Brian Hoyer, 49er's starting QB is spot on when he says the President should be influenced by what a sports team offers by way of justice, unity, and equality. Having never participated on a team, other than, perhaps, some lily white rich kids preppy school junior varsity, what does he know about about sports, let alone diversity. Has Trump ever followed the advice of Atticus Finch to his daughter, Scout in Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird, and walked in someone else' shoes but his own? Never. Otherwise, he would not be speaking about NFL players the way he is.
Being an immigrant to the United States, arriving on these welcoming shores after the Second World War, and having taken an oath of loyalty when I was 16 years old and becoming a naturalized citizen, I honor the symbol of our flag. But I can not honor it when it acts as a symbol for false patriotism and promotes animosity between our races. Like Brian Hoyer, I have experienced the broad ethnic, cultural, and religious differences that co-exist in harmony in sports locker rooms. Even though my instinct would be to stand for our National Anthem, given my absolute distaste for and horror of our President, these days I'd surely be on my knees in solidarity with my black brothers.
I found it surprising and touching watching Jerry Jones, owner of the Cowboys, his sons, and team officials, kneeling first, then standing with locked arms during the playing of the National Anthem. Jones supported Trump's election, but would not let that interfere with him being one with all the members of his team. His Team, Not Donald Trump's team. His solution may be the best one that satisfies both patriotism and the rights of all people to protest injustice:
Front page of this morning's Chronicle: the Warriors, the Most Hated Team. What in the hell is going on. Have we sunk that low in our country that because a team wins championships and rejects the White House, now they are HATED? Hate is a hell of a loaded word. I can think of a lot of groups to hate: Klu Klux Klan, Aryan Brotherhood, Nazi, White Supremists, and White Nationalists, for example. Hate a sport's team?? I hate David Duke. Anybody got a problem with that can see me any time any place. At 79 years old, I can kick any racists' ass without breaking a sweat. Okay, a slight exaggeration, but I'd definitely give it a try. Maybe with Draymond Green's help??
Last night I was on the phone with an old friend, retired Supreme Court Justice for the state of Washington, Don Horowitz. We've always been big talkers, able to spend hours on the phone yakking about all sorts of interesting, diverse topics. Last night, it seemed most of our conversation was about the Evil in the White House. This is what's happening all over America, the Beautiful.The donald, has usurped our peace of mind. He has made narcissistic self the focus of our troubled thoughts. I resent this Fake President terribly for so intruding on my life that I can't have a peaceful chat with an old friend, that every day since he's been in office, his name and image dictates the national conversation. An not for the good. History is going to treat this man very badly. His legacy will be a stain on our Republic.
In honor of Ken Burn's marvelous, revealing series about the Vietnam War, here's a Haiku I wrote about Mohammed Ali
Ali
Heavyweight title lost
His stand against the Vietnam War
A butterfly's death
1 comment:
I never understood the obligatory trip to the White House for championship teams. Coolidge invited the Senators because, I'm guessing, they were the hometown team. Maybe he went to some of their games. Kennedy invited the Celtics and they had a Massachusetts tie in. But what is the rationale behind it if there are no natural ties? The teams are essentially used as a prop in a photo opportunity. And what does it say about society that of all the citizen groups there are to choose from the ones who are automatically given a White House visit are team sports champions? There are probably Nobel Prize winners who aren't invited.
As for the Chronicle article on the Warriors, I don't think basketball fans "hate" them. Ironically, I think LeBron James as an individual player gets more of that than the Warriors do collectively. I believe fans look at whatever team James is on and believe the deck is stacked in his favor in terms of his being the first player to help create a "power trio" in Miami. And the NBA officiating seems inclined to give James latitude (remember the "crab dribble") others don't get. But the Warriors are the antidote to the big three teams in a way, even with Curry and Durant. There are haters for the Warriors, but probably just as many who view them as something fresh and positive. For myself, though, I can never think of the Warriors without thinking of Nate Thurmond. His teams didn't have as much success, but I sure loved to watch them play. When teams are constantly driving the lane from the half court offense myself and my older friends who are basketball fans always end up looking at each other and going "Nate Thurmond wouldn't have let that happen". Ah, the days of our youth.
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