Kaepernick only did it to deflect attention from his afro.
Kaepernick only did it to deflect attention from his afro.
My take on this is the players are paid by and work for the team/league. As such are subject to mandates. However, if a player has issues with complying, then they should have an option as the NFL has re standing for the national anthem.
"The six pillars of the rule are:
All team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.
The Game Operations Manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the anthem.
Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the anthem has been performed.
A club will be fined by the league if its personnel are on the field and do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.
Each club may develop its own work rules, consistent with the above principles, regarding its personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.
The commissioner will impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem."
Rules for the national anthem differ across sports leagues
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect,"
David ... good find.
Applying it to the Cricket ...
All team and league personnel on the field shall show respect and display a unified action (through participation in) the 'taking of the knee' performance/act.
Personnel who choose not to 'take the knee' may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the performance/act has concluded.
... thus giving good optics while maintaining individual rights not to participate.
You dont get an apology much more solid than this...
Quinton de Kock breaks silence, revealing he will kneel alongside teammates
South African cricket star Quinton de Kock has broken his silence days after withdrawing from his nation’s match with the West Indies.
The wicketkeeper batsman sparked a furore when he pulled out of the match citing “personal reasons” after Cricket South Africa order all players to kneel in a gesture against racism.
The news quickly leaked out that the withdrawal was as a result of the mandate as de Kock doesn’t usually kneel.
But de Kock has finally broken his silence with a wide-ranging statement revealing how the past few days have impacted him and his family.
“I would like to start by saying sorry to my teammates, and the fans back home,” the statement began.
“I never ever wanted to make this a Quinton issue. I understand the importance of standing against racism and I also understand the responsibility of us as players to set an example.
“If me taking a knee helps educate other, and makes the lives of others better, I am more than happy to do so.
“I did not in any way mean to disrespect anyone by not playing against West Indies, especially the West Indian team themselves. Maybe some people don’t understand that we were just hit with this on Tuesday morning, on our way to the game.
“I am deeply sorry for all the hurt, confusion and anger that I have caused. I was quiet on this very important issue until now. But I feel I have to explain myself a little bit.
“For those who don’t know, I come from a mixed race family. My half-sisters are Coloured and my step mom is Black. For me, Black lives have mattered since I was born. Not just because there was an international movement.
“The rights and equality of all people is more important than any individual. I was raised to understand that we all have rights, and they are important.
“I felt like my rights were taken away when I was told what we had to do in the way that we were told.
“Since our chat with the board last night, which was very emotional, I think we all have a better understanding of their intentions as well. I wish this had happened sooner, because what happened on match day could have been avoided.
“I know I have an example to set. We were previously told we had the choice to do what we felt we wanted to do.
“I chose to keep my thoughs to myself, and though of the pride of playing for my family and my country.
“I didn’t understand why I had to prove it with a gesture, when I live and learn and love people from all walks of life every day. When you are told what to do, with no discussion, I felt like it takes away the meaning. If I was racist, I could easily have taken the knee and lied, which is wrong and doesn’t build a better society.
“Those who have grown up with me and played with me, know what type of person I am. I’ve been called a lot of things as a cricketer.
“Doff. Stupid. Selfish. Immature. But those didn’t hurt. Being called a racist because of a misunderstanding hurts me deeply.
“It hurts my family. It hurts my pregnant wife.
“I am not a racist. In my heart of hearts, I know that. And I think those who know me know that.
“I know I’m not great with words, but I’ve tried my best to explain how truly sorry I am for not making like this is about me. It is not.
“I won’t lie, I was shocked that we were told on the way to an important match that there was an instruction that we had to follow, with a perceived ‘or else’. I don’t think I was the only one.
“We had camps. We had sessions. We had zoom meeting. We know where we all stand. And that is together.
“I love every one of my teammates, and I love nothing more than playing cricket for South Africa.
I think it would of been better for everyone concerned if we had sorted this out before the tournament started.
“Then we could have focused on our job, to win cricket matches for our country.
“There always seems to be a drama when we go to World Cups. That isn’t fair.
“I just want to thank my teammates for their support, especially my captain, Temba. People might not recongise but he is a flipping amazing leader.
“If he and the team, and South Africa, will have me, I would love nothing more than to play cricket for my country again.”
More to come …
T20 Cricket World Cup 2021: Quinton de Kock statement, breaks silence, backflip, will kneel | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site
Warning: Be cautious if you are a fragile pink
^ This does nothing to help with freedom of choice.
I was referring to him not addressing it in his bullet point list Norts, of course he can walk.
Well, he definitely proved his point there.“I know I’m not great with words, but I’ve tried my best to explain how truly sorry I am for not making like this is about me. It is not."
So of course he has freedom of choice.
This 'enforced wokeness' accusation is horse
He should have just calmed down and talked it over with his skipper. He pretty much admits to making a bit of a tit of himself, but still there's a rush to show he was right by some people here.
All a certain type of person...
For mine, its all bullshit and this taking a knee business should be a personal choice. There's plenty of devout Christian sports-people who don't cross themselves before a game/fight/whatever, to me this is no different. What next, people having to take a knee before they start jobs that aren't televised? Yeah fuck off with this..
South Africa is 80% black.
Like it or not, De Kok's action suggested he is against racial equality.
That he's in favour of 80% of his countrymen and women not getting a fair shake.
The idea that everyone should already have known he was against racism was and is nonsense.
He's seen sense now.
Time to move on.
Oh the hypocrite woke chimes in
Seems very sad, that society is coming to this, its just controlling people and what they want you to think.
I believe in a fairer society for all, why not take the knee for a worthwhile cause, like homelessness.
What I'm seeing and hearing from people is they are becoming less tolerant to migrants etc.
All people are the same. kneel for all, or don't kneel at all.
so your not impacted by Racism, so you don't understand either.
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