Sit and Deliver

Football has finally started. Football is the one sport that truly captures the imagination of most Americans like nothing else. We have many options for TV and entertainment but football is still tops in the ratings game. Hence the reason so many identity groups, political activists, the military, awareness campaigns and businesses want to attach themselves to the brand.

Marketers go where consumers are and politically motivated social justice campaigns do likewise. Because of these campaigns separation between sports and national politics is almost non-existent. The most recent example is Colin Kaepernick who refused to stand during the national anthem because he supports BLM (black lives matter) or something similar.

The reason for not acknowledging the anthem, “I am not going to stand up to show pride for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” said Kaepernick to the reporter who asked about his sitting. The degrees of separation between the way black people are treated and the national song are too many to list. He has never been a bright kid but being dumb isn’t a crime. Someone on his team will no-doubt point out the contradiction in his thinking toward the USA. You know, the country he got rich in.

A helpful teammate will argue the fact that Colin, an adopted kid with a heap of athletic ability, achieves in a meritocratic system not possible in an ‘oppressive country’. How many rich athletes made their millions playing in Pyongyang or Riyadh? Does anyone emigrate from America to Guinea to earn money playing soccer, or any sport? How many adopted kids have a chance at success given the restrictions on family birth, clan, or tribe that constitute an individuals' future prospects in India? 

Colin doesn’t have to love the country or even like it. He should take the occasion to pretend he is playing in a foreign country and respecting their laws and customs even if he doesn’t agree with them. How would we treat someone from Brazil, Russia or Algeria if they refused to even stand for the country’s anthem? Ask this American basketball player what changed his mind. Precedent exists for athletes being selfish about the national anthem.

 Almost all of us would do at least one thing different if we were president. Some would rearrange entire books of regulations to benefit themselves or deny benefits to others. We don’t always like or endorse the policies of the government but we work to make it better. Disrespecting the anthem doesn’t say anything about the country, but it says a lot about Colin.

 Two aspects affect Colin’s ‘non-stand’ stand. One, he wants to be more than just a jock by using his high profile as a status for political causes. Like most of us he noticed the positive attention the press gave to NBA stars who made a plea for inner city cooperation between police, civic leaders, protesters. At the ESPYs Lebron James, Carmello Anthony and others made passionate calls for tolerance, cooperation, understanding among groups. They didn’t say much of substance but it was reported that way. ESPN had their anchors and contributors treat it like a sea change for sports in culture, athletes and activism. 

Colin Kaepernick could use that kind of press, it is the best sort. Stars get praised for not only raw ability but also their dedication to causes.

Secondly, he listened to people he shouldn’t have and chose his friends poorly. Take a player with a rebel image, mix with a sycophantic entourage and incredibly dumb decisions pop out. What’s behind his unpopular ‘non-stand’ is probably a combination of hubris and terrible influences.  Look for Colin Kaepernick to be standing during the anthem by the end of the season. I expect the team and coaching staff, along with some PR types, to convince him to do the right thing.