Athletes gain money when they gain attention. Just like Congressmen.
Ole Miss basketball players kneel in deference to standing for the National Anthem. Again, athletes, many of whom have an academic pedigree from high school that suggests borderline literacy, have taken a stand –oops—a kneel for something or against something. Who the hell knows why these muscle-bound morons do what they do. Let’s see. Probably they do it to get attention. Ergo, money.
The catchy little business for athletes of kneeling, sitting, turning their backs, or whatever visual, is necessary in order that these protests continue. It supposedly is to battle racism or homophobia, or whatever “ism” or “phobia” is on the current political menu. But the attention seldom analyzes what such idiots are protesting. For example, it would be a surprise to learn that any of these Ole Miss “student”-athletes could affirm the first thing about Fort McHenry and its history.
Possibly these demonstrations now go nonstop because Colin Kaepernick made it work for untold millions. His nonstop whining and misadventures in professional football have made him rich. Maybe he can afford a haircut now, anyway. If he can do it, they can do it.
The Ole Miss jocks have decided on a copycat version. But they can double up on the “I am offended” glamour. They previously had not wanted the band to play Dixie. Now they don’t want the band to play the Star-Spangled Banner. What would they like? H.R. and Bad Brains rocking out some screech-static from hell. A nice tuned-up love song? No. For the record (in truth) there is no national anthem. There is not supposed to be a nation. The intention was a union.
But these players just want to kneel like so many groundhogs who have seen their shadow and must hide from an extended winter. From this, they gain attention. From attention comes fame. From fame, often fortune.
Personally, I wish those Ole Miss Black Bears “were not” in the land of cotton.
Meanwhile, coach Kermit Davis who has had more coaching jobs than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has made stupid comments cannot bring himself to coach those six kneeling players on history. But perhaps he doesn’t know history.
But let’s see what the Ole Miss coach had to say about the incident. Before the season he said his players would respect the anthem. After the incident the other day, he said:
Kermit Davis, on players kneeling: “I was not (aware). This was all about the hate groups that came to our community. It’s created a lot of tension. I think our players made an emotional decision. We respect our players’ decision to do that.”
And that respect for the anthem you spoke of, Coach? Probably trying to turn it into coin, or to prevent the loss of some, would be a good guess.
He rattled on about those from outside the Ole Miss campus coming in creating a disruption. But if Davis believes this why does he go to the far reaches above the Mason Dixon line for players to come in and claim Ole Miss as their own. New Jersey is inside Mississippi? One wonders how coach Davis faired on the geography part of his own entrance exam.
Breein Tyree that heartfelt Mississippian from Somerset, New Jersey who can dribble a basketball regardless of whether he can pass a college course pontificated for the press. We are allowed to see his scoring averages but not his academic scores. If historical knowledge is a clue to his academics, then he is a backbencher.
The so-called disruptors Davis complained about were actually demonstrating for their ancestors who died in a noble cause of self-government.
— “that government of the people, by the people, for the people,” should not perish from the earth. It is difficult to imagine anything more untrue. The Union soldiers in that battle actually fought against self-determination; it was the Confederates who fought for the right of their people to govern themselves.” H.L. Mencken
Davis and Breein, a guard, were babbling about that brazen watchword of subjective thought– hate. Any side that disagrees with theirs is a “hate” group. Good god, why do these people ever get a moment of attention?
And following up was member “of the community” (Dodge City, Kansas) Athletic Director Ross Bjork lecturing to the tune of:
“Our job is to teach and educate every single day. They’re human. They’re students. They see what’s happening on our campus. These people that come here and they spill hate and bigotry and racism, we don’t want them on our campus. Our players stood up for that.”
That would be comical if not so pitifully laughable: An Athletic Director committed to teaching and educating? Even the general population of students are hard-pressed to receive an education in an American University today.
For the record, someone should tell academic stalwart Breein that New Jersey had slaves in 1861-1865. And they were sold for a lot less money than he and his attention seeking coach and players will get for their attention collusion.
If he ever gets to the NBA it will be Mississippi’s gain and the NBA’s loss.
