James’ stance
LeBron James says he’ll stand for anthem but respects Colin Kaepernick’s message,
LeBron James says he’ll stand for the national anthem, but his respect for Colin Kaepernick couldn’t be more apparent.
James, speaking at the Cleveland Cavaliers media day Monday, spent a significant portion of his podium time praising the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, whose protest began in late August to call attention to police brutality and social injustice.
Though James said he’d stand for the anthem, he added, “That doesn’t mean I don’t respect and don’t agree with what Colin Kaepernick is doing. … What I don’t like about the situation is the negative attention that been thrown upon him from certain people, because it’s not deserved.
“He was very educated, very smart, very candid, very demanding about what he wanted to do. He did it in the most peaceful manner I’ve ever seen someone stand up and do something.”
James, who led the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship in June, probably knew these types of questions were coming, evident in his polished responses. The same went for coach Tyronn Lue, general manager David Griffin and guard Kyrie Irving. It was likely a reflection of a leaguewide memo sent last week urging players to take substantive action in creating “positive change.”
James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul spoke at the ESPY Awards in July, essentially foreshadowing this movement. “Let’s ... explore these issues, speak up, use our influence and renounce all violence,” James said then.
He reiterated that Monday despite the questions pertaining to the title defense. Although there will come a time shortly for James and his teammates to focus on their repeat quest, it wasn’t surprising to hear him address the current social climate, as he has done in the past.
“I look at my son being four years removed from driving his own car and being able to leave the house on his own, and it’s a scary thought right now to think if my son gets pulled over, and you tell your kids, ‘If you just apply, and you listen to the police, that they will be respectful and things will work itself out,’ ” James said. “It’s a scary-ass situation that if my son calls me and said he’s been pulled over, that I’m not that confident that things are going to go well, that my son is going to return home.”
James organized a pre-training camp workout last week in Santa Barbara, Calif., for all of his teammates, but there was no ignoring the cultural climate.
“It’s tough being a parent right now,” he said.