San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had a publicity fumble on Friday. Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem during an exhibition game with Green Bay.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
There won’t be any disciplinary action. The 49ers issued a statement noting such “freedom of expression” is afforded by this nation. That liberty also extends to fans, who let off some steam by burning Kaepernick’s football jersey.
In a followup interview, Kaepernick doubled down and promised to protest indefinitely.
“I’m going to continue to sit. I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed,” Kaepernick declared. “To me, this is something that has to change and when there is significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent and this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.”
Colin Kaepernick stands to lose millions
Kaepernick says he’s not worried about losing fans or sponsors. In fact, he welcomes it.
“At the end of the day, if something happens, that’s only proving my point,” he said spitefully.
Olympic swimmer Ryan Lockte an estimated $1 million from a single sponsorship following his disgraceful behavior in Rio. Kaepernick has several sponsors including MusclePharm (nutritional supplements), MoGo Sport (flavored mouth guards) and Jaguar.
Hangry
It may seem nuts for a millionaire to hate America but that makes him the perfect spokesman for Snickers. Its latest campaign tagline is “You’re not you when you’re hungry.” The commercials star celebrities like Joe Pesci and Don Rickles behaving badly until the satisfying candy bar calms them down. Kaepernick could portray someone who gets political at an inappropriate time like honoring the flag that gives you the freedom to be an ass. A more sympathetic approach would be portraying him as a politically correct brainwashed pawn not unlike Bucky AKA Winter Soldier in Captain America Civil War.
In all seriousness, Kaepernick is hungry — for former glory. NFL reporter Steve Wyche noted that the once rising star is no longer starting QB. He’s had a lackluster performance since being placed on injured reserve while waiting to received surgery on his shoulder. Kaepernick is said to have a “sour” relationship with management and his requested to be traded was denied.
Tackling racism
The biracial athlete seems to have a preoccupation with race. He was given up for adoption by his white mother and raised by white parents. He felt harassed growing up for looking different from his family.
“And every year, in the lobby of every motel, the same thing always happened, and it only got worse as I got older and taller,” he recounted during an interview with Mr Porter. “It didn’t matter how close I stood to my family, somebody would walk up to me, a real nervous manager, and say: ‘Excuse me. Is there something I can help you with?’”
Kaepernick went on to say that he wanted to be “a representative of the African community.” However, he expressed concern about being labeled as a “black quarterback” in an interview with Time.
The anti-American attitude shouldn’t come as a surprise. Kaepernick’s Twitter account is filled with tweets about blacks being victimized by whites and systemic racism.
“Folks always want to make it seem like White Supremacy is whiteness gone wild. No. It’s a standard ?? practice,” Kaepernick retweeted LEFT whose profile begins with the hashtag #PoliceTerrorismStressDisorder.
