Bruce Jenkins:
Warriors separate sports and politics, don’t protest.
The Warriors made it clear Saturday night that their most incisive political statements can be found where it really counts: beyond the court.
As the exhibition season opened at Oracle Arena, it came as no surprise that the players took their customary approach to the national anthem, standing amid casual banter beforehand and afterward as an enormous American flag blanketed much of the floor. Stephen Curry couldn’t help smiling as he arrived noticeably late, squeezing into the line between coaches Jarron Collins and Bruce Fraser.
The opposing Denver Nuggets locked arms — no kneeling — but for the Warriors, there was a message in their business-as-usual stance. They will challenge social injustice with their words, and they will seek direct, personal connections to the issues whenever possible.
“Our guys have made their feelings pretty clear about things that are happening, and I’m proud of the work they’ve done in the community,” coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “We don’t really care what anybody says. It’s about us. As long we continue to compete, while contributing to society in a lot of great ways, that should be enough.”
Colin Kaepernick kick-started this movement by kneeling during the anthem last year, and the effect was profound. His gesture was striking, it was different, and, most importantly, it reached a massive audience — either during or after the fact.
Kaepernick hoped most everyone would acknowledge
his targets as police brutality toward African Americans and racial injustice throughout the land. He was wrong. Mix your gestures with the flag and the anthem, and you will offend millions of people — every single time.
“Colin is the symbol,” said David West. “He wanted to start a conversation, and we’re gonna continue to be outspoken about what he believes in. But it’s bigger than the protests we’ve seen. We’re gonna stay on the matter of how African Americans are treated in this country, and not let (kneeling protests) be a distraction. Because that’s what’s happening now, and it’s popular, and it’s drowning out the message.”
It was estimated that about 600 NFL players were involved in some sort of protest last Sunday, with President Trump a major target, but there were scattered murmurs of unrest among those uncomfortable with the context. There was jeering from the stands. A number of restaurants said they would risk a loss of business by refusing to air NFL telecasts at their establishments. Singer Meghan Linsey performed the anthem at the Tennessee-Seattle game, dropped to one knee upon finishing, and received death threats claiming she was unAmerican and hated the military.
For a number of prominent athletes, it goes without saying that anthem-related protests create an awkwardly mixed message.
“Taking a knee is the smallest possible thing you can do,” said Tampa Bay pitcher Chris Archer, who is biracial and has spent years investing time and money into personal interaction with juvenile detention centers and police enforcement groups. “There is more of a reaction to what the president is saying than the original concept of social injustice and how the judicial system has been handling certain things, like when an unarmed minority is attacked, physically abused or even killed.”
Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins wrote a piece this week for the Washington Post, noting that more than 40 NFL players have joined a coalition dedicated to improving a criminal justice system “which is crippling our nation and especially affects people who are poor or of color.” The Eagles’ Torrey Smith and Seattle’s Michael Bennett have been active for years in their fight against racial profiling, biased incarceration policies and the devastating effect on povertystricken neighborhoods.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has made his feelings clear as the regular season draws near, pointing out a league rule that requires players to stand for the anthem. “It’s about respect for the principles that underlie this country,” he said. But Silver added, “Our players have always found ways to make meaningful change in their communities and work toward social justice,” noting that he would encourage such behavior to the highest degree.
Silver undoubtedly enjoyed how the world champions handled things at Oracle Arena Saturday night. The Warriors’ stance is more than an eyecatching video clip or photograph. It’s about confronting the issues head-on, using their considerable influence in the best possible way.
As usual, they are ahead of the game.