I admit that even if I had never evolved into the political organizer/activist that I am today, I would have been a huge fan of Colin Kaepernick. I grew up being able to walk to Candlestick Park in San Francisco. My entire identity as a young man was the 49ers, Giants, and Warriors. Although my life priorities today don't permit me to follow sports the way I sometimes wish I could, I do try and keep up. In 2012 and 2013, Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to within a few yards of a Super Bowl victory, and to within a few yards of a repeat appearance in the Super Bowl respectively. That time frame was a period of readjustment in my life, having found employment after spending a long and frustrating period with job instability. So, I sought solace in watching 49er games during those two seasons and I became a huge Kaepernick fan. My daughter and I talked about him often; me about his play-making abilities and his heart for the gridiron battle. Her, about his looks.
With that backdrop, it shouldn't be any wonder how his emergence as a principled voice for African/world liberation and justice has quickly cemented him as my favorite football player ever. Despite whether he ever suits up again or not. But, we have to talk honestly about that suiting up again part. From all corners of the world, racists, racist apologists, reactionaries, and people who are just plain intellectually lazy, have bent over backwards to paint a sickening picture that argues that Kaepernick remains unemployed (as a free agent football player) simply because of his "diminished" on field capabilities. This is an absurd argument. The 49ers newest coach even attempted to provide a scientific analysis about Kaepernick's run first quarterback skills being unsuited for most football teams that prefer a passer that can stand back there and find a receiver to throw to. Its a great sounding argument, but it doesn't hold any water under scrutiny. For the football minds, you know damn well that Kaepernick completed 60% of his passes last year and threw 16 touchdowns to only four interceptions. Those are good numbers under any circumstances and there are plenty of quarterbacks who are employed who cannot match them. Plus, Kaepernick's ability to make plays with his legs alone is more than enough to cause any number of quarterback starved teams to ring his phone. In other words, the conventional logic of these apologists is that a quarterback who has led his team to within yards of winning it all. A quarterback who has solid passing credentials (almost 80 career touchdowns and only 30 interceptions). And the best legs in the NFL, isn't worthy of a job, any job, with any team?
The fact quarterbacks like Brock Osweiler, Geno Smith, and Tim Tebow have gotten free agent contracts is proof of how ridiculous this situation is. Now, I realize that the NFL is a capitalist business which means monetary interests will surpass anything else. What I mean is before the next season starts, some desperate team will probably offer Kaepernick a contract. He's too skilled for that not to happen, but that doesn't change the fact the reason he's sitting without a team right now is solely because of his political work. His refusal to stay quiet. His bold and courageous calling out of white supremacy. And his activism to provide resources and support to people fighting against imperialism all over the world. His activities bring embarrassment upon this society that is dedicated to maintaining this facade of freedom and democracy. Everything Kaepernick has done over the last year has blown that foolishiness up. He's being systemically punished and kept out of football for his politics the same way Craig Hodges was blocked from receiving an NBA contract after his calling out of George Bush (for the Iraq war and white supremacy) at the white house after his Chicago Bulls were there to celebrate the championship with Bush Sr. Kaepernick is being called out the same way Muhammad Ali was banished from boxing for his stance against the Vietnam war and his refusal to serve in the U.S. military.
Its perfectly acceptable for football fans to express how much they wouldn't want Kaepernick to be on their team, but to argue he's unemployed because he's not good enough? Weak. He's unemployed because he's too good for a league and a country that prefers to promote a dishonest image of itself instead of addressing the inequities that fueled Kaepernick's protest in the first place. And, like everything else, people can fool themselves, but justice loving people all over the world are not confused. This man has stood up and announced that he is going to do so, even if he loses football in the process. As we recently passed the so-called Easter holiday. The time that supposedly reflects a man who was murdered in order to stand up for principles of truth and justice. In light of the example Jesus provided us, its more than a little ironic that Kaepernick is a living example that compares significantly to those values.
So, all of you people who wish to hide behind your lies - one person even told me they aren't against Kaepernick and his right to protest, they just don't want "politics in sports", I guess its easy to ignore the fact the U.S.. military owns professional sports - you aren't fooling anyone. Its 2017, but the conditions here have never changed. The slave that stands up against the master will be punished. It doesn't matter though. More of us, following Colin Kaepernick's example, are willing to pay the price for principle. And as this phenomenon continues to grow, there will reach a point where our victory is inevitable. This is the true reason Kaepernick is currently unemployed and its also the true reason why he will always be my favorite athlete. Whether he ever throws another touchdown or not is immaterial to that.
With that backdrop, it shouldn't be any wonder how his emergence as a principled voice for African/world liberation and justice has quickly cemented him as my favorite football player ever. Despite whether he ever suits up again or not. But, we have to talk honestly about that suiting up again part. From all corners of the world, racists, racist apologists, reactionaries, and people who are just plain intellectually lazy, have bent over backwards to paint a sickening picture that argues that Kaepernick remains unemployed (as a free agent football player) simply because of his "diminished" on field capabilities. This is an absurd argument. The 49ers newest coach even attempted to provide a scientific analysis about Kaepernick's run first quarterback skills being unsuited for most football teams that prefer a passer that can stand back there and find a receiver to throw to. Its a great sounding argument, but it doesn't hold any water under scrutiny. For the football minds, you know damn well that Kaepernick completed 60% of his passes last year and threw 16 touchdowns to only four interceptions. Those are good numbers under any circumstances and there are plenty of quarterbacks who are employed who cannot match them. Plus, Kaepernick's ability to make plays with his legs alone is more than enough to cause any number of quarterback starved teams to ring his phone. In other words, the conventional logic of these apologists is that a quarterback who has led his team to within yards of winning it all. A quarterback who has solid passing credentials (almost 80 career touchdowns and only 30 interceptions). And the best legs in the NFL, isn't worthy of a job, any job, with any team?
The fact quarterbacks like Brock Osweiler, Geno Smith, and Tim Tebow have gotten free agent contracts is proof of how ridiculous this situation is. Now, I realize that the NFL is a capitalist business which means monetary interests will surpass anything else. What I mean is before the next season starts, some desperate team will probably offer Kaepernick a contract. He's too skilled for that not to happen, but that doesn't change the fact the reason he's sitting without a team right now is solely because of his political work. His refusal to stay quiet. His bold and courageous calling out of white supremacy. And his activism to provide resources and support to people fighting against imperialism all over the world. His activities bring embarrassment upon this society that is dedicated to maintaining this facade of freedom and democracy. Everything Kaepernick has done over the last year has blown that foolishiness up. He's being systemically punished and kept out of football for his politics the same way Craig Hodges was blocked from receiving an NBA contract after his calling out of George Bush (for the Iraq war and white supremacy) at the white house after his Chicago Bulls were there to celebrate the championship with Bush Sr. Kaepernick is being called out the same way Muhammad Ali was banished from boxing for his stance against the Vietnam war and his refusal to serve in the U.S. military.
Its perfectly acceptable for football fans to express how much they wouldn't want Kaepernick to be on their team, but to argue he's unemployed because he's not good enough? Weak. He's unemployed because he's too good for a league and a country that prefers to promote a dishonest image of itself instead of addressing the inequities that fueled Kaepernick's protest in the first place. And, like everything else, people can fool themselves, but justice loving people all over the world are not confused. This man has stood up and announced that he is going to do so, even if he loses football in the process. As we recently passed the so-called Easter holiday. The time that supposedly reflects a man who was murdered in order to stand up for principles of truth and justice. In light of the example Jesus provided us, its more than a little ironic that Kaepernick is a living example that compares significantly to those values.
So, all of you people who wish to hide behind your lies - one person even told me they aren't against Kaepernick and his right to protest, they just don't want "politics in sports", I guess its easy to ignore the fact the U.S.. military owns professional sports - you aren't fooling anyone. Its 2017, but the conditions here have never changed. The slave that stands up against the master will be punished. It doesn't matter though. More of us, following Colin Kaepernick's example, are willing to pay the price for principle. And as this phenomenon continues to grow, there will reach a point where our victory is inevitable. This is the true reason Kaepernick is currently unemployed and its also the true reason why he will always be my favorite athlete. Whether he ever throws another touchdown or not is immaterial to that.
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