Colin Kaepernick Destined to Seat Alone in National Anthem Protest
Myke Tavares caused some controversy when he suggested that he would remain seated during the national anthem in the Eagles’ next preseason game. Then all the hullaballoo died down when Tavares retracted his statement soon afterward, which doesn’t really say anything to anyone who only cares about the online NFL Betting Odds. The Sports Techie community blog has watched the nation explode in anger at the decision by Colin Kaepernick to sit in protest during the National Anthem and his continued public attempts through action and social media to give a voice to the voiceless about police brutality and racial injustice in the United States. He plans to continue to sit during the anthem tonight when the San Francisco 49ers play their final preseason game versus the San Diego Chargers. Will the NFL team cut Kaepernick and the $11.9 million in guaranteed money owned to him? Will commissioner Goodell continue to let this issue foster rather than tackle it like he has tried regarding concussions, domestic violence and PED’s? American and the world want to know and so to odds makers and sportsbooks. Social media is sure to keep this story going because of Kaepernick but when he finally goes away into history, does it change anything in the future for fellow NFL players that might feel the same way and are too afraid to say so, and also the issues of racial injustices many minorities face?
Calling A Spade A Spade
No matter what you think of Kaepernick, he certainly has the right to freedom of speech in America. He says it was never his intention to disrespect American servicemen. Most NFL fans and non-fans alike cannot see past his rights as a US citizen and focus instead on his blatant disrespect for the National Anthem and what it means to most Americans in terms of representing our honored military and even our law abiding citizens that fight bravely for the “land of the free.”
However, for those individuals who are heavily invested in the Colin Kaepernick story, Tavares’ decision says everything. The assumption that other NFL players would soon follow in the shoes of Colin is quickly becoming an unsubstantiated fear.
New Orleans Saints qb Drew Brees, who is clearly white, chimed in about his displeasure with Kaepernick’s method of protest.
Walk the Walk
What most Americans don’t know is what it is like to be Black or Latino like these two players and I do, especially in the inner cities of both large and small cities alike when confronted by law enforcement agencies. Wikipedia states, “White Americans are the racial majority. African Americans are the largest racial minority, amounting to 13.2% of the population. Hispanic and Latino Americans amount to 17% of the population, making up the largest ethnic minority.”
The NFL is made up of 1155 black players, or a 68% majority, according to 2014 player census data.
The percentage of whites on the police force is often greater than 30% than the communities they serve, according to an analysis of a government survey of police departments, says the NY Times.
To fuel more of this hatred, the San Franciso 49ers qb wore socks during training camp that displayed the image of animated pigs wearing police hats angering Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, according to USA Today Sports.
Here is Kaepernick’s Twitter handle response of an Instagram picture describing his intentions with the socks.
Just posted a photo https://t.co/YoRgCejnSV
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 1, 2016
Patriotism
The NY Times ran a thoughtful piece about the underlining union of sports and public patriotism, where they discuss how entertainment such as sporting events pretty much stand alone when compared to mass-consumed entertainment such as movies, concerts and exhibitions. Yet, the NY Times reports, ”No national anthems are played before a French league soccer game or a German handball league game or a Japanese rugby game.”
Smart Guy or Not
According to attorney Jacob London and my Facebook connection, “The Wunderlic test is an intelligence test administered to NFL players and others. NFL QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Harvard University graduate, is rumored to have scored a perfect score of 50 (highest ever recorded).
Colin Kaepernick reputedly scored a 38 on the Wunderlic, among the highest scores of current NFL players.
By contrasts, here are examples of average scores from everyday professions:
-Chemist – 31
-Programmer – 29
-News writer – 26
-Sales – 24
-Bank teller – 22
-Clerical Worker – 21
-Security Guard – 17
-Warehouse – 15
A high score on this test is not a guaranty that somebody will be a great football player (e.g., Russell Wilson has a lower Wunderlic score than either Fitzpatrick or Kaeipernick, but has been a more successful player than either of them). But it does underscore that Kaepernick is apparently a super-smart guy.
So to call him “stupid” for his national anthem protest seems ridiculous to me. Sounds like he’s a very smart guy who thought quite carefully about the whys and wherefores of his actions.
Many of the rest of us could probably learn a thing or two from him about that.”
Concussion Spin
Today, CBS Sports reported Steelers President, Art Rooney II, mentioned that he does not condone sitting during the National Anthem, and further said he doesn’t want to see any of the Steelers’ players mimicking Kaepernick’s actions when Pittsburgh plays Carolina in their final preseason game.
If you have seen the movie, “Concussion” about Bennet Ifeakandu Omalu, the doctor that discovered the dangers of concussions and their contributions to CTE of the brain, remember that it was Rooney’s father that was owner of the franchise at the time the film took place and did absolutely nothing to rectify the situation or help the Pittsburgh based physician share his concussion knowledge about Mike Webster and others.
Fellow NFLers
CBS says, “One of Rooney’s players, left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, is one of the NFL’s players who has offered his opinion on the situation, as Villanueva is also a military veteran that served three tours of duty in Afghanistan.”
“I don’t know if the most effective way is to sit down during the National Anthem with a country that’s providing you freedom, providing you $16 million a year … when there are black minorities that are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for less than $20,000 a year,” Villanueva said.
Yet, military veterans have show support for his First Amendment rights with a hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick.
Military service members support Colin Kaepernick with #VeteransForKaepernick. https://t.co/DRugEbiXiz
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 31, 2016
When Washington plays its final preseason game on Wednesday, no one really expects any players to turn their support for Colin into action by emulating his stance, not after Coach Jay Gruden subtly hinted at the importance the team imputed to the act of standing and taking one’s helmet off when the National Anthem was played.
However, for those individuals who are heavily invested in the Colin Kaepernick story, Tavares’ decision says everything. The assumption that other NFL players would soon follow in the shoes of Colin is quickly becoming an unsubstantiated fear.
Sports Techie, Tavares isn’t Colin. Seeing as he is guaranteed nearly $12 million this year by the 49ers, Tavares is far safer in his status with the Eagles and the NFL as a whole than the largely precarious Colin. The fact that he chose to steer clear of Colin’s antics suggests that the NFL have little to fear with regards to Colin inciting copycats.
Then again, Tavares probably knows that kids like him are a dime a dozen, and if he doesn’t toe the line, he could easily lose his financial future. While the NFL doesn’t mandate players to stand during the playing of the National Anthem and neither does the United States in regards to President Obama when he commences his day, it is interesting that Tavares’ agent came out the next day and said that his client would strive to ‘not be a distraction’, this suggesting that individual teams probably take a harsher stance on the issue than the NFL.
When asked whether they had changed their stance on the Colin issue and whether they would strive to take a harsher approach, possibly even disciplining teams, and players for failing to respect the national anthem, the NFL reiterated its determination to give players their freedom on such matters.
Practical rationale suggests that if Colin refuses to stand during the National Anthem on Thursday, he will do so alone. There are simply too many players with jobs on the balance who wouldn’t dare take such a risky stance.
And at the moment, everyone is watching with Baited breath to see whether the 49ers will cut Kaepernick. It isn’t like they do not have valid football reasons for showing him the door, and new starter Blaine Gabbert, plus reserves Thaddeus Lewis and Jeff Driskel, stand ready to rise up in the role when needed.
Yet, some people have suggested that cutting Colin might have a chilling effect on football players speaking out. This is especially true for players that are not secure in their positions.
Even if you take into account Colin’s failings as a football player and patriot, there are people who will connect the loss of his job to the protest he made, and only time will tell whether such an effect would be welcomed.
Whatever happens to him in the future, Colin has become the central focus in the NFL, with all eyes turning to him, wondering whether he will stick to his guns and how drastically the NFL will punish him all while the concussion settlement drags its feet in court because of appeals.
One issue involves words, protest and freedoms while the other involves physical contact, medical issues and possible cover-up, each issue affecting the entire world in kind. Social media helps keep these flames alive.
Oddly enough, I just watched the uncut version of, “Straight Outta Compton” last week for the first time. Strange but true that this look into rap music and how it reflected black society in the 90’s when the NWA rappers and many other minorities faced similar issues with cops, something that still applies in 2016 otherwise Kaepernick would have no feet to stand on.
What are the NFL Betting Odds on all that?
See y’all later in Seattle, Atlanta and around the world.
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