Matthews no fan of protests
While the Maple Leafs support freedom of speech, they don’t seem inclined to use it in any controversial fashion. At least not in games, during anthems, or to support causes the way their brethren in the NFL, NBA and MLB have been.
“To me, I don’t know if kneeling, sitting, stretching is something I’d look to do,” American-born Leafs centre Auston Matthews said Monday.
“To me, it’s kind of a dishonour to the men and women that fight for that flag. I don’t think I’d be able to do that, to take part in it.”
Matthews, while noting that he has friends and family risking their lives in the U.S. military, made it clear that he has no problem with those who do speak out.
“You have the right to say whatever you want,” said Matthews. “People took this time to send a message and make a statement. That’s their opinion. They have a right to do that. Good for them.”
Sports and politics collided on Sunday, when NFL players in particular protested in a number of ways during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” — kneeling, linking arms, remaining in their locker rooms — in a rebuke of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“To me, it’s kind of a dishonour to the men and women that fight for that flag. I don’t think I’d be able to do that, to take part in it.” LEAF AUSTON MATTHEWS ON ATHLETES PROTESTING DURING THE U.S. ANTHEM
The issue exploded when Trump took to Twitter this past week to criticize the form of pre-game protest, urging NFL owners to “fire” players who did not stand for the anthem.
“We’re in a unique position to have an influence with things that we do and say, so there are some issues going around right now,” said Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk, born and raised in New Jersey. “Seems to be a lot of divisiveness being spread around. There are things, actions, that guys are taking to make their voices heard.
“The great thing about the U.S. is you have the freedom to speak your mind. It’s kind of crazy we’re talking about our president going back and forth with people on social media.”
The phenomenon began a year ago, led by then-San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who knelt during the anthem to protest police brutality against Black Americans. It’s been a talking point ever since, before Trump’s comments sparked a firestorm that spilled over to basketball, with superstars Steph Curry and LeBron James among those taking on the president on social media.
“As an athlete, you want to be able to make the difference,” said Canadian-born Leafs centre Nazem Kadri. “You want to be able to (use your) influence in a positive way. A lot of us are role models to youth. I think it’s a great platform in order to make a statement and stand up for what you believe in.”
The notion of using sports to protest American politics arrived late to hockey, where the culture is far more conservative than other sports and most players are white and nonAmerican.
The Pittsburgh Penguins decided to honour the White House, if not its chief resident, by announcing in the middle of the whirlwind that they’d accepted an invitation to celebrate their Stanley Cup victory with Trump. Matthews had no issue with that, adding he’d probably make the same decision.
“The Penguins put a statement out. They’re going,” said Matthews. “It’s a tradition. It’s a big honour. If you’re in that position — that’s the position you want to be in, to make that decision. I think we’d probably go.” Van Riemsdyk concurred. “For me, no matter who is in that office, if you agree or disagree, the honour of getting to go and taking that all in is pretty special, especially getting to share that with all your teammates,” he said. “But you respect that people have different views on that.”
The Leafs organization has long wrapped itself in patriotism. Founder Conn Smythe was a major in the Canadian military, and the club is named after his regiment.
“It’s unbelievable that you get to live in such great countries that you get freedom of speech, because there’s lots of countries, as you know, where you wouldn’t be saying anything,” said Leafs coach Mike Babcock, who was born and raised in Canada. “I think it’s important to have freedom of speech. On the other side of that for me, I have a lot of friends in the military, and when that national anthem is played for me, that’s an important thing, too. It’s a celebration, in lots of ways, of what’s good about these countries.”