors.

The NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has failed to lead. One would expect a much better performance from an executive making over $34 million annually. The NFL Executive Committee has failed to lead. Team ownership has failed to lead. The NFL brand is badly damaged. Locker rooms housing elite privileged millionaire athletes in their 20’s are running and ruining the league because the NFL is not enforcing its own rule requiring players to stand and show respect to the national anthem and flag. Fan viewership and attendance is down. Fan bases are burning team jerseys, turning off their TVs and reclaiming their Sundays. The mighty NFL has been sacked by their fan base ultimately because their fan base loves America and it appears the NFL does not.

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Candid Conversation with Kaepernick

Dateline October 2nd, 2016

Kaepernick: Coach, why did you bench me? Why I am not starting?

Coach: Colin, I’ve shown great restraint not cutting you but I haven’t ruled it out. Candidly, ownership doesn’t understand leadership in the NFL. The NFL doesn’t  respect leadership or the sacrifice of American warriors that have given much for this country. It’s all about the money and political correctness. Colin, you put yourself before others. You disrespect the colors of our nation. This game is not about you, your beliefs and whatever causes you believe in. The operative thing you need to understand is that this is a game, a football game. This is not an opportunity for you to put yourself before the team. In my book Colin, leaders put the team before self. You have failed this simple test. You are a very selfish individual that fails to understand what a privileged life you have been given as an American citizen and an NFL football player.

Kaepernick: But coach, “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. “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.”

Coach: Colin, what did you do in the off-season? Where did you spend your time? What inner city communities did you help?

Kaepernick: Well I was rehabbing in the off-season. I chose to start this protest during the start of the season.

Coach: Understand Colin, yup, noticed. My assessment is because over the past several months your relationship with management has turned sour. You requested a trade last spring, which never came, big mistake by ownership. I would have released your ass. You also spent most of the offseason rehabilitating from operations to your left shoulder. You lost the starting job toBlaine Gabbert last season and I see this as one more example of poor leadership on your part validating your removal as a starter. You are really just acting out like a petulant child. You had no idea that you would attract a broader element of malcontents that failed to learn the history of this country, the lessons of Martin Luther King and the blessings of being an American. Ya see Colin, even a pile of crap attracts maggots. You have a whole infestation of maggots following your every move. 

Kaepernick: Coach, you are disrespecting my beliefs. I have a right to kneel.

Coach: You do. I have a right to bench your ass and if the 49ers had ownership that valued our country before themselves,  you’d be released. I’m disgusted with you Colin. No one wants a selfish, me- first player that doesn’t know our country’s history or appreciate it. You haven’t done one damn thing to improve the conditions for those suffering from poor economic conditions or violence. Actions speak well beyond taking a knee while others are rendering honors to our flag. Don’t confuse what you are doing with helping fix these challenges. You have set a very poor example for American youth. I’m disgusted by you!

Get the hell out of my office and cement the clipboard to your ass!

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Kaepernuckle-Head

by Echo Zulu 21

Ignorant. That’s what San Francisco 49ers 2nd string quarterback Colin Kaepernick is.   2nd string to someone who is typically referred to as “Sunshine”, the 2nd string quarterback in the movie Remember the Titans…but I digress. Colin Kaepernick has recently refused to stand and acknowledge the national anthem, which is played before every NFL pre-season, regular season and playoff game. He’s refused to do so in some sort of nonsensical opposition to how American society oppresses people of color and most specifically, our law enforcement key oppressors amongst us.

What kind of parking lot does Kaepernick park in before every practice or game? Is it a parking deck, or a regular lot? No. It’s a secure lot that requires identification in order to enter. Who secures the lot? Police and stadium contracted security. Law enforcement, paid to ensure that he and his vehicle are safe.

Who escorts the VIP players and coaches to the locker room on the field? Law enforcement. They make sure the players are not harassed, attacked or bothered and that they can make it back on the field the next week to do their jobs. Seems oppressive, Kaepernick.

Kaepernick has the opportunity to go and play a sport for a living in our free country; it would appear Life Is Good. Guess not. Our freedoms are protected by said law enforcement and the United States Military. Both organizations are at war with domestic threats and terrorists and the US Military is still fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan while the average American like Kaepernick have no idea about this because it’s not on their “socials”. Kaepernick just joined the likes of Carlos DelGado and Muhammed Ali and in doing so, he actually isolated a population of selfless people who sacrifice for the good of his well-being. Hypocrisy is his own personal oppression.

“If you don’t love it, leave it”. That’s what Merle Haggard said and he specifically calls out “the hippies in San Francisco” in the song Fightin’ Side of Me. I pledge allegiance to the Flag (and applaud Hag!). Suggestion: figure out an innovative way to bring social issues to light and don’t be bullied into a stance.  Michael Bennett learned this lesson. This may be a futile point in the near future anyway. Kaepernick, in all likelihood, will be listening to “Oh Canada” and looking at a Maple Leaf shortly on cut day. Go Argonauts!

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