The NFL is blackballing Colin Kaepernick, so I joined the boycott of the league. Last year as quarterback Kaepernick kneeled instead of standing for the national anthem–in protest against racial injustice in America. He was joined in expressions of this type by several other players, some kneeling, others sitting, etc. This year he is without a team. No one will hire him.
While Kaepernick may not be the player he was in 2013, when he led the San Francisco Giants to the Super Bowl, last year he did throw 16 touchdowns against 4 interceptions. At 29 he should have several years of potential football life left. Yet no team will sign him, although since March NFL teams signed twenty new free-agent quarterbacks and not one of them has ever completed a pass in the league. Team owners obviously do not want this proven talent on their teams.
On another note, it has always seemed strange to me that the national anthem is sung at sporting events. I fail to see a logical connection between everyday sports and patriotism (which is sometimes expressed by singing or playing the national anthem). In fact, for years there was no link because it was not a part of sporting events.
This odd practice came into being during WW II for business reasons. As many citizens and industries geared up for the WW II “War Effort,” Major League Baseball team owners wanted to continue playing (and of course making money), but they wanted to do so without being criticized for not helping the war effort. So they solicited from President Roosevelt what became known as his “Greenlight Letter” suggesting they continue the games to give Americans a way to have recreation during the difficult war years.
To show that they were being patriotic and supported the country while at war–while during nothing else differently—MLB owners hit upon the idea of playing the national anthem before each game. And the rest, as the saying goes, is history. Through the years, other sports followed baseball’s anthem practice, and now it’s institutionalized.
Please note that Kaepernick indicated long ago that he would stand this year, apparently as his point had been made. But this did not influence the team owners. Colin crossed the line. He made a powerful statement about racial justice, something that often gets punished in this country.
Kaepernick remains a free agent, but several NFL players have followed his lead and protested the national anthem this year.
As a result of the NFL’s actions towards Kaepernick thousands of fans are boycotting the NFL, not attending or watching televised games. I have joined them.