Kaepernick likely to draw roaring tweets, boycotts
Five things to look forward to on the national-anthem protest front:
Presidential reaction. Donald Trump weighed in twice on Colin Kaepernick’s protests, but that was a while back. The Prez can’t keep ignoring sports for much longer.
Whether he lashes out at the NFL players who protest, or at LeBron James (who called Trump “the so-called president”), or at the Warriors (several have indicated they would not visit the White House), Trump will roar. Or at least tweet-roar.
Trump plays to his base, and his base is not in love with anthem protesters or White House boycotters.
Boycotts. Organized or spontaneous, large or small, here they come.
If Kaepernick remains unemployed, groups like the NAACP might organize boycotts. If Kaepernick signs, some NFL fans will boycott, or at least claim they are boycotting.
Which side’s boycott would be the most powerful? Hard to say. Most of the love/hate for Kaepernick and the protest movement falls along racial lines. Whites swing a bigger financial stick, especially in the stadium luxury suites, but 70 percent of the league’s players are black, and black fans buy beer, too, so that’s a formidable bloc.
Shahid Khan will never have to buy another drink at owners’ meetings. The Jags’ owner said on radio he “absolutely” would be OK with his team signing Kaepernick. That pokes a hole in the collusion theory, making Khan a hero to the league and the owners.
However, unless the Jags sign Kaepernick, Khan’s talk is “absolutely” just talk.
Recognition for what Kaepernick did. The president recently declared that it is time to unite and heal. That’s what Kaepernick did with the 49ers last year. He led team discussions, explained his feelings, listened to the feelings of others, encouraged everyone to honor the differences and play ball together. The result was a stronger team (results notwithstanding).
That could be a model for America. But you would need someone to play the Kaepernick role.
Many people changing their minds.
Just kidding! If I had a dollar for every person who changes his/her mind on this issue, I’d ask you to buy me a cup of coffee.