Colin Kaepernick‘s ongoing protest, which consists of nothing more than kneeling during the National Anthem before NFL games, is causing even more waves throughout the National Football League, as well as other sports. The latest person to dig into Kaepernick is Hall of Fame coach Mike Ditka.
Ditka was asked his thoughts on the Kaepernick protest during a radio interview on 105.3 The Fan, a Dallas based radio station. Needless to say, the famed coach didn’t hold anything back.
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“I think it’s a problem… anybody who disrespects this country and the flag,” Ditka said, according to TMZ. “If they don’t like the country they don’t like our flag… get the hell out.”
The former Chicago Bears coach went on to explain that, based on Kaepernick’s actions, he has no respect for the player. However, Kaepernick isn’t the only player that has chosen to protest. Fellow San Francisco 49ers, Eric Reid and Arian Foster, have also decided to kneel during the National Anthem.
“My choice is, I like this country, I respect our flag,” Ditka continued. “I don’t see all the atrocities going on in this country that people say are going on.”
Kaepernick is protesting the treatment of black Americans across the country, an issue that many are taking a stand against. Other NFL players outside the 49ers have also started to participate in the protest, including Kenny Stills and Jelani Jenkins of the Miami Dolphins. But it isn’t just NFL players that are taking knee, women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe – who is white – as well as the entire Indiana Fever WNBA team knelt during the national anthem before their respective games.
“I see opportunities if people want to look for opportunity – now if they don’t want to look for them – then you can find problems with anything,” Ditka said. “But this is the land of opportunity because you can be anything you want to be if you work. If you don’t work… that’s a different problem.”
Despite this idealized America where there are opportunities for everyone, there are still clear signs of struggle and discrimination in minority communities. That is what Kaepernick and many others are protesting, and will continue to protest, no matter how many famed coaches speak out against them.
[H/T ABC News]
