Athletes and others kneeling in support of Colin Kaepernick can stand up, proudly.
They’ve won.
Kaepernick’s kneeling protest during the national anthem has gained the attention of the world, and he’s gained a level of power that goes beyond anything any other quarterback — active or otherwise — has been able to reasonably imagine.
“What nonbelievers fail to understand,” Kaepernick said a newly released Nike ad that emphasizes abstract ideals rather than athletic accomplishments, “is that calling a dream ‘crazy’ is not an insult. It’s a compliment.”
Right-thinking, nuanced people have heard him, even if he’s been silent.
So have people known for being blunt.
“The problem with Colin’s thing is, No. 1: He never talks about it. He let the president and all these people on radio and television change his message,” Charles Barkley said in a phone interview with The Arizona Republic.
Barkley, perhaps more than anyone, knows exactly what it might feel like to be at the center of controversy over misinterpretations and an edgy Nike ad.
It’s been 25 years since he said, “I’m not a role model.”
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It was a black and white, 30-second spot. Watching it was like getting punched in the face.
“I am not a role model,” he said in the ad. “I am not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”
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