Will Satler | wsatler@msudenver.edu | December 12th, 2018
COLORADO — There is no debating that athletes can affect what happens within their current communities and in some cases, an entire country, for the better or the worse. Yet, the everso rise of athletes speaking out to the media or through their political actions on the field has caused controversy on whether athletes should continue to speak out or as Laura Ingraham of Fox News said: “shut up and dribble.”
When the clip of Ingraham attacking LeBron James and Kevin Durant for their comments on president Donald Trump surfaced last year, the entire sports world went into an uproar on whether athletes should suppress their thoughts or rightfully speak out and be an active part of their democracy. Seems like an easy choice right?
It’s cases like the one involving Colin Kaepernick recently that make the decision on whether to speak up or not a little more difficult. After deciding to stand up and speak up against the racial injustice and police brutality in America, Kaepernick took a knee for the anthem (previously he sat) and sparked outrage in a nation that oozes liberty and freedom off it’s red, white, and blue flag.
Kaepernick drew criticism behind his actions, despite meeting with Nate Boyer, a veteran who suggested Kaepernick kneel instead of sit for the playing for the national anthem. Today, Kaepernick sits at home and watches as the 2018 NFL season continues without him after he was cut from his team, the San Fransisco 49ers, in 2017.
Kaepernick did what he felt was right and tried to create change in his country. Too many African American people were being unjust-fully murdered in America and he felt it was time to make a change. Unfortunately, in his case, he chose the wrong way to protest. By protesting one of America’s greatest pastimes, the National Anthem, he caught the wrong attention of NFL general managers, passionate fans, and maybe most importantly, the President.
Kaepernick isn’t the first player to field criticism for his protests and more ironically, not the first to protest during a national anthem.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf played in the NBA from 1990-1998 (and a mini stint in 01′ with the Grizzlies) and spent the majority of his team here in Denver for the Nuggets. Abdul-Rauf is perhaps best known for the controversy created when he refused to stand for anthem before games.
He stated that the flag was a symbol of oppression and that the United States had a long history of tyranny. After being suspended without pay by the league for not standing, he worked out a compromise with the league, whereby he would stand during the playing of the national anthem but could close his eyes and look downward.
Just like Kaepernick, Abdul-Rauf was out of the league shortly after he started to protest for something he believed in.
Despite the troubles that Kaepernick and Abdul-Rauf faced when they stood for change (or vise-versa), there has most definitely been players in our world today who stand for change and make their communities a better place.
LeBron James, one of the most famous athletes in all of sport ever, is one of the most outspoken athletes in the game. James has fired back at current president Trump for comments towards athletes including fellow NBA star Stephen Curry. James led a speech in 2016 at the ESPYs speaking out for the Black Lives Matter movement which sparked conversation within the sports community.
More recently, James opened a public school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio called the “I Promise School” where he provided a long list of resources that range from free, healthy lunches to bicycles for students to get to and from school. Despite creating something so great for his community, James drew feedback from Trump during an interview where he criticized the president over policy involved with the current administration.
The two had recently gotten into it before when James and Curry fired back at Trump for ‘rescinding’ a White House visit to the winning team of the NBA Finals. Curry’s team, the Golden State Warriors, didn’t attend.
After Hurricane Harvey last year in Houston, Houston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt raised over $41.6 million for efforts to support those who were affected by the hurricane.
Players throughout the NBA wore shirts that said ‘ENOUGH’ and had the 12 victims of the recent Thousand Oaks shooting on the back to protest against gun violence.
Milwaukee Brewers MVP centerfielder Christian Yelich has supported his hometown in California after it was destroyed by recent wildfires, by providing meals and resources for those who need it.
I could go on and on about how athletes are serving and improving their communities every day creating change by using their platform. From athletes like Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during the Civil Rights Movement to athletes today like James and Curry, these players are creating better places for those who need the help.
In the end, we need these athletes to be active parts of our democracy for no more important reason other than that it is their right as citizens of the United States. You can argue whether Kaepernick and Abdul-Raaf’s protests were inappropriate when protesting during the national anthem. You can argue that LeBron James and Kevin Durant should ‘shut up and dribble.’ But there is one thing you can’t argue.
Athletes should use their platforms to try and create change in their communities
Sources in this article used include: TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, ESPN, The LA Crosse Tribune, ‘Shut Up And Dribble’ on SHOWTime, and Fox News.
Will Satler 