Colin Kaepernick Is Recipient of 2017 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award

[Leghorn21]

GETTY IMAGES

Steadfast in his fight for social justice and committed to his beliefs no matter the cost, Colin Kaepernick is the recipient of the 2017 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award
By Michael Rosenberg November 30, 2017

“If I was walking down the highway with a quarter in my pocket and a briefcase full of truth, I’d be so happy.” – Muhammad Ali, Sports Illustrated, Feb. 19, 1968

Colin Kaepernick made his truth known when he first decided not to stand for the national anthem. He had a lot of football left to play and a lot more money to make when he made his decision. It was late August, 2016. People who were anonymous in life had become famous in death. Philando Castile. Eric Garner​. Alton Sterling. Freddie Gray. They were tragic symbols of a society that had taken a terribly wrong turn. As the anthem played ahead of the 49ers' preseason game against the Texans, Kaepernick, San Francisco's 28-year-old quarterback at the time, quietly took a seat on the bench.

It took two weeks for anyone from the media to ask him about it. Kaepernick explained that he was making a statement about inequality and social justice, about the ways this country “oppresses black people and people of color.”

“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” he added. “There are bodies in the street,” he said then, “and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

more:
https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2017/11/30/colin-kaepernick-muhammad-ali-legacy-award

[underpants]

1. BOOM!

Right wing heads

[DangerousUrNot]

29. Haha

[Freethinker65]

2. Watch Trump tweet that he (Trump) turned the award down

[jalan48]

3. Great to see!

Last edited Thu Nov 30, 2017, 07:16 PM - Edit history (1)

[tblue37]

4. Perfect! nt

[Lucinda]

5. Excellent.

[kwassa]

6. He deserves the honor.

[lamp_shade]

7. Wonderful.

[Paladin]

8. So glad this has happened. (nt)

[MuseRider]

9. Excellent!

He deserves it!

[Kittycow]

10. Vindication after persecution!

Yay!

[Floyd R. Turbo]

11. Outstanding! How long until we see the dumb asses burning their SIs? 😏

[Rene]

12. Congratulations Colin

[malaise]

13. Wonderful

Rec

[Deuce]

14. Well-deserved...

[Tiggeroshii]

15. Okay I'm crying a little bit.

He'e going to be a legend -not because of his skill at a game, but at using that platform to better the lives of others.

[lunatica]

16. Muhammed Ali, AKA Cassius Clay took a lot of flack

for refusing to be war fodder like his black brothers. Went to jail for it too.

There was a huge uproar over it too. Just like with Kaepernick.

I think this is so cool!

[ATL Ebony]

17. K&R Bravo Kaepernick

[rurallib]

18. Wow - does that ever fit! Excellent choice

If the champ were still alive, I believe he would be proud

[cp]

19. Just PERFECT

Congratulations!

[LiberalLovinLug]

20. Too bad he has to give up his career for it.

The blacklisting of him by NFL owners is a steep price to pay for it. But he will get a place in history for sure.

[ffr]

21. +1

[Solomon]

23. Ali gave up his career as well.

Yes. He eventually got it back, but not at the level it could have been. Youth is something you can never get back.

[Brother Buzz]

27. One could make the argument that Kaepernick's career was over....

before he discovered political activism. All the NFL teams know Kaepernick is damaged goods, a head case. And he's not blacklisted if he'd be willing to sign for a fourth of what he was making with the 49ers; every team needs a backup for their backup quarterback, and Kaepernick would fill that position wonderfully.

The ONE thing going for Kaepernick is his incredible rocket arm, and it would serve him well if he was to choose a baseball career, à la Tim Tebow, instead of football; not many people know Kaepernick was drafted by the Chicago Cubs as a pitcher in 2009.

[Solomon]

33. And one would lose that argument.

I'm sick of detractors trying this bullshit. If his "career was over before he discovered political activism" he would have never had the opportunity to sit during the anthem as an NFL quarterback. Way to rain on the parade.

[Iggo]

37. At least he didn't say "skill set."

[argyl]

22. A true hero. Take that, Mr. Bone Spur who fought honorably Stateside against(or was it for)STDs.

[FuzzyRabbit]

24. Good for Sports Illustrated and good for Colin Kaepernick!

Black athletes who take a stand are persecuted harshly by whites:
Muhammad Ali
John Carlos and Tommie Smith
and now Colin Kaepernik

None of them did anything extraordinarily difficult, yet they scared the bejesus out of the white establishment.

Muhammad Ali merely spoke out against the Vietnam war, like millions of other Americans. But he was black.

John Carlo and Tommie Smith merely raised their arms. But they were black.

And Kaepernik merely sat on a bench. But he is black.

[Leghorn21]

32. Thanks for your superior post here, Fuzzy!!! A set of beautifully written FACTS - nt

[FuzzyRabbit]

36. Thanks.

Back in the 1960s I publicly did what both Kaepernick and Ali did. So did lots of other people. But I am white and not a sports celebrity, so much to my dismay no one noticed or if they did, they never mentioned it.

[disillusioned73]

43. Very well said FuzzyRabbit..

All undeniable facts..

[Dawson Leery]

25. It will anger the vile deplorable fascists,

so even better.

[bluestarone]

26. congrats

happy for you

[ismnotwasm]

28. K&R

[Binkie The Clown]

30. Yes! nt

[ProudLib72]

31. HURRAY!

[Solly Mack]

34. K/R

[JDC]

35. Kick

[annabanana]

38. Well deserved. Good for SI . . . . n/t

[NCTraveler]

39. Solid choice. nt.

[marble falls]

40. Good choice of a good athelete and Americican.

[HughBeaumont]

41. Ohhhhh, the Red Hat Klan isn't going to dig this.

. . . . and I'm LOVING IT!!

Congratulations, Kaep. Keep on fighting.

[cyndensco]

42. Excellent!

[Denis 11]

44. Well. Deserved

[KPN]

45. Good choice.

Take that Donald -- and all the racist pigs who support him.

[raven mad]

46. True heroes are few and far between.

He is one. This subscriber to SI says YAY

[H2O Man]

47. Recommended.

[uponit7771]

48. K&R, Kap sacrificed a lot

[ailsagirl]

49. VERY well-deserved!!