With the Stanley Cup Final possibly ending tonight,
we look ahead. Not to the off season, (as a Sens fan that's far to ominous...) no, to something perhaps even more
dramatic: The White House visit. Or, possibility thereof. You see what used to
be a cheesy, all be it unique opportunity, for athletes to take a few pictures
and hand over a jersey to the Commander and Chief has dramatically changed
since Donald Trump took office. When former NFL quarterback (why a guy who lead
his team to a Super Bowl appearance is still a former quarterback is
another story all together) Colin Kaepernick started taking a knee during the national
anthem a few seasons ago to raise awareness about police brutality and social
injustice towards African Americans, outrage soon followed. Outrage drummed up
by the man in the Oval Office who outright lied about what Kaepernick was
protesting, and framed him and others who followed as sons of bitches, who
ought to be fired. How very Presidential. After this, teams like the NBA’s Golden
State Warriors outright refused to visit with him, and this week President Trump dis-invited the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles before they could
no-show the occasion, which is tantamount to the class bully inviting everyone
over, only to cancel the event in order to be spared the inevitable embarrassment.
With game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight in Las
Vegas, the Washington Capitals are one win away from hoisting Lord Stanley’s
mug for the first time in franchise history. A Stanley Cup championship team, in
his own back yard no less, not going, especially a hockey team where politics
are avoided like the plague, seems impossible. But there is that potential,
however unlikely. That said,when they or the Vegas Golden Knights do in all probability do go, not everyone is likely to make said trip. DeVante Smith-Pelly of the Capitals, one of the few black
players in the NHL spoke up recently, making his feelings on Trump’s behaviour clear. “The
things he spews are straight up raciest and sexiest. Some of the things he said
are pretty gross…It hasn’t come up here, but I think I already have my mind
made up.” Doesn’t sound like a man sitting on the fence. Earlier in the season
Winnipeg Jets Captain Blake Wheeler, an American, spoke out on twitter as well,
after Trump blasted NFL players for kneeling. It’s not often we see this in
NHL, whose leaders generally freeze faster than an idle puck whenever politics
are brought up. For many it’s refreshing. For others, it’s yet an example of
the “stick to sports” or “shut up and dribble” mentality the President’s
defenders cling to rather than face reality. However, years ago a hockey player
on the other side of the isle made waves and many are trying to now compare the
circumstances.
A number of people have pointed out, in the wake of
many teams now choosing to boycott or abandon the White House visit, (you know,
before its rescinded) that they’re being praised by the media for their actions
while Tim Thomas was vilified by those same folks, for skipping the Bruins trip
after their 2011 Stanley Cup win. Thomas wasn’t the first athlete to do so, and
lets all remember, it is a free country and individuals are still able to do as they
like, unless of course that’s kneeling in protest...That said comparing those
two issues makes about as much sense as Democrats voting for Trump in the
midterm elections.
Thomas skipped the visit and was grilled on why,
eventually releasing a Facebook message saying he disagreed with the politics
of President Barack Obama, certainly well within the realm of reasonable. Now,
was Thomas called out in part because of his right leaning politics countering
a well like Democratic President? By some, without a doubt, and to be fair
athletes from other sports had skipped out on various Presidents before citing personal disagreements
with particular policies or scheduling conflicts. However, the bigger issue was
that in doing so, Tim Thomas ended up making it about Tim Thomas. The cardinal
sin of the hockey world: putting himself before the team. He was an outlier. He
wasn’t protesting a specific issue, trying to fight for a cause, nor had he presented
any particular agenda. He simply didn’t like the guy in charge. Which is fair. I’m
sure some other Bruins players weren’t Obama supporters either. So why cause a
scene? What purpose did it serve other than to seem petty? To be an unnecessary
distraction? Over the years whether it was Regan, Bush Sr. or Clinton, you
honestly believe every athlete in attendance wanted to be there? That they all
supported the guy in charge, Democrat or Republican? As Michael
Jordan famously said, “Republicans buy sneakers too!” They saw it for what it
was, at least before Trump took office, a harmless if corny photo-op that,
generally, wasn’t particularly politicised by either side. A perfunctory sort
of pat on the back with a few mediocre jokes forced in to cut through the
awkwardness.
Then in 2016, shortly after the Cubs won the World
Series, and Trump was elected, the conversation came up amongst friends and the
million dollar question was posed: “If you were invited to the White House to
celebrate a championship, would you go?” At the time, I said yes. That though I
vehemently disagree with the politics and behaviour of the man in charge, I
respect the office and could put personal feelings aside. Also the opportunity
to visit one of the world’s most famous buildings would be special. Teams
seemed to agree at first as well, a contingent from the Cubs went. Most of the New
England Patriots went. Considering the close relationship between the owner
Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belicheck and the President this wasn’t a shock. They
were however, minus Tom Brady, though he is as far as I know, he’s still
friends with the President. The Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins,
in a scene more awkward than me trying to get a date, showed up as well, all be
it after much consternation and debate, (not to mention a questionably timed
tweet). This visit was a perhaps the most scrutinised as it was just after, as only The Donald can,
he’d started speaking…
Trump,
a man who shouts patriotism from the highest peaks at every opportunity, this week couldn’t even remember the words to God Bless America, (a tune school children can recite at will) at a staged ‘Patriotic Event’ to replace the Philadelphia Eagles visit, and he railed on Twitter, again, against the
NFL players stance and the league, of predominantly black athletes, for this
behaviour. He’d previously called them sons of bitches, suggesting they lose
their job or be deported simply for exercising their first amendment rights.
All this from an individual who is ONLY president because of said first
amendment! A spoiled rich kid eventually growing into a pompous blowhard who
made his living as a supposed ‘real estate genius’ bilking people with less money in business
deals, only to repeatedly go bankrupt, in between thousands of lawsuits, before
spawning a TV Show where he’d spout his now infamous “Your Fired” catch phrase,
thus ensuring the impeachment memes will write themselves…And yet he’s attacked
those who are protesting not their country, or the flag, the military or the
anthem. A conn man who has manage to convince others they’re trying to destroy
the nation or are somehow un-American simply because they’re attempting to make
things better. They’re simply trying to raise awareness about a social justice
issue as civil rights leaders past have done. As LeBron James put it, “He’s using sports to divide us.”
I understand the risk you run taking a stance like
this during the anthem, and I’m sure Colin Kaepernick did as well. People,
naturally associate it with their country and not paying what they deem due
respect to the flag can incite the kind of anger we are seeing, however short
sighted it is. Personally I have great respect for the anthem and the flag. I’m
the sort of person who stands for our own Canadian anthem and the American one,
even if I’m watching at home alone…seriously…and if the NFL players had ever
spoken a negative word about their country, the military or the flag, I’d
understand the outrage. If their protest had hadn’t been peaceful or they’d
tried to incite civil unrest, I would see why others were upset. But the fact of
the matter is they haven’t. They’ve been nothing be civil, clear and unified in
their coherent message and have paid a great deal of respect and praise to the military
in the process. Not to mention, thirty years ago this wasn’t even an issue. The
players stayed in the locker room until the anthem was over. Where was the
outrage then? The vitriol? This sort of drummed up patriotism can be a double
edged sword and is clearly cutting a line through the nation.
In the “Land of the Free” where “Life, Liberty and
the Pursuit of Happiness” are supposedly of paramount importance, the
administration has made clear it’s their way or the highway. The NFL owners
have even admitted they caved into the pressure from the President. Cowards,
who’ve abandoned their work force and the notion that: “I may disagree with
what you say but I’ll fight to the death for your right to say it.” Instead men
like Ted Cruz paint these athletes as spoiled, ungrateful millionaires...though I imagine with his looks I’d avoid looking in mirrors as well…ignoring the fact that
they’ve put their blood , sweat and tears into this endeavour, giving back both
time and millions of their own dollars to help their communities. Other leagues
like the NBA have worked with their coaches and players to create an
environment where they feel free to speak up about social issues and be aware
of the world they live in, to understand the power they have to make a
difference. Does everyone agree with their stances? Of course not. San Antonio
Spurs head coach Greg Popovich was greeted with a ton of anger by Spurs fans who
support Trump, feeling he insulted them with his comments. Steve Kerr coach of
the Golden State Warriors, and Popovich protégé, is another outspoken man who
is not afraid to go after the President. Stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant,
and Steph Curry have as well and what are they met with in the media? “Shut up
and Dribble.” That these predominately black leagues are being singled out or criticised can in no way be seen as a coincidence. If Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers were leading
these protests, would the reaction have been the same? And what stance does a predominately white league like the NHL take? Do they have the guts to stand by "Hockey is for everyone!" Or does the John Tortorella "I''d bench the guy!" mentality prevail?
I had a grandfather who served in WW2. I grew up
near one of the largest military bases in Canada and know several active service
members. To the extent I can, I understand the sacrifices these men and women
make on our behalf every day. I have nothing but the utmost respect for what
they do. For the freedom they help provide. It’s symbolic that the anniversary
of D-Day was yesterday when men and women fought against a man who sought to
control those freedoms, to warp people’s minds to his way of thinking. Who realised the tyranny he represented. Part of freedom is the right to peaceful protest.
To speak our mind. This right is literally the 1st amendment. They realised that the flag represents not only the military but all those within a nation who seek to uphold it's values.To not be told by the government to leave the country or
lose our job because of a dissenting opinion. With Trump there is no alternative. If you don't agree with him you're against him. With all the petulant drama of a teenage soap opera, he sits in his office, like a mad king who has openly suggested he can pardon himself should the Russian investigation prove his collusion, without the slightest notion of diplomacy or reasoning. forcing one to take sides. That said I’m not naïve enough to
believe this is a simple conversation. It’s not easy to admit that racism, in
this day and age, is still prevalent, that this is ultimately the reason behind the anger.
But it is.
Trump is capable of double speak Orwell could only
dream of and convincing people that those who are simply trying to help make
things better for others in their own country don’t deserve to live in it isn’t just dictatorial, or scary, it’s more un-American than anything Colin
Kaepernick’s stance has ever represented.