Athletes Commonly Use Their Status to Promote Awareness
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has caught serious flak for not standing during the national anthem. However, he is far from the first athlete to use his platform to promote causes in which he believes. These are the top five most controversial demonstrations by athletes.
1. Tommie Smith and John Carlos, 1968 Olympics
During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City games, American Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos came in first and third in the 200 meters race, respectively. However, they immortalized themselves when during the medal ceremony, as the Star Spangled Banner played, they each put on one black glove and raised one hand to protest some of the racial injustices committed in their home country. This came six months after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Both were suspended from the U.S. Olympic team.
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2. LeBron James and the Miami Heat, 2012
In 2012, following the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, Lebron James and his Heat teammates posted a photo of themselves cloaked in hoodies, much like Martin was prior to his fatal confrontation with George Zimmerman. James went even further, writing “R.I.P. Trayvon” on his sneakers during one game. James would engage in a similar demonstration a few years later when he would wear a shirt saying “I Can’t Breathe” to commemorate the death of Eric Garner.
3. St. Louis Rams, 2014
In 2014, following the shooting death of Michael Brown, several St. Louis Rams players raised their hands during their pre-game entrance, mimicking the popular cry of “hands up, don’t shoot.” Though a St. Louis County Police Sergeant suggested that the Rams’ executive Vice President of football operations apologized for the incident, the latter clarified that he supported the rights of the players to engage in such a demonstration, but regretted if any police saw it as disrespectful.
4. Los Angeles Clippers, 2014
In 2014, Clippers owner Donald Sterling was recorded making racist comments to his girlfriend. As a result, when the Clippers played a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors, they reversed their warm-up jerseys, hiding the Los Angeles Clippers logo. All of the Clippers players also wore black socks and black wristbands. A few days later, Sterling received a lifetime ban from the NBA, fined $2.5 million, and forced to sell the Clippers.
5. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, 1996
In 1996, Denver Nuggets player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the national anthem, stating that it represented “oppression.” He insisted that this conflicted with his Muslim faith. he was eventually suspended for one game. Abdul-Rauf came to a compromise with the league where he would stand and be permitted to silently pray as the anthem played. Soon thereafter, he was traded to the Sacramento Kings, and he played less and less before he was out of the NBA. The former basketball player has praised Colin Kaepernick for his stand, saying it is “selfless.”